Daily national era., 1854-02-08

that little enclosure in the moving field.
thought we were gathering buttercups ON VI
ley's grave, when great pit suddenly opened,
and little Benny fell into it There was a
slight-ohoking sensation and mist around
little Benny but a snuff of the morning air,
and the gush of little robin under the win
dow. restored my wonted cheer How lightly
shadows rest on the brow Of childhood!
"Quick-we're almost ready shouted Ben
ny, at the top of his voice, and then ran away
to help " fix OFF, No elaborate toilette retard-
ed my exit that morning. Little Benny had
pumped basin Of fresh water, which, with a
napkin, awaited me, on the wooden bench ut
the back door. Never, amidst the appliances
of luxury, have laved my hands and face in
a china basin with 80 much zcst as scrubbed
them that morning in the wooden basin at the
back door When wearied by etiquette, worn
out by the ceremonious nothings of now-a-day
life, how are we fain to look back to the sim
pie, timesaving, pain-saving customs OF our
ancestors We find ourselves, in imagination,
not in modern social community, with its
modern Innovations but in circle where gen
eralzation is carried to o much higher point
and where property becomes personal, in tho
household only by immediate possession The
days of mugs and ewerless basins have passed
let them not come again
Breakfast "--who would stop for that; and,
besides some mysterious import attached itself
to huge, brown-paper bundle, under Nathan's
arm--sundry grease spots in the stout envelope
looked omin0us ~ know; Hannah told me ;
cheese and gingerbread said Benny, in an un-
dertone. The keg with the leathern handle
Was riddle still Benny turned il over. Some
thing that runs,n said he, with mysterious
look The olfactories proved the best exposi-
tors, and Benny raised his head, in great glee,
all besmeared with molasses
That forenoon's experience was long remem-
bered, by one at least Hat and sunbonnet
were thrown aside; for Benny said he was a
boy, and browning would do no hurt--as for
me, guileless then, what cared whether were
black or white!
The smallest rakes were laid aside for the
new hands, as our grandfather jocosely
called US and the art of "raking after y soon
ceased to be mystery to us, novices To be
sure, our little hands were rather red and rather
speckled; but, then, Benny said they would soon
grow tough like Nathan's! childish simplicity,
that and the fun of treading down the sweet
hay, and jolting over the sill of the barn, more
than made up for all our ills.
Our new hands amt so green, after all"
remarked spruce young David to his fellow
mower. "Tell better arter tho news off, was
the bluff reply! aThe old clown" whispered
Benny indignantly. How clever David is,
mentally calculated
Alas Nathan's experience proved better
prophet, that day, than David's prepossessions.
The big rock was an unsafe resting place for
our tired little bodies. Benny was sure grand
father wouldn't care, and his sharp knife
quickly severed the unyielding knot. No gour-
mand ever smacked his bit of turtle-fat with
moro gusto than the new hands gulped down
Hannah's cheese and gingerbread that day.
The keg proved more incorrigible; but Benny
was q practical philosopher, and poised it
nicely on little stick. Ii was lubberly who
turned the scale. just as the first dulcet drop
reached my longing lips, an unlucky stone
slipped, and down went !, with the round stick
and brown keg
"a sweet bundle you are - into the house,
Benny was indignant "Touch her If you
dare retorted be, brandishing the aforesaid
round stick in q most formidable manner
But there was no gainsaying the import OF
grandfather's lowered eyebrows and we idled
away gloomy afternoon in the old farm
house.
That night, when had left Benny sobbing
in his little bedroom, and found myself in the
dark east chamber, somehow the furnishings
of that room took on fantastic shapes; the
curtains grew black, and waved to and fro I;
the oaken chest of drawers loomed into great
giant while fitting forms seemed to rustic
round me. | forgot to say my little prayer
that night; and somehow had, in the morn
ing halfreal, half-uncertain recollection Of
a irightful dream about deep hole and little
Benny.
The next day my grandfather seemed kinder
than usual, old Nathan less gruf, and clever
David handsomer than ever.
The two weeks passed quickly by The
brown envelope had become saturated a new
handle had been put to the little keg, and pay
day had come. Nathan and David deposited
in their greasy, well-worn wallets their hard
earned gains; Benny and each clasped in our
brown hands bright silver dollar The old
market wagon stood at the door; my grand.
fathers hand again trembled, and Benny de-
olared there was tear in his sharp, gray eye
Was there no anxious weight on his loving
heart! whispered no messenger Of i'll omen in
his ear
The gate closed behind MS and in childish
thoughtlessness we only looked back once, to
see the rough sleeve drawn across the aged and
tear-bedimmed eyes Of our grandfather. Be-
fore the harvest lights had gone out, or the
purple and gold had faded from the autumn
forests, that gate opened again, very wide, to
let in little Benny; the dim kitchen echoed
once more to the tread Of tiny feet and new
voices; but the sounds were sad and low
n A fsmn nm