Litchfield enquirer., 1861-02-07
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LIFE'S CHANGES. nv JJ-fy WsTI.ATF

BY LLtt NAIl-Afs
 "lIa. ha my boy, caught at last !' end the man. pushing aside clump of bushes. sprans through and stood before the boy. It was a beautiful place that he had chosen for hi retlcat On three sides were heavy hedges of alder bush scarcely crowd his way through and at his feet fully along, almost mocking the child in his grief. He sat in the shade upon the green turf boring over an old yellowed English Reader and until the abrupt entrance of the man, lad scarcely raised his eyes from it for half an hour As he sat there, with his sun burnt face bending over his book, the long, tangled locks hanging so low over his forehead as almost to conceal it from view he would not have been called hand some but when he raised his eyes to the man s face with look half of wonderinant, and half Of terror in them, he was strkingly beautiful. You l forgot the matted, uncombed hair and sun burnt face forgot the uncouth garments which GOV cred hlm. and only saw those glorious soul-eyes look ng into yours.
 There was a savage smile upon the mans face as he snatched the bolk from the boys hand and stood o"er him.
 How dare you leave your work and come here to waste your time so foolishly?' "l finished my task before l came" 1 \ ct wora Back to the cornteld before l make you feel something heavier than mere : words .'
 The boy cast longing look upon his book and then uion the brig Int waters before him, as though he wished he were lying peacefully upon its pebbly bottom and then, without word crept through the bushes and went off through the field back to his weary, weary task. The hot sun poured down upon head, but, knowing too we'll what would follow if he stopped his work for moment, he toiled weariy on. Presently, d little girl came across the ploughed ground, bearing in one hand bottle and in the other @ basket covered with snow white napkin.
 Carl, l saw tn t you were alone, and, so l asked mother to let me come down and bring you some beer and luncheon. Just seer' and uncoyering the basket she held mp before the boy saucer of delicious looking strawberries. |" They are the first we have had this year. l knew you liked them, 30 l thought would bring them down and eat with you. Are you glad came?' and she cast her large blue eyes up into the boys.
 "ies, yes. Minnette, for l have had nothing since morning, and am very hungry. Here, lot us go into the shade of this apple tree. 1 just saw Mr. Thornton drive out of the yard towards town, so we shall not be disturbed"
 It was pretty sight; the scantily dressed and half famished boy sitting side by side with the : for nature had dealt lavishly with Mir. Thornton bound boy. He hardly spoke while they were eating but he was thinking-you could see that by the flashes of color which came and went al ternately upon his. and by the brilliant lustre o his large hazel eyes. At last when they rose from their rest he spoke
 Minnette, can you come down to the gnarled oak tonight? l want to tell you something"
 Just then they heard the roll of wagon wheels and with low Yes," the girl bounded off out of sight, while the boy took up his hoe, and by the time Mr. Thornton came in sight he was hard at work. He had not been to the village as Carl had supposed, but only to a neighbor's thus his early return. | At last the long day was ended. The COWS had been brought from the pasture, milked anG turned out for the night; the big wood box hae been filled with wood; the chickens fed egg brought, and the bound boy was through hi: work. With stealthy step he stole out of the and then into little grove beyond where Min nette was already waiting for him. They sal down in the moonlight and more than half terri fled at the boys wild looks. Minnette crept uI close to him, and laying her hand upon his arm looked up into his flushed and excited face.
 "What is it, Carl?"
 | "Minnette, will bear it no longer! an ground down worse than slave? It is nothing but work, work from morning until night, ant even when do my best, l receive nothing in return save kicks and bruises. But have done my last work for him !' and the boy clenchet his fight, while the color forsook his face, leav ing it white and cold
 But Carl, what will you do? wish Icoult hell. you" and tears filled the speakers eyes.
 "What will do? I will go away from her, in the. first place. Minnetts, am going to night" ua < 4ss#
 "Carlv'
 "Yes, tonight. Maybe I will never see 70, again ]; but Minnette, 1 shall not forget you I You are the best and trusst friend l have. am thirteen now. If am alive. will come bacl in six years''
 But that is 50 long, Carl"
 Hark did you not hear steps? must g back, for want to be ready to start by midnight
 Mlnnette, may take one of these cqrls? ant as ne spoke he twined one around his finger.
 Yes, yes, Carl; and here is something else
 Ecn,t refuse it, and she placed in his hand 1,
 Mlnnette. will you kiss me? It may be tn :, last nme whe knows2' Half timidly sheput up her little mouth to his 'sea ID another moment they had parted. H