The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-01-08

t4ime has broader social sympathics and
richer life; and although she must ac-
knowledge that her first duties are in her
home, she will not think they end there,
as her grandmother did. knowledge that
is true to itself, expands the moral as well
as the intellectual life; and the world
hasn't gone backward with the sub8tiu-
ton of botany for butter churns, and math-
ematics for milking pals.
But TO return TO our heroine. When
Enoch and Cyrus, two tall, sunburnt, but
hnc looking young farmers, came in to
supper, they were full of story which
quite drove out all thoughts Of the sap
boiling from the head of widow Peasc and
her daughter.
Some terrible depredalions had been
committed the night before on Squire
Hubbard's sheep and lambs-the dog
had been deyoured, and two large bears
had been seen prowling around Blueberry
hill just at the close Of the previous even
ing,
The young men were greatly excited,
for a large party had been organized to go
out that very evening to Squire Hub
bard's, who lived in an adjoining town
not more than ten miles off, forthe pur-
pose of destroying the wild animals, as it
was apprehended their former success
would stimulate them to fresh dcpreda-
tons. So, with that belligerent propen-
sity which is so strong an element Of An
glo-Saxon character, Cyrus and Enoch
deScantered glowingly on the best meth
cd of surprising and despatching the ami
mails; while the mother and sister listened
with the indefnable mixture of wonder,
admiration, and terror, which woman al
ways awards to manly courage and skill,
But, dear me, said Lefty, as she pour.
ed Cyrus's third glass of milk, what if a
bear should come round here some OF
these daysl You know Elder Smith said
he saw one on his farm last autumn. Oh,
myl believe it would take the breath
straight out of my body to come across
one of the creatures And the rosy
cheeks grew pale at the thought.
Nonsense, sis, said the hearty voice of
Enoch, as he spread double stratum of
butter on his fourth slice of rye bread,
there's no sort Of danger around here
Nobody in these parts was ever touched
by one of them ere chaps. reckon they
are smart enough not to venture their
heads far into this town. They wouldn't
stay on long, if they did, that's sartin,'
Now, whether, there was much philos.
ophy in this speech or not, it had the ef-
feet of greatly queting Letty's fears );
though, if Enoch had been called upon to
give his reasons for exempting Berrygate
from bear incursions, he could probably
have found no better one than the propen-
sity indigenous to human nature, of sup
posing ourselves less liable to ill-fOrtune
than our neighbors.
Well, after supper the boys started off,
in high spirits, duly equipped with rifles
and long knives, receiving many solemn
injunctions from their mother to look out
that them critters didn't get hold of their
skins, maternal warnings; which have
remarkable faculty of going in at one ear
and out the other.
Il declare, Lefty, we'd forgot all about
sap boilingyssuddenly remarked the wild
ow to her daughter, who, having washed
up the tea dishes, was busily smoothing
down the wavy folds of her hair, at the
little mirror on one side of the kitchen,
while some pleasant thought was shyly
dimpling round her ripe lips, and bright.
ening through her blue eyes.
$50 we have. and lhey haven't piled up
|aFy bouglhss:s IA such nice
Tesf.. and It's likely to set
upl - a'Waelt steady, at this time of
yealS
'Sdpp6sin' you run down to the woods
apGheap up some boughs tonight, Lefty?
ilhe moon shines, SO it's as bright as day.
The boys could hang up the Kettle early
for you, you know, but they couldn't stay
to do anything else, for they've got to be
off by sunrise to see about them calves,
and they won't be home before midnight,
l reckon, concluded Mrs. Pease, with an
oracular shake of the head.
But / am expecting company tonight
mother, answered. Lefty, with the rosy
tinge widening and deepening through her
cheeks; 'and it wouldn't be very polite
to be off when they come
well, it's likely you d have time to get
back afoTe thgy yG1 child child # its any of
your beaux, can send 'em out to the ma:
pies
Now, if the truth must be told, Lefty
Pease had two admirers, for whom there
had often, Of late, been a severe struggle |
between her affections and her pride.
Jason Williams was a country mer-
chant, smart looking young man, who
had recently gone into business for him
self. He was always dressed in broad
cloth, stood behind the counter with the
politest bow and smile imaginable, and
was voted at the winter singing school
the greatest catch in :he town.
Then there was Seth Peters, the miller
away down in the silence of Letty's
heart was voice that plead for him as it
never did for the merchant. Seth was
certainly good-looEing and intelligent