True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-18


pered, &" | shall believe it always, uncle
Charley, now have heard that story
about farmer Keep, there Is blossom in
the wilderness Of eUery heart"
1t was sullry August day in the sum-
mer passed at M eadowbrook. The
wind, low, and slumberous as The hush of
a mothers voice at ngh(aIl, crept up
through the corn, and down among
the rye and wheat fields, that lay like
broad, green folds about the dwelling
of Farmer Keep. There was no poem of
flowers written about the from, yard no
graceful, harmonzlng touches of creeping
vine or waving curtains about the old red
homestead and yet it had quiet sub
stantial, matter Of fact physiognomy. that
somehow made home feeling about
your heat.
l think it must have been this uncon-
scious feeling which decided the course
of the girl, who stood at the point where
the two roads diverged, and ga4ed wist.
fully about her that afternoon.
She seemed very tired, and her coarse
straw bonnet and calico dress were cover.
ed with dust. Ii you had looked in her
face you would not have forgotten it. 1t
could not have seen more than fifteen
summers. 1t was very pale and its
sweet, sad beauty made you think of
nothing but forest,howers drenchcd with
summer rains. Her eyes wore of that
deep moist blue, that rolls out from the
under edge OF April clouds, and her lips,
fipe and full as meadow strawberries, had
that touching sorrowfulness about them
which tells you always the heart beneath
is full Of tears,
The girls hand clasped tightly the lit
tie boys by her side. The resemblance
between them would have told you a,
once they were brother and sister. bur
his life could not have covered more
than a third of hers. The little fellows
large eyes were full of tears, and the
bright culls that crept out from his hal
we've damp with moisture. lie was
hungry, ard tired, and motherless. Wha
sadder history can one tell Of little
child !!
"There, Benny, cheer up. Well &C
10 that old red house there, and see wha
we can do. Don't it look nice with the
great trees in front p said the girl in ;
tope of assumed cheerfulness, and sht
quickened her steps.
eyes. But I'm SO tired, Lucy. If
only had big piece of bread and but
ter !"
Well, dear, III try and get you some
there. 1t don't seem like begging 10 ash
for it in the country"
A few moments later she opened tn,
broad back gate, and went up to tht
kitchen door, Farmer Keeps housekeep
er-an old woman, with yellow whit
cap, and check apron tied over her linse,
wolsey skilt-answered her knock.
" Do you want any help, or do yo
know of any body round here that does
limidly asked the girl.
The old lady peered at her with he
dim eyes,
f "No," she said. I" There ant br
four of us-Farmer Keep, and the tw
hired men, and me. It's harvest lin
, just now, though, and reckon you
find place up in the village"
"Thank you. Benny here-my lit
brothers, very tired, for we've wake
from the depot since ten o'clock. Ca
you let us come in and rest awhile 7"
"Sartin you can" The sight of Il
little child touched the heart Of the O
!. woman, and they went into the larg
$ old,fashioned kitchen, and sat down
o the hag-bottomed chairs, while, with
a glowing cheek. the girl cast about in h
!, mind lor The best manner in which 10 pr
il sent her petition for food. by a
Before she had decided the master
the house suddenly entered the kitchel
Ie for it was nearly dinner time. He w
ID a largo, muscular, broad.chesIed, su
is burnt man, with hard gloomy expires
AZ ion on the face, where sixty years we
IS beginning to write their history. I
stood still with surprise, gazing on Il
at new occupants of the kitchen, and Il
ra boy drew closer to his sister, and the G
OF threw up timid, frightened glanced in
I the gloomy face.
id I" You don't know Of nobody rou