The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-11-07

can suit YOU better" SAID Ben, III low
voice. He then arose and left the room,
under the pretencc of procuring a fresh
supply of apples. Walked forth and took
a survey of the stars, though not usually
girl" said he to himself confdentially,
"that girl" we do not quote his words
accurately, for we wish to make them
little more complimentary to the lady than
they really were, "wants to know why that
soft-handed and soft-headed clerk isn't
here. She may have him, and see if tape
and molasses will keep her in as good
case as the northern farm would"
The northern farm was expected to
come into Mr.. Benjamin Gulic's possess
ion in the spring. Like sensible man,
he was desirous of finding some one whom
it might be made over to with him Jointly.
"I'll let her alone" said Benjamin to
himself; and, fearing lest his ear should
fail to catch the remark, he repeated it
several times with great distinctness.
Having thus finished his communications
to himself, he seized basket Of apples,
and returned to the scene of operations
In placing it on the table, which we have
already said was in the center of the room,
the table was overthrown. This caused
the overthrow Of several girls with tin
pans full Of apples in their laps. Table,
pans girls, and apples were thus mingled
| in sweet confusion on the foor while
shrieks of affected terror and shouts of
unaffected laughter filled the house. and
brought Mr.. Jones to the door Of the
apartment. A grim smile was upon his
| lips as he surveyed the scene, and pro-
found silence followed his appearance.
PART III.
| Finally it was voted nem-con,
to have a game Of hide-and-seek. The
hiding and the hunting were in couples
Miss Becky and Mr.. Foster were together,
and so were Miss Mills and Mr.. Guile.
Mr.. Guile had two things to attend to-
One was to secure good hiding place for
himself and partner, and the other to OBJ
serve that Of Miss Becky and Mr.. Foster
The latter took possession of small pam
try, which was known in Mr. Jones' cs-
tablishment by the name of pie-pantry
They remained in it for some tine--until,
overhearing the expressed purpose OF the
seekers to search it, they stole out, and
entered silently az apartment which had
already been examined. Mr.. Guile, shrewd-
ly suspecting that they would return to the
pie-pautry, entered it, and placed in the
only chair it contained pumpkin pie,
which was made not in an ordinary tin,
but in an earthen vessel which formed the
section of sphere. The depth of the
pumpkin was all inch and "a half in the
centre, from which point it shoaled grad
ually to the circumference.
AS Mr.. Gulic had foreseen, Becky and
her companion re-entered the pantry A
shrek was soon heard, which caused Ben
to seize a candle, and rush to see what
was the matter, or, rather, to speak with
strict accuracy, TO let others see. The
demolished pie, and Miss BecEy's soiled
dress, revealed the cause of the outcry.
| For a moment there was contest be-
tween feeling of sympathy for the poor
girls discontinue and sense of the lu-
dicrous; the latter prevailed, though to
their credit it must be spoken, sundry OF
the girls were taken with sudden fits of
coughing, and others were seized with an
Unsuitable desire for water; which let them
to go in search of it in divers very i'm
probable places Miss Becky at once set
out for home; she was attended by Mr.
Foster-a partial recompense for her mis-
hap.
An animated discussion of the question,
"How came the pie in the chair?" took
place. Mr.. Guile took no part in it.
Some one suggested that it was placed
there when taken from the oven, and its
weight was in the way of elevating it to
a shelf. AS no better explanation was
offered, it was accepted just as the larger
portion of our historical facts are.
After this interlude, the game Of hide
and-seck was renewed with increased Wig
or Miss Stebbins, with the magnanimi-
ty becoming Il superior mind, condescend-
ed to engage in it heartily. In the course
of this second game, Mr.. Guile and Miss
Mills concealed themselves in clothes
press. If the reader is Yankee, he
knows what that term means; and if he
lis not, here is proof positive that he
knows less than Yankee. Ben and his
partner concealed themselves in clothes
press, and, of course, were in total dark
ness, and in very close contact. Ben felt
a great tluttering, and was on the point OF
asking what it was, when he found it was
the poor girls heart. 1t occurred to him
that it was very doubtful whether Becky
had any heart to flutter. Many thoughts
rushed through his brain while he was in
that press, pressed close to the side of
Mary Mills. She was simmer and hand
somer thaa Becky; had a softer voice
and milder eye; she did not live without
work; everybody said she was always as
neat as a pink. What fool he had been
that he had not thought of her before!
How grateful she looked when he brought
those early apples to her sick mother
How good she looked when she watched
dow ond pirht hv Mrs lIout,c c;ok child