The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-08-11

or returning home, when the quick
ear of Betty detected the tramping of
feet at no great distance behind them.
She looked quickly round--and there,
coming on with the speed of The wind,
was an old ram in full pursuit Bet.
ty screamed; Maud's voice drowned
it--and making a tragicaI rush for
ward, she sank deeply in the soft mud;
and had it not been for the timely in.
reference Of Betty, would probably
have tainted there. Jennie was far
ahead, laughing merrily; but it was
no laughing matter for poor Mand,
and on she dashed with his imper,i,
nent lordship in close proximity
while her voice, wi h betty's powerful |
shrieks, was making the air to rcsound
with echoes.
II wish all the berries were in pur.
gatory" yelled the painting Betty, as
she reached the fence that divided
the pasture and corn field, and drag
gcd Maud over after her. "And it
was me that did see an alligator u
mile long in that bog-hole, as well as
half,a-dozcn rattIesnakes!"
~ Betty" cried the incrcdulous
Jennie.
Yes, yes, Miss Jennie, me own
eyes did see them besides u bull-rrog
as big as u taykittle, and IA turtle as
large AS mcseli, right under Miss
Maud's iutw
"Oh, mercy shrieked Maud.
"Ies, it was great mercy, to be
sure" continued the incorrigibIe Bet
ty; "lor like enough ye'd have been
smothered in the mirc, if his old back
had not kept ye up, but not Il shoe
have got to my lut. | left 'em in the
bogs. and by this time the rattIcSnakeS
have carried them off. Faith, what
am | to dor
Betty held up her shoelcss muddy
pedals in blank dismay; but Maud was
too severely frightened to sympathize
with her in her misfortunes, and cried
out anew:
"Oh, that horrid old sheep! Do
run, Bctty-ncv6r mind your shoes
the wrelched barbarian is climbing
the fence"
The girls commenced their flight
again, and paused not once TO look
behind them until they reached their
E!dorado-the raspberries. Here
they ventured to 8 lance around. The
coast was clear-his neccy maj 'sty
had vanished; and before and around
them hung the ripe red fruit in prodI.
gal prolusion. The girls uttered cry
of joy, and poor Betty almost forgot
her shoes in viewing the rich treas
urc.
"Oh, this is glorious" exclaimed
the euraplured Jennie. commencing
i'm assault upon the berries so vigor-
Gus as to provoke the laughter Of
Maud and call down the applause OF
Betty. After the first glad surprise,
Maud rclapsed into an indoIent indliI-
erence, reduced the berries to Il pre-.
mature jelly in her gloved bands, or
lodged them in the grass instead OF
her basket, and at last discouraged.
she sank down in the shade Of a mos.
sy crag, and flaming herself violently
with her hat, exclaimed:
"Oh, dear! its an awful day! hate
the country-its composed pricipaIIy
Of snakes, and mud, and brars.-
Nothing would tempt me to live in it,
"No,hing!' said Betty. 20 Miss
Maud, you have not seen her beaux
round her yet; and faith. they don't
look much like your city dandics and
good-lor-nothing counter-.jumpersH'
You are growing eloquent said
Maud, with IA snecr. 81 am aware
that there exists u vast difference be.
tween your country pumpkins and
the gentlemen Of my acquaintance
81 should not wonder if you married
some spruce young farmer yet" pur-
sred Betty.
"Marry farmer ~ replied Maud,
with incilable disdain. "Whatl mar.
ry man whose whole convers ,tion
concerns breeds oil cattle and droveS
of swine! Why, the mere idea is
enough to drive one into hysterics,--
| Marry a farmer, indced~
"Ha, haF laughed Jennie, Strange
things happen in this worldp
Don't be so absurd pettshly re-
joined Maud. IF you entertain so
ilattering an opinion Of your smart,
young farmers in blue frocks and
cow-hide boots, am perfectly willing
that you should have one any time
As for myself. | look higher, and shall
give my hand only to rich city gen.
teman."
Them that look high alters ligh
] loNy 7" ca id Rottv