National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-11-01
The fiour-barrel gave unmistakable
echoes of emptiness as Molly explor-
Ell the bottom with her SCOOP. The


rye and INDIAN in the meal chest
sank down to the portion of the wd
oW OF Sarepta. Unfortunately. il
dld not possess the same quality OF
reproducing itself, and inevitably
the last johny cake went to the grid
die. The grist mill was two miles
off, and going there was not to he
thought in the. present state of
things. The little domestic garri
son was driven in upon its reserves
OF potatoes and pork, and here, foI
a while, they held their own.
One evening the three sat at sup
per, their table drawn to the edge OF
the hearth, where the green apple
tree wood smoked and sizzled, witt
a torlorn pretence of warmth. The,
were talking ofwhat they had hearI
the night before at a meeting. Tn,
lnclemcncY of the season had sus
pended the meetings for while
but one had been held the night
before at the house nearest them
and glowing time the brethren
and sisters had had of it there. cele.
brating the approach of the millen-
mum, and singing, with an exulta,
ton of wild expectancy, the popular
advent hymn,
Don't you hear the Lord a-cominC. don't YOU
hear the Lord a-coming.
/ Don't yod hear the Lord a-coming in the old
church-yard I"
The hearts of the old couple had
not come down from the cxal.
tatlon to which the meeting and
that rude song had wrought them.
But thoughts of certain uncomfort
able physical necessities would cross
their minds, as they sat at their
PLAIN repast, and their conversation
was not very raptuOus. The 'wOlf
at the door was growing larger, \
spite OF the faith inside. Try as they
might to aboDrb themselves in pious
contemplations of the coming of the
Lord, David and Molly Crossman
could not wholly resist the very
earthly wish that He would come
Just now in the shape of Il genuine
southwest thlw or ncighbOI AS OK
team.
Grandma spoke up Jakey, you've
got visitor i'll your tca'-as the old
lady poured out her third cup.
Molly was not ont of tea yet. She
would have borrowed from place to
place till the 1lth of April rather
/ than 90 without that. In that par.
ticular, at least, she ment to soccu-
py' till the Lord came.
You've got a visitor, and you're
going to have company.
Grandma merely remarked that
she couldn't have any idea who the
company would be.
Il guess it's the miHcanium, and
it's going to bring us some wood
said the child.
The old couple laughed. The art
lessness of childhood is so blessed
to surprise care and divert the gray
lty of the aged with pretty drolleries.
Tomorrow came-cold and sting
/ ing-all the wealth arcocks frozen to
the north-wcst-and about noon a
loud knock with Il whip handle
sounded on the door
1t was opened by Molly, and there
who should she see but big, square
shouldercd Capt. Straight, in heavy
cap and surtout, and great woollcn
mittens, come all the way from his
farmhouse, four miles off, to make
/ them call
Here was II visitor indccd-and
the volublc old lady proceeded to
tell him at once, as she invited him
in to chair. all about the sign in
her teacup, and the BON mot of the
boy Jakcy about the millennium
Pooh, pooh said the big man,
laughing heartily, but declining to
take the offered chair 'thc millcnni.
um amt commlng just yct-but the
boy was right about the wood
Give us Il shovel or two, Uncle Da.
vid, and lend us u lift yourself, if
you can, we're stuck in drift back
here at the corners with Il WhoppinJ
load
Jnclc David hobblcd about at
the CHEEKY summons, and began
preparations to 30 ont before he
fairly knew what he was doing but
JakcY anticipated his movements,
and procured the shovel from the
barn with commcn,iable dispatch
and the next minute the burly far
mer was marching from the door
with it, seeing plainly enough tha
his aged friend was too lame To- &C
company him.
Capt. Straight had been OWN;
David a small amount, and the So
verify of the season had suggcstc,
To him, knowing as he did the some
what bchndhand habits of the gos
old man, that he might find Il loa'
ofwood acceptable. Hence his pres
f ent expedition through the drifts
and his unexpected call ut the door
Half an hour or more passed an'
the loud Get up! Gce'cc' OF TN
captain was heard cchoing ronll'
|, the house, and looking ont OF the
4 window the inmates sa w--'s"f'
enough-sucha % load ofwood us iia'
i not giaddcncd their eyes for years
r. Eight feet high upon the broad !., sitt
Law snugly packed and fastened wltl
. log chains. the two cords of hickory
. and oak. and drawn by two yoke o
|, brawncy oxen, ANA the iariheI grea
Il dlnught bull ahead for II leader.
+. The sight made Jakey's eye
:, l,ino Inst n twinkle of the sam