The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-24


drove through the gate and along the pas
sage way towards him. Old Big Butt
still seemed to frown down, and ask us
why we were there. But the little plain
appeared the more beautiful in contrast
with the mountain and the circular slope
of hills which ran around it.
When VIC reached the farmer he stop
ped ploughing as his furrow came to the
point nearest us, and said, "How are
you, stranger~ When he learned my
business and name he came up and shook
hands, and said TO his SOD, {" Get of,
Terance, and unhitch, and ride home and
help the gals" ~
The boy seemed glad to obey, aud hur-
ried along. We stopped to look at a
spot on the mountain which | came TO
examine. AS the farmer led the way,
he asked after the news. He had not
heard anything for week from the post
Office. He cautioned us TO keep an eye
out for the rattle-snakes, as he said they
sometimes came "out summing" The
climbing over, and specimens taken from
tho different strata of coal, and iron, and
furnace clay, and slate stone, we rode
back TO tho house. There we found the
mountain girls" neatly dressed in very
plain but tasteful style, with bountiful
meal prepared in excellent taste on the
west piazza. They dined there always
in warm weather, and ate supper there.
They ate breakfast ON the other side, in
the morning shade. There were three
girls of them, Hannah, Hepzibah, and
HELEN.
Can you read and write, all of your
| asked.
saw no way for them 10 learn there
in the forest, and meant no harm by the
question. But my question did hurt their
feelings.
Hepzibah," said her father, "show
him to your room. Let him see your
table and shelves" .f
She and Hannah led the way. Two
neat beds, with clean, white spreads stood
on one side, on the other, near the win
dow, were long bench made of slab,
and a set of shelves, full of books, and
table on which lay several scrap books,
paper, pen and ink, and large copy of
Webster's dictionary. came out to ask
pardon for my question. "Oh, we arc not
barbarians, stranger, not quite" was his
reply, You would not like to live here
yourself without books, l reckon"
These girls could spin flax, and wool,
and cotton. They could weave and
bleach, and color, and make clothes, and
mend them, and in hurrying time drop
corn and rake hay, They were healthy,
intelligent and happy. Walking and ri
ding by turns, they thought little of four
miles TO meeting and almost three TO
school.
"What if you should meet bearw
"Why, l do meet them sometimes"
said Hannah, laughing.
"And what do you do?" l asked.
"Why, VIC do nothing, sir, only let
them run off,"
saw no mother with them. Was
she absent with friends on visit9 The
girls stopped sewing and knitting at the
question, and their father went into the
bedroom next to theirs, and brought out
and held before my face daguerreotype.
The face was wrinkled and careworn, but
had-a mingIing of energy and gentleness,
which appeared clearly copied in the fea-
lures of her daughters.
81 took her to Knoxville TO get it,
II is now two years ago she died!'
No more was said. Native politeness
spared stranger from rccitals which III
such loneliness might have been readily
excused, but which so often shock delica-
cy. There was no need Of praise in her
case. The conduct of such daughters
was proud memorial. He showed me
one other memento. 1t was her Bible.
This called out sobs from the girls. Tears
had fallen at sight of the picture. The
book was well marked by use, the leaves
of the PSALMS, of John, and Hebrews
bearing the most finger wear.
AT parting, the voice Of prayer and the
tender tone of Christian counsel were
mutually exchanged. Purity, Piety, and
Charity were my names for those noun
tain girls. Youths Companion.
A SHREwD EDIToR.-There are some
persons who seem to think that editors
regard it rs one of the greatest intel
lectual luxuries to "pitch into" some
body, and they suppose themselves tc
have conferred great favor by furnishing
belligerent contributions, in which some
person, corporation, or society is soundly
abused. Such people may take hint
from the following:
A noted chap once stepped into the
sanctum of Venerable and highly res
pectable editor, and indulgcd in tiradc
against citizen with whom he was OF
bad terms.
"I wish," said he, addressing the MAJ
with the pen, "you would write ver,
severe article against R., and put it il