The Republican journal., 1870-03-10

kept back, though he wasn't unmindful of his
book; but that he had such hankerng after
tools, that he'd have stolen his chance if he
hadn't been allowed; and what excellent
work he turned off, and all about it. And the
squire, he listened and laughed, and listened
and laughed, and says he
'sSend him in. l don't know him, nor
him me; but take care he don't spoil it ALL -
Just as l expected, the job was just to
Rash's mind. He got up them alcoyes in
trst-rate style, and threw in lot of fancy
carving. There was an alcove for the eng
lish classics" as the squire called 'em, and
Rash built it out Of the best oak, and carved
4 wreath Of oak leaves and acorns over the
arched cornice. The one for Greek and Lat
in he ornamented with laurel leaves, and the
big ones for the histories, had a centre piece
of armor and banners and shields, and what
not But for the one for American authors,
he carved the finest thing you ever saw.
Over the top was mass of water lilies, mag
nolias, and golden rods, and dropping down
the sides were vines of the ''trailing arbu-
tus," he called it, but for all the world, our
own May flower. Why, the library was Just
a picture before anything went into it It's
years ago, and folks haven't done wondering
at it yet. I'd not have done it, for ten thous-
and years.
When it was all done, and the chips all
swept out, the squire invited party to see
his Improvements. Not large party, but
some choice friends from Boston and New
York, and some acquaintance he'd made in
travelling and an Englishman, who had writ
ten books himself, who was stopping with
him. And the best of all was, he invited
Rash and his mother, too. He did now real
"!
Hash, he went to Boston and bought her q
new black silk, good one, and dress cap
(widder's cap, they call IT'D and new suit of
clothes for himself. (Ie'd had good wages
for overwork good while)
1t was a wonderful bright moonlight, that
night and as l sat by my door, smoking,
saw them pass. Mrs Hennings had on her
new black silk, open from the neck to the
lace in the neck, fastened with her little
black pin, and her ear rings on, and her wild
der's cap and her net shawl, and new lay
lock kid gloves on her hands. Shapely hands
too, if she did work; and in one of 'em a fine
old Japanese fan, which her grandfather had
brought home in some of his voyages.
And Rash! He'd grown to be II tall lad
almost a young man, and really out of his
time now, with rosy cheeks, and black curly
hair and Just shade on his upper lip And
his clothes fitted as well as if they were wet
and clung to him. tell you, as he stepped
along with his mother, Rash looked ''good
enough to eat'' SO Eliza said
The squire invited them to his house and
took 'em all into that wonderful library, to
have coffee, or ices, or something. Whatey-
er it was, it was Il mere excuse to get them
there Then he began to show his alcoves,
and explain them; and when they'd seen all
the taste and judgment he'd shown in picking
out his flowers and leaves and vines, to match
the kind of books, and everybody had admir-
was specially struck, the squire brought in
Rash and introduced him as 'the artist and
introduced him and his motherto everybody
and he got one order from a New York man
right on the spot; and the Englishman said
to him. that lone who could house books Sc
royallv, must do it for love of them, as wei
as love of his work" And he said something
Rash didn't tell (but his mother did) L mos
forget, about it being Il wonderful country
where even its artisans had the manners o
gentlemen. AT least it was either artists O
artisans, don't know which
AS Rash handed his mother cup of tea
he said in a low voice, "Now, mother, ism
| it better to be a frst-rate carpenter. thai
such a poor professor as | should hay,
made"
81 don't think YOU would have failed 4
anything" she answered.
But the squire heard her and laughed.
II don't know about that, says he; ssman,
a good mechanic is spoiled to make a poo
professional man. It's far better to be sur,
the work is your own work, and it is the hes
of its kind, than to be notional about the sor
of work, And, by the by, Horatio, here's
bit of spending money for you, and I'll com.
round tomorrow and get a receipt in full :
So ended this royal evening. Next day
the squire called round, and proposed tina
Rash should go to New York, and study witt
architect, for year. Didn't he iump at the
chance? AS for the envelope, it had IL checl
for thousand dollars; (the work was do!
cheap at that-rd not have it for twice that
if could have done it at all.)
SO now Rashs fortune was made II
made lots of money with his designs an,
daughter and lives in Fifth avenue? No
a bit of it. He came back, and married littl
Bessie Playne, my little pet, and has prett
place at Yonkers and the widder lives there
too.
/ guess they get on pretty we'll. Both th'
women think that Rash is perfection, which
is the main thing. Sometimes l go up ther
for day. but the widder, she has so mucl
to say about the governor and the senator
and blood and gentility, that I'm mostl
glad to get home and stretch my legs by tn
kitchen fire place, and smoke my clay pipe
She has great deal to say about genius il
blood; and though l don't doubt genirl
helped Rash, guess it was as much grit a
genius. However, don't know much abou
it.
LIFE IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY. An En-
glsh traveller, who has recently published
volume on his wanderings in this country
Ill of 1o.,c. Al