The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-05-26
BETTYS NIGHT WITH THE BEAR.


little house right under the shadow of the
tall Minnesota pines Coming upon it,
though, after long miles of silent forests,
it seemed quite gay and lively, and if you
went in, and saw the bright-f faced mother
and three children, and, after while, the
tall, sunburnt father, you made up your
mind that this was almost a village
Then few rods on, and the wood opened
out of the clearing, where, day after day,
the father worked in his great FIELD of corn
and potatoes, which hardly needed scare
crows, because the blackened stumps still
standing, each seemed to be one. Then
the lake, and the lake which emptied into
it, and on the other side the maple>wood,
where sugar was made in Spring, when
The Indians came down from the upper
lakes.
In the Winter, The woods were filed
with lumbermen. who camped only a
mile or two from them, and in the SUM
mer they amused themselves in way
you never would dream Of. And 50 the
years went on, and little Betty, the young
est, came to be four years old.
1t was August, hot, bright day, the
very height of the huckIeberry season.
''Nuw, children, want you to do your
prettiest to day Mrs. Brewer said early
in the morning. ''lf you want your ill
of huckleberry pie this Winter, you've got
10 get me bushel mere afore they're
gone"
81 found place yesterday" said Jack !;
81 bet there's half bushel anyhow
Put Betty down in the middle, an she
might fill a two-quart pail without getting
up"
"Well, bring horne all you cam said
the mother "and here's your dinners in
this little pail Look out for Betty"
Shell look out for herself; she's as
cutr as an Injun this minute
And Jack picked up his basket and
started on, followed by Sarah and Betty
in Indian file.
Five or six miles to the best hucklebcrry
field would seem a long way to you, but
the children's brown bare feet never tired.
Befure long they passed little lake,
stopped there to get drink, and soon
reached the opening where the berries
grew the thickest.
What with finding better and better
places, and stopping sometimes to watch
the scolding squirrels, and then to eat
dinner, the day went swiftly by, and it
was almost sunset when they turned home
with heavy pals and baskets. Betty lag
ged behind, for she ached with long stoop-
ing, and Jack and Sarah grew more and
more impatient.
''Nuw, Betty, we'll just leave you if
you don't hurry. You've got the lightest
pail. Come along quick p said Jack.
81 can't l won't 60 quick if l don't
want to" and Betty half cried.
Come along, SAL" cried Jack, hur-
rying on (; and Betty, Indignant, sat down
on log, and waited till they were almost
out Of sight.
81 know the way just as well as they
do" she thought and walked on leisurely.
Jack turned once or twice, and seeing
her following slowly, concluded she would
overtake them, and went on.
Now and then, Betty stopped, the last
time till they were entirely out of sight,
determined to show she did not depend on
them at all.
The shadows heightened, the wood had
never seemed SO dark, and at last, little
frightened, Betty called loudly;
Jack O Jack -
No answer save the echo, and now
Betty ran on, hoping every moment to see
the two before her. She did not notice that
she had taken a trail leading off from the
one they had gone over in the morning,
and only stopped on coming to a swampy
spot she did not remember 90 Jack .
she sobbed, turning once more, but now
darkness was closing in upon her. The
forest was thick and close, and try as she
would there was no finding the other trail.
Over head an owl hooted She stumbled
on, startled at the sudden sound, then
tripped over q root in the way, spilling
the berries all about, picked herself up,
only to fall again caught at the air as she
felt herself going rolled down a steep de-
cline, and lay at the bottom in a little
heap.
1t was nearly eight o'clock when Jack
and Sarah walked into the little house
and set their pals on the table.
"Where's Betty 2" said the mother.
''Just behind she wouldn't come along
with US .
And Mrs. Brewer, satisfied, told them
to sit down and eat their suppers.
"Where's Betty g. said the father. pres
emily coming in.
"She's coming she wouldn't keep up
with us, said Jack, privately, a little un-
easv IN his mind at the LONG 6elaV
''Then 60 cut now and help her along
in" said Mr.. Brewer. ''Its poor way
for a boy to do, to leave little girl alone
in the woods, even if she does know the
way"
Jack with slice of bread in his hand,
went out little sulkily, and Mr. Brewer
stood in the door looking down the trail.
Half an hour went by.
81 don't see what's the matter" said
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