Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-16

the blossom is always called the May how
er In this northern region this most beau
tiful and fragrant bloom is seldom seen till
June. Paul carried away the wreath with
the sunny curls, and to this day he has
| special tenderness for trailing arhutus.--
Cheerily and lightly he went his way with
his hidden treasures to his lot in the heart
of "the Heavy Timbers," and he did not
sleep that night till he had explored good
deal Laying his pack down ON a good dry
camping knoll, he took his rife and threw
it up in the air, and caught it as it came
down, many times in merry play that night,
because his heart was full of companion.
ship. He found hillside against which to
build his camp, and the early morning
shone on him with axe and shovel, hard at
work clearing space for his shanty. HIS
shovel had a steel-iron blade, and he had
carried it in his pack with some screws,
which helped him to fit wooden handle
holes having been drilled for the screws.
Before noon the hill was partially dug
away, and posts set with crotched tops to
hold poles, on which a thatched roof OF
birch-bark and hemlock-boughs was to be
laid When this was done, Paul shot
partridge. When it was dressed he broiled
it. Perhaps he smoked it little, but, with
bread and salt from his pack, it made an
excellent dinner. He then peeled birch and
gathered hemlock-boughs, and before he
slept he had a comfortable camp. He was
much happier alone, with the angel IN his
heart, the owner Of the sunny curls then
he could have been in lighthouse at the
next opening. He had sundry adventures
in his forest solitude He cleared his land,
leaving knoll for his house, and he left
some grand old forest trees i'll the places
where he would have set them had not ma
ture forestalled his labor of love Trees to
most of the settlers were only enemies, to
be got rid of They spared none but the
maple. for sugar Paul left groves Of
young trees, though it cost him much care
in burning. Others turned the growth of
ages, and which none can recall to shade
the naked land into ashes, and then into
salts and then into money. Paul had his
time of making salts, time of tiresomc
and profitable interest, but his beautiful
home at this day is embellished with glory
Of trees.
One Sunday morning Paul was getting
ready to go to church at Woodville-n0t-
withstanding the common property III the
curls and other treasures, he felt more as
ii
this morning he made a kettle Of maize
meal mush for his breakfast, and set it out
of doors to cool, while he shaved for no
one was hirsute in those days who was
within hailing distance of civilization
Presently he heard a series of horrid grunts
and looking out he saw a tear who had put
his head into the kettle of mush without
leave and who was caught by the bail fall
ing over the back Of his ears, the bail hay
ing been accidently left upright As Bruin
was trapped Paul split his head with his
axe, and had enough to do that day to dress
the carcass. No doubt Emily was disap-
pointed in not seeing him at church, and
Paul was disappointed in having plenty Of
bears grease, barrel of salted meat for
winter, and a grand bear-skin for his bed.
Day after day our hero went on falling
trees burning them to ashes, and then with
a leach tub made of hollow log, he leachcd
his ashes, and he boiled away the lye in Il
huge cast-ron calaron kettle, and made
salts Salts are always silver to the set
tiers The land is cleared of trees when
this money is earned, and gold comes Of the
rich cleared lands.
He built house of hewn logs, and the
neighbors helped him to roll it up when the
time came, and then he put a neat paling
around a goodly space for a garden, with
the house in the centre His fence the
first of the kind i'll that region, was made
by driving sharpened poles into the ground
Next spring he planted scarlet runners, and
his fence became highly ornamental when
it was festooned all over with vines in
bloom.
He planted currant-bushes and strawber-
ries, plum-trees, and even rOse-bushes,
among the great black stumps. He went
on for a year improving bis farm, and dream
ing of an Emily for his Eve all that time
without saying word to the yeung lady
He had seen her at church, and he had
called at her home, but he had never found
to speak of his love or his
hope. At last, with his cage built, he de-
termined to try to catch his bird. One bright
morning he found himself at Woodville and
not long alone for the people were all
smartly dressed, and out in the street Paul
asked lad where the people were going.
and he said, "To the wedding, be sure"
Where ?"
AT Mr. Joe Jones'"
Paul gasped out, Which of the girls is
going to be married p
boy starting to run lest he should miss the
show.
Paul sank down ON a rock by the way
side. What cared he now for his pretty
hewn log-house, with real glass windows
twelve seven-by-nine panes in each? What
cared he for the pole paling, scarlet run
rers, rose-bushes, and fruit, and great trees
and groves of trees, and sugar orchard
His Eve was lost to him. The bears might
eat him instead of the hasty pudding, if ii
pleased their appetite to do 50.
He sat still in his misery, till the thought
struck him that he ought to go on and wish
the happy couple joy, Like a good gen
erous youth he rose, and with sad heart
and faltering steps he entered the house Of
feasting. The clergymen had just married
the couple, and was making long prayer
for their happiness, when Paul found him.
self at the door of a the best room" in Mr..
Jones's square house, which no one ever
dreamed Of calling a cottage. The happy
couple were standing together looking what
is called cheap. Their awkward and sheep
ish appearance made the joyful revelation
to Paul that the bride was Miss Seraphina