The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-14
For the National Era.
A STORY FOB CHILDREN
BY ALICE CAREY.

fcoNcLUpED
1t was blustery morning in November
it was going to be snow, everybody said Mrs
Flagg was not well, as indeed she had not
been lately; she had had too much to do, since
Aunt Caty didn't come to help her any more.
True she had often sent for Dinah, but she
was good way off, and could not always
come. 1.-THE corn is not half in" said Mrs.
Flagg "and it will snow before tomorrow
night We must have dozen men in the
field to-day" And Oliver was told to mount
Sultan, and lead tho old mare and bring
Dinah.
Now, Oliver had never ridden Sultan but
once before, and would much have preferred
to ride one Of the old work horses. He hesita-
ted, and had mind to say 30 but when John
clapped his hands, and called him a coward,
and his uncle said he thought he did look pale
but be didn't know, for that he was white, at
any rate-Oliver said he was not afraid for
though his uncle hsd spoken in jest, he felt it
to be bitter jest; and, mounting the gay
Sultan, he rode away in q style that would
have done honor to John himself who was not
little proud Of his craftsmanship.
The wind blew roughly in his face, and it
required all his strength to curb Sultan with
one hand, and with the other to pull up the
old mare, who was lazy, and contsasx besides.
Aunt Caty, who had never quito recovered
from the rheumatism, and who never failed to
trepeat the circumstances Of her taking il as
often rs she was asked how she did, was stand
ing at the window, wrapped in shawl, and
seeing him, tapped on the sash, and beckoned
him to stop; and presently Nancy ran out with
a great white woollen comforter, That she hat
knitted for him, and which she wrapped tw'
or three times about his neck, and pair o
blue mittens, and two hot tumble cakes, which
she put in his pocket and said would keep hin
warm, if he could not wait to eat them.
Aunt Caty lifted the window, and said i
was too bad that no should have to ride &c
far in the cold, and that she was determined
he should have comfort and mittens, for that
even with them, she expected he would freeze
| to death, one of these days.
"Poor boy" she said, when Nancy went
in, al thought would encourage him all
couldD
And the huskers went into the fold, and
Mrs. Flagg bestirred herself as well as she wa,
able, about the dinner, and Aunt Caty sat down
by the fire, and tried to card little wool
| though she could but lily use her hands; and
Nancy put up the table leaf and began to Gu,
apples, and look into boxes of spice and sugar
now and then mending the fire, that both lid
and skillet might be ready to bake the first
pie amusing her mother all the time, by rela.
ting how such and such and such a one made
pies, and how she had way of her own, tina!
she thought best of all.
Nancy was good GIRL not young nor pref
ty, only as good health and benevolent face
make any one pretty. She could not have
been less than twenty-seven, short and chubby,
and with voice so kind, that you wanted her
to say something all the time; and she did
say great many kind things and do them,
too. When her mother said that the Flsggs
were as proud and hateful as they could be,
she answcred-"I expect, mother, we are oil
little TO blame - for she would not lose sight
of all their excellences, because Of some things
that were not quite right.
So with talking and working, the day wore
into noon and Oliver and Dinah had not come.
Mrs Flsgg prepared the dinner as best she
could, and at last the huskers sat down to eat.
There was not much merriment, for Mr.. flagg,
who usually passed the cider freely on such
occasions, and led in the mrth, was irritated
that Oliver had not brought Dnah. There
was loud knock at the door, and before an
answer could be given, in rushed Nancy Mar
tin, her sleeves rolled up, and CONSERVATION in
her face. Sultan, the black horse, was paving
a. the gate, the bride rein Dangling looso, and
the saddle slipped under his belly. He had
dashed past their house furiously, few minutes
past. and she was sure some dreadful thing had
happened. There was blood on the rein, she
| thought, though she could not tell.
a0h dear! oh dear ~ exclaimed Mrs. Fiagg;
and then going up TO Nancy, she united her
bonnet, and told her to stay with her till she
should know the worst The horse was led in,
pantipg. and wet with sweat his knees were
bruised and cut some and the blood on the
bride. rein seemed 10 be from striking against
them. az he ran. He was frightened, and
would not drink much but after sip or two,
would thrust up his head and snort, turning his
ewes wildly and quickly about. He was not
otherwise hurt, nor could they gain any clue
to what had CHANGED by saddle or bride, or
messenger was hastily despatched 10 Had
Lev. but, before he had time to bring intelli-
pcr,ce. came Dinah, riding at Q brisk trot.
Nancy had remained, and Mr.. Flagg him
self had rome TO Aunt Caty Martins and as
sisted her to walk down to his house, 30 that
she might have the earliest news.
Dinsh felt that she was an important per-
sonsge and not without good deal OF exag..
gsration and many expletives, which need
not repeat told her story.
Sho and Oliver were riding together; his
horse behaving very badly, 70 that be was
afraid, she said, and they had just passed DR.,
LivIngston's, and were coming, TO the high
bridge in the hollow when, oil at onoe, she
saw two great elephants coming over the brow
of the next hill. Bhs saw that Sultan We. YER
ribly frightened, saw him pitching and dashing
toward tho bridge, and heard Oliver ssy "Oh !!
what shall dof6 and that WAS oil she saw
or heard, ill, having ridden her own beast
against The fenos, shs looked again, and there
were the two elephants coming up the bill,