New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1862-08-29

she did. The sun was not two hours high
when | got to the post-of6ce and delivered my
letters. Then | ran and told Maria that, in
6cld about a half-mile from tho house, the
bushes were hanging full flong, great, ripe,
sweet blackberrics. Shouldn't we 20 and
get some? ,.
| She'd ask mother. ...
Mother was willing g.-blackberry pies and
puddings were SO nice; and blackberries and
milk were healthy for children. But we
asussn't stay loug--tassss .were.a couple Of
baskets for us to fill but we must be good
children, and hurry back.
Oh yes we'd do that When the bas.
kets were full, the cake all eaten up, and
and we had finished talking love and what
we'd do when VIC were big enough to get
married and 60 to keeping house, then we'd
hurry home
Did you ever 60 blackberrying, reader If
you had the girl Of your heart with you, you
didn't mind the scratches, rent trowscrloons,
or rock -barked shins did you! While she
chirped to you, you could hardly have heard
the rattle of a "poistn sarpint' at your feet.
OF course, you did not count minutes, not to
speak of hours!
Maria and I ato cake, berries, and-and
kisses And when we had filled our baskets
with berries, we went and sat down by q
rock, which was shaded by great naples.
Springs bubbled up at eur feet and q little
stream ran ripping away over the stones
toward the large creek in the valley. It was
a cool and pretty place. There we sat and
talked until, all at once, I saw that it was
almost sunset and then came the thought
of tho woods, the long, rough road, the bears
and panthers, and, last but not least, the
birchen sprouts, which would be my portion,
as the Kentuckians say.
One more kiss, and started to see Maria
home and get my fathers letters. Then off I
went, though Maria and her mother both
begged me to stay all night, for I'd be sure
to get lost in the woods did not dare to
do that for though had one of the best of
fathers he was stern and severe; and 7
feared him more than bears and panthers.
So Of -~., EAe ~s-e~-.A aee-. 4 .s~1ae tho
odst time ever matfe uu th,.t -o~d h-.s -vhe,.
it grew pitch dark was still two miles away
from home, and on the very mountain where
the bear had been killed, and where pan
thers had been seen. ...
didn't think of them, though, I thought
only of my afternoons bliss, and stumbled
on, whistling "Yankec- Doodle" and every
other tune that knew. There was no moon
and bu, a few stars to be seen-for clouds
were drifting overhead-and in some places
I could scarcely see tho road at all. Once,
in while, spot which had been burned
over and left clear of trees made matters a
little lighter for me, but not much. But |
trudged on as fast as possible, carrying q
backbone cane Of my fathers, yet in my
possession, as q weapon Of defence. It was
slver-mounted, and had a sharp steel for
rule at the end and thought it great
thing on snakes, and so always carrird it on
my post-ofice trips.
lhad got within about a mile from home
and was just about to enter piece of hem
lock woods, where it was pitchy dark, when
heard sharp, fierce growl in the road di-
rcctly ahead of me and my staring eyes
seemed to see something yet blacker through
the darkness, there in the shade of the hem
locks.
My heart had thumped some when l
hugged Maria, but it thumped then like a
lat Aor -
wasn't too scared to think-what to do.
knew if ran hack in the road, the bear, or
or whatever it was, would soon evertake me
lfI tried to 60 aroundit, it would catch me
in the bushes. Surely, there was nothing but
fight.
So, setting my teeth together, | brought
the stecl'pointed cane into the position of
"chargc payonets y and marched ahead.
The next instant, instead of tho fierce
growl which had made my heart thump so,
hoard the hearty laugh Of my father, who,
standing in the dense shadow, could see nay
motions in the dim starlight beyond
As he came forward, burst into tears.
"What are you crying for, my son I" he
asked.
20 father if you hadn't spoke just when
you did, should have killed you !" was my
reply.
But the truth was, 1 wept for joy for |
had got out of what appeared to be terrible
tough spot much easier than had expected.
Father excusd the Sprouts" that time; for
he had been much alarmed at my long stay,
and had taken his gun, and como to meet
me. Jwent to the Office after that often, but
never staid so late again.
"But what became Of Maria 2" asks the