Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-09

and dcspatching tho animals; while the
mother aud sister listened with the inde-
Unable mixture Of wonder, admiration,
and terror, which woman always awards
to manly courage aud skill.
''But, dear me,' said Lefty, as she
poured Cyrus's third glass Of milk, "what
IL bear should como round here some Of
these days. You know Elder Smith
said no saw ono on his farm last autumn.
Oh, my! / believed II would take the
breath straight out of my body to como
across ono 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,
"thcre's no sort Of danger around here
Nobody in these parts was ever touched
by one Of them zero chaps. reckon
they're smart enough not to venture their
heads far in this town. They wouldn't
stay on long. II they did, that's sartin.'
Now, whether, there was much phi
losophy In this speech or not 1t had the
effect Of greatly quieting Lctty's fears
though, if Enoch had boon called upon
to givc his reasons for exempting Berry
gate from bear incursions, ho could proba-
bly, have found no better ono than the
propensity indigenous to human nature,
Of supposing ourselves less liable to i'll
fortune than our neighbors.
Well, after supper the boys started of,
in high spirits, duly equipped with rifles
and long knives, receiving many solemn
injunctions from their mother to look ort
that them critters didn't get hold Of their
skins, maternal warnings, which have
remarkable faculty Of going in at ono ear
and QUIT at the other.
~ declare, Lefty, we'd forgot all about
sap boiling" suddenly remarked the wid-
ow to her daughter, who having washed
up the tea dishes, was busily smoothing
down tho wavy folds Of her hair, at the
little mirror, on ono side Of the kitchen,
while some pleasant thoughts were shyly
dimpllng ronnd her ripc lips, aud bright
ening through her blue eyes.
$50 wo have, and they haven't piled
up any boughs. It's too bad, with such
nice weather for boiling, and it's likely to
sclup and rain week steady, at this time
OF year"
"Supposin' you run down to the woods
and heap up somo boughs tonight, Lcttyi
The moon shines, so It's as bright as day,
Tho boys could hang up tho 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 SEQ about them calves
and they won't bc homo before midnight
| | reckon" concluded Mrs. Pease, with an
oraeular shake Of tho head.
"Dut I'm expecting company tonight,
mother,p answered Lefty, with tho rosy
,lngc widening aud deepening through
her checks; "and IL wouldn't DO very po.
Ito to DO or when they come"
"Well, It's likely you'd have time to gel
back aforo they do child. If It's any
OF your bcaux, I can sond 'em out to the
maples."
Now, Il tho truth must bo told, Lefty
Peaso had two admirers, for whom there
had often, Of late, been severe struggl,
between her affections and her pride.
Jason Williams was q country mer
chant, . smart looking young man, had
recently gone into business for himsclf.--
Ho was always dressed in broadcloth
stood behind tho counter with the politics
bow and smile imaginable, and was voted
at tho winter singing school tho "grcates
catch" In tho town.
Then there was Seth Peters, the mile
away down in tho silence Of Lefty
heart was q voice that plead for him rs |
never did for the merchant. Seth wa
certainly good-looking and intelligent
while a nobler heart never beat for the wo
man II loved; bnt then his bow wasn't B,
DO compared with Jason's, and hc wor
blue-gray ovcralls, which were duste,
over with -four from Monday morning I'll
Saturday night, except VIXEN ho visitc,
Lefty. It was certainly great contrast
and tho girl felt it kccnly (as any girl o
twenty would) when she rode past tn
old mill and saw its young owner in hi
powdered clothes, lifting up the grea
bags Of wheat by tho rope that danglc
from the front window, or pouring III
, corn into the large trough, under whic
the great wheel FLASHED and groancd |
/ the stream all day; II was, as we said,
great contrast, to go on a few rods farthe
: to the new store, with its green shutter
r and large sign, and see Jason standing
the store dressed better than the ministe
I and receive ono Of his inimitablc bows.
/ Then II would be such conquest an
4 all tho girls would envy her SO. Sh
!. would DO "Mrs. Williams, tho merchant
a wife," Itsounded exceedingly well, an
yet, when she thought Of it. that low voi'
n would rise up and speak for tho mill
i again. Poor Lefty, no wonder IL was
!, severe struggle between her affection
Q and her pride.
g She looked out Of tho window, ar
n tho full moon was shining down on Il
bare earth. and whitening the max,
n branches of the tall trees. The swc,
q pcnslvo light stole softly into the cir
a heart aud drew her towards Il.
d II guess I'll run down 10 tho grove.
II anybody comes, you can talk TO 'cm, mot
:. or till | got back, for won't be gone long
,d was her sudden conclusion.
70 Tho girl had not been absent for me
D. than fvo roinntos xvhe, thar, ,,.s /. L a