The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-01-08

and scoldcd at all who ventured
near her special domain.
The robins built every year in the scraggy
old pear tree, cnroling their hearts out in
the quiet of the balhy morning. But
Anes was sick of il all, half envying the
musical sougstcrs their bird comfort and
freedom.
Thoughtfully she came along the dewy
road, leading from tie farm house to the
barn, after her mothers unkind greeting
listless and unhappy. The morning, although
full Of beauty, possessed no charm for her.
Eeach buttercup and daisy held drop of
dew, every big thistle on the way boasted
Natures rare diamonds; every blade of grass
sparked and bent under its damp burden,
but she only noticed the fresh dripping
grass and daisies by holding up her scant
dress that it might not come in contact with
the dust and dew of the moist road. With
Ter brown eyes hid deep in the enormous sun
bonnet, and her braids buried in its tomb of
crown and cape, mechanically she picked up
a stool and gently commanded the frisky old
bovine, who ''mooed" welcome to her. to
''hist."
Old Black understood the brief requst and
meekly obeyed, munching her cud good ma
turedly, occasionally putting out a cloud Of
grassy breath as Il sort Of morning salute
Steadily the milk foamed up in the pail,
aud Agnes, under cover of The bonnet,
bowed her head on gentle Old Blacks
flank, while as steadily the silent tears drop
ped into the filling pail, slowly rolling over
sun-browned checks in mute, untold mise
ry.
Nothing romantic, you say, in young
girls crying in a milk pail? Maybe SO, but
at the same time there is something touching
about this poor lonely girl; the bent patient
attitude; the panied, quiyering mouth, and
tear-filled eyes; the busy, working fingers
the smuggling up to the warm, friendly flank
Poor child! it was the most pitying rest her
head had ever known, the kindliest touch
her brow remembered, for she had never had
a childhood. Work was the first words her
baby lips had learned to speak; it had
been dinned in her ears ever since she was
old enough to stand on a chair and wash the
dishes
She cried and worked frequently. 1t was
nothing now. The old COW was used to feel
ing the pressure of the bowed head and gen.
tie fingers, and would often turn familiary to
look at her little mistress in seeming com
passion, as if, comprehendug her sorrow, she
would lain offer sympathy.
Albert, her youngest brother, came into
the yard at this juncture, yawning, sleepily,
drowsily buttoning the collar of his coarse
check shirt. Al generally completed his
morning toilet while on his slow way TO the
cow-yard. His short cotton trowsers showed
a considerable portion of his brown legs,
making conspcuously prominent the two
in the damp heavy dust, moving irregu-
Inl, fnll ly
awake.
a shabby straw hat adorned his head
through the crown of which Ais sunburnt
locks daringly peeped forth in desperate
freedom. John soon followed his brother in
similar primitive attire carrying in his hand
the ox-bows, and on his shoulder the heavy
yoke. Shortly after, his voice was heard
'hawing and geeing' the cattle back Of the
barn.
John was like his sister, patient, silent,
and HATING. As man, he looked for free
dom, future emancipation from the thank
less slavery and unrequited drudgery Of the
farm, away from its bitter memories and
laveless ties. Agnes saw only lifelong mis-
cry and brayely tried to submit to her una,
yodabIe misery.
AL, on the contrary, was bold retOrtino
and fiery, for which traits Of character, anC
open rebellion, he often felt his grim step
shire's whip and curses combined, his moth
ers ready cuffs and scathiHg tongue. She
declared him to be the pest and torment
of her life with his "sass, conterdlctng, and
sulks.
81 shall be Obliged to whip Daddy Hat
field, before | am done with him; he forgets
that | am growing his master;' said Al tC
his sister one day, in a sneering, contemptu
GUS manner, Struggling his smarting shOul
ders, on which the lash had just descended
with bitter smile of vindictive hate. 81
shall dress him finely some day, Aggie, anC
then cut and run, say goodbye to the olC
farm forever, and out in the world for my
self; but | am bound to whip old Hatfield
| before 90. l have stood his abuse Ion;
enough. The next time he fourishes hi
whip let him look out, that's all. "
| The affrighted Agnes begged of him t.
"Hush, and not say such dreadful things o
father.
"FatDer!' cried AL, wrathfully, clnchin!
| his hand threateningly He is NOT my faith
er; he is cruel and mean, and has stolen ou
dead fathers place, the low, brutal coward
and MY fathers son will maui him we'll SOM
day not far distant. Trust me, but I'll set
tie our accounts of long standing. See if
don't pitch in next time.'
Albert Willard walked sulkily away, fall
meaning what he said leaving his siste
amazed at his daring and trembling for hi
back, thinking tenderly of his thin shirt an
shudderingly of Hatfeld's stout arm; ye
withal secretly pleased, inwardly applaudn
his meditated struggle for liberty and HI
rights as man.
What with milking and sobbing, AgnC
had, on this particular morning, nearly Iii
missed Old Black, when, with sudden fur
Gus plunge, the usually amiabe old creatul
made savage dive at big, strange dc
surreptitiously made his debut among I'll
indignant dairy. Agnes saved her milk tt
COW knowingly and most discretely, consiC
ering her high state of excitement, steppir
carefully over the pail. But not SO the re
heifer, who rushed at the intruding canil
with furious onset, knocking over the a
founded Al and spelling half his brimmr
pail.
Mr.. Hatfield saw the accident from Il
barn door, and seizing the cart whip, co
| veniently near, began to mercilessly be-
the unoffeHding boy, who was boy no Ion
| G. Il O. l.