Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-03

was LHaninS Sl1@ $ 2 "
echoes.
81 wish all the berries 3lte-in rurgato-
tyw yelled the pant Betty, as she
reached the fence thai q lded the pasture
and corn-feld, aha drag Maud over af-
ter her. "And i was az that did sec an
alligator a mile long IL that bog-hole, -
well as half-a-dozen rattlesnakes ]"
20 Betty !" cried thsincredhlous Jennie.
.Yes, yes, Miss Jepaie, ne own eyes did
see them -besides q o@ll frog as big as
tsy y-kittie, and f.iyt as laigsc rs meself,
right under Mss Msasss fut e
sOh, mercy shrieked Maud.
eyes, it was great mercy, to be sure,"
continued the ineorrigible Betty; "for like
enough ye'd have been smothered in the
mire, if his old back had not kept ye up;
but not shoe have got to my fut. l
left 'em in the bogs, and by this time the
rattlesnakes have carried them off. Faith,
what am to do z"
Betty held up her shoeless, muddy pedals
in blank dismay, but Maud was too severe
ly frightened to sympathize with her in
her misfortunes, and cried out anew:
'Oh, that horrid old sheep Do run,
Betty-never mind your shoes--the wretch
ed barbarian IS climbing the fence!"
The girls commenced their fight again,
and paused not once to look behind them
until they reached their Ell Dorado-the
raspberries. Here they ventured to glance
around. The coast was clear-his feecy
majesty had vanished; and before and
around them hung the ripe red fruit in
prodigal profusion. The girls uttered a
cry of JOY, and poor Betty almost forgot
her shoes in viewing the rich treasure.
ooh, this is glorious" exclaimed the en-
raptured Jennie, commencing an assault up
on the berries so vigorous as to provoke
the laughter Of Maud and call down the ap-
pause Of Betty. After the first glad sur
prise, Maud relapsed into an indolent indif-
ference, reduced the berries to prema-
ture jelly in her gloved hands, or lodged
them in the grass instead Of her basket
and at last discouraged, she sank down in
the shade of a messy crag, and tanning her.
self violently with her hat, exclaimed;
"Oh dear tits an awful day! l hate
country--it's composed principally 0
snakes, and mud, and briars. Nothing
would tempt me to live in its
Nothing? 2" said Betty. 20 Miss Maud
you have not seen the beaux round her,
YETI; and faith, they don't look much lik
your city dandies and good-for-nothin,
counter jumpers y y.
"You are growing eloquent" said Mau'
with sneer. II am aware that there ey
lists vast difference between your country
pumpkins and the gentleman of nay az
: quaintance."
IL should not wonder if you marie,
some spruce young farmer yet" pursue
r Betty.
= "Mary a farmer!' replied Maud, wit
V ineffable disdain. What marry a ma
: whose whole conversation concerns breec
ofcattle and droves tof swine! Why th
/ mere idea is enough to drive one into hy
r terics. Marry farmer, indeed p
0 "Ha, hap laughed Jennio-"strang
things happen in this world! 20
h Don't be absurd" pettishly rejoin,
r Maud. "If you entertain so fattering
\ opinion OF your "smart, young farmers
r blue frocks and cow-hide boots, | am pc
lie fectly willing that you should have one al
Is time. As for myself | look higher, al
1T shall give my hand only to rich city ge
s. tleman."
h "Them that look high alters light low
le said Betty.
a "You are impertinentw ~ Maud, exclai
a ed with an angry frowa. "Come Jenr
il, are you not ready to return l shall ro
ce alive if | stay here longer"
n ayes, we will 60 now" answered her
lg ter, "our baskets are filled"
ht Mand arose, prepatory to departing, a
tie then suddenly looking around, she utter
a loud shrek, and sprang toward her co
in panions. Betty screamed in pure sym
thy, and the surprised Jennie turned to Z
to cover the cause of this new alarm. The
nix close beside them, with malicious l.
n and an air of secret satisfaction stood I
ram! This was a terrible predicam
!" and Jennie could perceive but one ave.
ill of escape. Behind them thick br
:" hence, and if they could manage to re
DIV and scale it, they would be safe, but all
I'm treat in homewsFd direction was enti
~" ly cut off. Maud was stupefed with
"if ror, and stood cliuging to Betty, who
| a mounted huge stump, and was survey
yer the old quadruped with indignant aston
nd ment. A basket of berries was before h
ful and as he advanced with one eye on
girls and the other on the berries, Jen
me exclaimed:
as 20, Betty, don't let him eat them
save the berries-do drive him Off
in "Lordy massey! how be going to |
by him?" answered Biddy, "He's bound
o have the berries. Just see how the
rn- villain puts IMP
ore 'sOh! | wish had not come; he will
the the death of mel" cried poor Maud.
was "Well, faith, It's me that's not afrai
,isy himr' said Betty, stoutly; and sprin.
lich from the stump, she caught up decs
aim branch that was lying near, and prep.
he'd to give the enemy battle. But, to he,
ESQ., finite surprise and discontinue, Ran
ling anticipated the movement and upor
II Of springing rapidly forward, Betty was
no cipitated fat upon the grass, and the
ked NAL began his vigils over her in dan
With ons proximity, end checked every effo
n in poor Betty to arise, by movements :
ud's liar and exceedingly interesting, espec
sical to the ono one against whom they
soft directed. Luckless Betty! her att
nelly would not have forcibly impressed a
have tistic taste as one of grace or beauty;
ngh- Jennie stood thinking OF some wa