The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-01-20

spirit of clothes-horse. The boys de-
liberate pace seemed to indicate that he
thought the net would be of little use to
US. As we made our arrangements for
the hunt, Mr.. Hermit Alexis betook him
self off alone. Quite contented without
him we rode on in a different direction.
The sport was not. good. We found
covey once or twice and spread the long
wings of our net, but for some reason or
other, the birds would not drive, with
sudden whirl they disappeared just as
they were about to go in. Our eyes
followed them into the air, where alas
no shot pursued them. We were grow
ing respondent when Alexis appeared
galloping towards US from a distance
He came up all alive with excitement, a
flushed face and sparkling eye. Never
had seen Alexis look so bright, so real,
so human the blood of life bounding at
last in his veins.
Come" he cried. "Be quick. /
can show you the largest flock l ever
saw; there must be a thousand of them
at least !"
My brother opened his eyes at this
statement, but made allowance for ex-
aggeration, and off we went in high glee
and expectation. We approached eau
tiously, almost holding our breath for
fear of losing this glorious chance, when
suddenly we were saluted by terrific
clamor, gush of song, poets might say
cawing, quacking, chattering and twit-
tering; more noise they made than twen-
ty Mississippi gossips.
WE'LL declare, Mr.. May, you have
been so impolite as to intrude on a camp
meeting of blackbirds," said my brother,
sarcastieally, and the birds rose blacken-
ing the air. Il congratulate you on
finding such flock of partridges. Re-
markable success for first attempt"
Hush, brother, you are cruel" ] said
in low tone, but he only laughed and
made cOmical face at me. Posey was
sympathetic, and said to Alexis with un-
wonted bravery:
Il am glad they were not partridges,
for | cannot bear to see poor birds killed."
"What did you come out for this even
ing then tendcr-hearted little woman p
Tell me that"
Posey felt the logical force Of the ques-
tion and hung down her head. Walter
rode off whistling Pop goes the Wea-
sell" After he was gone she looked mp
and said in answer to his question, " l
forgot that
+ ! was rather surprised to see Alexis
bear his humiliation so good -humouredly,
He excused himself TO Posey:
a was absent minded, Miss Ada, or
| should not have made such mistake.
l was thinking sadly of the light of
other days"
rode on to join Walter, and as came
up l heard him say
"Time to pull up stakes, Lyt. Your
pouch is as fiat as a pancake 1t is al
ways so when there are ladies along"
"Dat's dc trufe, Mars Walter, but
what sort O. quare white folks is Mars
Lexis he do know partridge from a
blackbird | never seed sich in all my
born days.
Say no more, Lyt," interrupted,
You are very illiberal, not to say mar
row minded"
saw Lyt few minutes afterwards as
he mounted gigglng and remarking inan
under tone, We'll if dat don't beat my
time o day J.
| As we returned home occasional faint
sounds of laughter reached us from the
rear, where Lyt logged along on his little
mule. Posey, who seemed to understand
the cause, was annoyed, and forgetful ol
her dignity would call back to him,
please to hush y This seemed to ex
cite his mirth afresh, even while he at
tempted to suppress it.
4 In the meantime, she and Alexis had
been getting on remarkably we'll togeth-
er. Exercise had made him more sprigbt-
i ly than usual, and somewhat more nat
ural; his eyes beamed more with the
light of health, and less with feyerlsh
glamour. Posey's tender heart had been
!. melted al the sightof hisincomprehensibls