North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-02-22
Sel&tt t Storp,
THE FREAR FARM.

stood under the poplars which sha ded a
brown farm use.
"Marg'ret !"
Ms. Frear's voice went ringing up the
stairway to the east chamber.
"Yes'm."
1t was cherry voice that replied, and a
trim little figure came tripping down after
the voice.
"Aunt Mary has come, and | want you to
go.and shell the peas for dinner while visit
with her"
"Yes'm," again, as the worthy Mrs. Frear
took her basket of mending, walked briskly
down the path, and climbed to a seat be-
! hind her sister.
| You see she was a cripple, this Aunt Mary
and in her weekly visits never thought of
alighting from the chase in which she came
Consequently that vehicle has slowed away
in its old chiDks more general information
| than ever crammed the Uranium Of any NOR
tai carriage since the food, 1t was, In fact,
perfect moving ecysclOpedia # bilths, mar
riages, and deaths, past, present, and pros
| Lectlve, for the little town of Heathe.
| In it they were selted, this June morning,
| two Thter haired women their backs were
| turned to the sun, while Dobbin cropped the
lilac twigs, munching them after solemn.
reflective fashion, quite cognizant the while
of the movement Of tongues behind him.
Within doors tidy kitchen, great squares
Of sunlight lying out on the unpainted floor:
and Margaret humming slow song to her
| self over the basket Of peas.
| Guess who !" rang out merry voice be-
hind her, and two brown hands drew her
backward blindfold.
"Anson But what will father say 2"
| 'N0thing to me, imagine. | left him
| down in the two-acre lot with Parson Sykes.
They'd just begun with original sin, and
they've got to get through tbs DEGREES yet :,
to say nothing Of the probable fate of the
heath en- world. They're safe enough for
the next two hours" said the yourg man
throwing his straw hat upon the floor.
A broad shoulderel, straight lmbed fel-
low was Anron Boise, and SO tall that, as he
| stood there in the low kitchen, his curls
! Just missed brushing the cross-beam over
| head
''But mother 2" again suggested the girl
"Ob knew what would become of her
when saw Aunt Mary's Dobbin coming up
The hiil. They're having rich time out
there. heard my name just as eaped
over the fence. So now, if you please, I'll
sit down, though you hadut asked me to,
and shell! peas as propitiatioa or penance,
or whatever you choose to call it, for my
transgression." He drew up a low chair,
and sat down beside her.
"But, Anson," she still demonstrated, Pm
afraid this isn't right"
"Of course you are, and of course l know
'tisu't! But l know of something that's
worse and that is, for your father to insist
upon separating US when he knows how fond
we are Of each other, and for no reason under
heaven than that Pm an orphan and poor.
say IT'S burning shame, begging your par
don, Margaret" And the young mans face
flushed indignantly, Margaret SAID nothing
and he went on
However, it's the last time shall trouble
present"
"The last time ?'' Margaret pressed one
of tue pods with her thumb, and looked up
inquiriDgly.
eyes, the very lsst time Pm going away
going to California; The flush had gone
out of his face, and instead was look of
fierce determnin nation.
"California !" The pod was opened, and
sound dozen peas rolled across the kitchen
floor. California was long way off to her,
little girl, sitting in that Vermont farm
house.
'But, Arson isn't it dreadful wicked
place? Amt they heathens, and cannibals,
and bad as the Hottentots' most 2"
Don't know I'm sure, Maggie. [ only
know that there's gold, and that it's great
country out there. Oh, you ought to hear
Jim Bartlette talk. You'd think twas
nightly slow work getting living off these
rocks" he said.
II know-but, Anson' seems to me 'two'd
be better to stay in Christian country"
said she, hesitatingly.
81 declare, Margaret, you're well nigh as
bad as Uncle John. He says I'd better
steal horse, and get sent down TO Windsor
to making scythe swaths." Anson laughed
his old merry laugh. Margaret remembered
it. It was years before she heard that laugh
again.
5. Then there was pause. The cat dozed
upon the settle, and the tea-kettle sang up
on the hearth.
"And when will you ever come back, An.
son 2 asked the girl.
"When can bring something with which