Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-12-21

would have destroyed the amulet had
not her mothers love for Eva pleaded
against it.
So when Eva had reached her tenth
year-bright. blooming little lassie,
full of gayety and happiness-the dip
per was in existence bearing bravely
its age, and its repeated struggle for
faAor with Mrs. Phillips.
Eva, though quite young lady,
was as fond of it as ever; she kept it
on her dressing burean that it might
meet her eyes the first thing the morn
ing. One would have thought that
the little maiden was completely infat-
uated with what five years ago Eu-
gene Fuller, the pediIer had styled
love gauge, and perhaps she was, we
cannot say. Certain it is there is no
accounting for the fancies of a female
head; no philosopher has ever discov-
cred test by which to analyze the
mysterious composition, and more
over never will.
One evening Mrs. Phillips was COM
ing into the kitchen in something of a
hurry, and it being dusky in the room
she hit her foot against some obstacle,
and in consequence lost her balance
and fell down in large pan of but
ter-milk, which Jane the careless
house maid, had left on the floor
There was quite spIashing AMI spat-
tering, and Mrs. Phillips though nn-
hurt, was decidedly put out; not out
Of butter-milk, but out of temper.
Her favorite poodle dog was fright
ened so much at the noise of her fall,
that she few on the cats back for re-
venge, and the latter animal made her
escape through the chimney. leaving
poor Roche to drop at his leisure.
From the ruins, Phoenix like, Mrs.
Phillips arose; and Jane bringing a |
light she proceeded to investigate the
matt er; wondering all the time what
she had stumbled against. The won
der was soon uispelled by the appear
ance of Eya's tin dipper, for the child
wearied out with a long ramble over
the field and pastures, had returned /
home So drowsy that her mother had
sent her directly to her own room
without giving her a chance to put
away her treasure. The sight of the
dipper only seemed to increase Mrs
Phillips Indignation, and she vowed
vengeance on the unfortunate cause
of her downfall
Consequently the next morning :
when Eva arose and looked about her
for the dipper, it was not to be seen.
She went 10 her mother for informa-
ton, but the lady was profoundly ig-
norant in the matter, and Jane prov
ed, on beng brought to the inquisi-
tion by Eva, to be in like blissful
state with her mistress
Then Eva went through with a
grand system ofreeonnoitering, which
resulted in the recovery of the dipper
from a mess OF rubbish In corner of;
the wood shed. 1t was bruised and
battered a little, but in other respects
as good as new, and Mrs. Phillips,
though guilty of the intent, was not
exactly guilty of tt sin of the incon-
oclast.
Resolved to guard against all fur
ther PROCLAMATION of her idol, Eva
tied the dipper up in piece
OF strong silk, which had been given
her by the village milliner to make /:
dolls dress, which she deposited all {
in little hollow at the foot of the S
pasture, and covered at the aperture [
with fiat stone. /
Some time afterwards she was sent
by her mother on an errand 10 her I
aunt Ethel, and as the way lay. down 7
to the pasture lane, she would take
out her dipper, give it an airing and r
Lerhaps fill it with straw berries down :
in Grants meadow. Singing blithe- +
", she went on her way-the exhum- :
ed dipper still in her bandage, hang ,
ng on her arm. She came to the .
narrow bridge across the dead river, :
and was nearly in the middle of the
when her attention was at
-racted by large cluster of wild dra-
gon stars, clinging to the willow !,
which hung over the bridge-the
plank bent and tipped with her =
scream and the little |
orm of Eva struggled in the water. =
She closed her eyes and gave her 7
self up for lost, but no, the dipper,
bound with silken cloth, acted as u
ife preserver, and kept her above the {
surface. {
Help me! Do, someb 5dy, come and 7
lelp me- screamed the girl as she was
borne rapidly past a field where some :
armers were engaged in planting =
heir corn. In moment a stalwart
nan cleft the waters and reached ?
Eva, be grasped her in one arm while .
With the other he swan to the shore. Il
"Where am. l? Where is my dip d
1er?" queried the child, as soon as I
The came to realization.
"You are here" replied the man
but what of the dipper? All! as l u
i've, It's an old dipper, rather the 6
worse for wear-tied up in a rag Il
Well, it saved your life"
Then the good man put her IN his !
'ough farm wagon and conveyed her
home, taking particular care to relate
% her mother the important part of y
he dipper having played in the res >
,ue of the child. :,
81 tell you ma'am if it hadn't been
or that ar tin dipper's keeping her F
ace above water she'd a'been drown 4
ID before any mortal could have
cached her. Thank the dipper, T.
narm, and not mel'
This unbiased account ofthe praise
worthy behavior of the dipper, soft Il
med Mrs. Philips towards it, and she e
lllowed Eva to keep it whenever she n n
,hose-
Months and years rolled away, and f,
when Eva Philips was fourteen, she /
vas sent to celebrated female SEM
nary In a neirhhnrinn Stain frnm