Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-10-27

"The dogs!' muttered Keeper, giving way to
the momentary fancy that he was in the bad pre-
dicament supposed-"If you stand there, you'll
never get me out! Why don't you get to digging!''
Bunker walked around the stump, endeavoring
to look under it, where the ends eff the roots pro-
truded, and finally exclaimed, loud enough for his
beloved brother to hear s
| "Buried, sure as guns!"
"Am II" muttered Keeper. "Ho! there comes
Jane! Fwonder what she'll says"
Mrs. Bunker came running to the spot, in a
=, terrible state of excitement.
"Dear mep' she grasped. "Joe says Samp is
under the stump!''
"WeH," said Bunker, 81 s'pose he isl
"S'pose he is!'' groaned Sampson.
"Oh, what shall we do!" cried Jane, greatly
agitated. "Gracious, how herrid! Can he be got
out! 7 How long has he been here!'
= = ssLong enough" whispered Bunker "The old
devil must be stone dead. Of course, it's horrid,
but then we ought to be thankful that he has made
has paU" Sz2 S -
'Oh, yes, Sampson was cautious man. He
was prepared" sighed Jane. ="And if he was to
be snatched from us we ought to be thankful that
he didn't marry first. Well! well! he was good
boy, if he did have his faults!''
ssWas II" growled Sampson in the bushes.
ssThe widow Brooks may go to the devil now"
said Bunker, with grim smile and a long breath.
"Oh! she may, eh.'' thought Sampson.
ssTo ne sure, that odious match is off my dind,"
sighed Jane. ."Well! its probably all for the
best. He couldn't have lived many years, you
know.n at5- Il
"Couldn't! Well see!' muttered Sampson.
"And it's some consolation - added Jane, more
calmly, ssto know that, although we have lost
Sampson, our children are provided for. Oh!
here comes Joe with the oxen! My poor dear
brother! Oh, save him Joseph! He may still be
alive!
"Possible!'' whispered Sampson, hoarsely.
"Quick, Bunker! help me whip this long chain
round the top of the stump" cried Symes. @
I "Fudge! they can't pull it." said Bunker.
"There's no use if they can!" growled Samp-
son, stepping from the bushes. 81 don't die SO
easy!''
ssGood Lord! here he isl" cried Symes, drop
ping the leg chain. -5-ss = - ss
/ eThe devil!'' muttered Bunker, changing coun-
tenance. ooh! my dear Sampson"- he added,
recovering his self possession, "you rejoice my
heart! 1 never thought youwere under that stump,
but still II felt anxious
! ssMy dear, dear brother!'' exclaimed Jane, rum
ming to embrace him. 81 was afraid you were
hurt S8-.essas85 ss &
'sAnd that wasn't married.! hun!'' sneered
Sampson, putting on his vest, sulkily.
"My dear brothers' began Bunker, deprecat-
ingly, .syou have made"
oMy will! know it!'' walking off.
ssBut where are you going!' asked the anxious
Bunker. es-s5s-5 &
ssTo inform Mrs. Brooks that she has your
permission to 60 to the deviL'' 'ssss sase
"My dear brother-I meant =
s.You meant to consgn her to me! To be sure!
You called me olfdeyil! / am glad, my no.
bic minded sister, that the odious match is off
your mind. But it happens to be on my mind
heavy as you supposed this cursed stump was on
my body" - - : - ~ :. s-f
Jane sobbed on his neck, but Sampson pushed
her away.
"You consoIed yourself with the recollection of
my will, when you thought l was dead,'' he NUT
tered, ssand now that l am alive you are incon-
solable." sHeere, Joe Symes,' he cried to the
wondering laborer, 'here's my hand-Pll remem-
ber you, Throw that log chain around Bunker.
and shake him into the middle of next July, and
you'll do me service!'
And he strobe away, leaving Jane weeping
hysterically, Bunker gnawing his neither lip, and
Joe Symes laughing SO that he could hardly stand.
Sampson Keeper never entered his own house
again, until the Bunkers had moved out of it,
which event was of. speedy occurrence, and then
he did take possession, accompanied by the Wild
ow-now Mrs. Keeper, and all the little Brookses.
= And now Sampson was very happy, for he had
bnt three things to repent-that he had not mar
ried Lucretia fifteen years ago, instead of allow
ing another to enjoy her freshest bloom; that the
years during which he had been feeding the self
ishness of others, had not been years of blissful
married life; and that all the dear little Brookses
were not dear little Keepers.
Flowers i'm sick Chamber.
1t was gentle heart, which directed gentle
..:ca A.