Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-09

hasn't gone backward with the substitu
ton of botany for butter-churns, and
mathematics for milking pals
But to return to our heroine. When
EnOch and Cyrus, two, tall, sunburnt,
but fine looking young farmers came in
to supper, they were full of a story which
quite drove out all thoughts Of sap-boil-
ing from the head of widow Pease and
her daughter.
Some terrible depredations had been
committed the night before on Squire
Hubbard's sheep and lambs-the dog
had been devoured, and two large bears
had been seen prowling around Blue
berry Hill, just in the edge Of the pre-
vious evening.
The young men were greatly excited,
for large party had been organized to
go out that evening to Squire Hubbards,
who lived in an adjoining town not more
than ten miles of, for the purpose Of des-
troying the wild animals, and II was ap-
pretended their former success would
stimulate them to fresh depredations. So
with that beIligerent prospensity which is
so strong an element Of AngIo-Saxon
character. Cyrus and Enoch descanted
glowingly on the best method of surpris-
ing and dispatching the animals while
the mother & sister listened with the in
defnable mixture Of wonder, admiration
and terror, which women always award
to manly courage and skill.
But, dear me" said Lefty, rs she
poured Cyrus third glass Of milk, what
if the bear should come round here some
of these days You know Elder Smith
said be saw one on his farm last au-
tumn. o, my believe it would take
the breath right strait out of my body to
come across one of the creatures. And
the rosy cheeks grew pale at the thought.
Nonsense, sis ~ and the hearty voice
of Enoch, as he spread double stratum
Of butter on bis fourth slice of rye bread,
1" there's no sort of danger around here.
Nobody in these parts was ever touched
by one of them 'ere chaps. l reckon
they're 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 philoso,
ply in this speech OF not, it had the effect
of quieting Letty's fears though i
Enoch had been called on to give his
reason for exempting Berrygate from
bear intrusions, he could probably have
found no better one than the propensity
indigenous to human nature Of supposinG
ourselves less liable to i'll fortune than on,
neighbors.
Well, after supper, the boys started Of
in high spirits, duly equipped with rife
and long knives, receiving many solemn
iniuhctions from their mother to look on
that them critters didn't get hold of thei
skins, maternal warnings which have
remarkable faculty of going in at one ca
and out at the other.
Il declare, Lefty, we'd forgot all abou
that sap-boiIing - suddenly remarke
the widow to her daughter, who havin
washed up the tea dishes, was busil
smoothing down the wavy folds Of he
+ hair at the little mirror on one side {
the kitchen, while some pleasant thougE
was sbyly dimpling round her ripe lip
= and frightening through her blue eyes.
! $50 we have, and they haven't pulle
. up any boughs. It's bad, with sue
v weather for boiling, and its likely to st
: up and rain a week steady at this tin
S ofyear."
. . Supposin' you run down to the woo(
and heap up some boughs tonight, LIE
ty? The moon shines, so its bright I;
day. The boys could hang up the ke
. tie early for you, you know, but the
could not stay to do anything else, f
: they've got to be of at sunrise to st
about them calves and they won't
home before midnight, 1 reckon" co
II cluded Mrs. Pease, with an oracul
-. shake of the head.
- But I'm expecting company to mig
. mother answered Lefty, with the ro
tinge widening and deepening throuG
= her cheek "and it wouldn't be very P
lite to be eff when they come"
> Well, it's likely yOsd have time
, get back afore they do, child. If it's al
u O your beaux, I can send 'em out to t
. naples"
4 Now, if the truth must be told, Let
n Pease had two admirers, for whom the
N had often, oflate been a struggle betwe
le her affection and her pride.
le Jason Williams was a country mercha
a smart looking young man, who