Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-03
But / am anticipating.

But am antlclpatlng.
The first day of their arrival Geor-
gie's blue velvet knickerbockers and
Sues dainty white skirts reposed
quite contentedly in our laps, and fire.
quent were our exclamations,
"What sweet little thingsr'
"What dear, docile little darlings p
etc. and the children's bright eyes
and dimples danced in glee at their
merry anticipaiions.
'I'll ride horseback, Auntie Mand,
won't 2" asked Georgie, again aud
again, and I, unwary female that |
was, replied always, ayes ,dearr'
Supposing, in my ignorance, that
my daring little nephew would shrink
from fulfilling his request.
"Sue's feeded the chickens" was
that young lady's triumphant remark,
as she came to me, in the afternoon
with an empty box in her hand.
"Have you darling ;" "asks Auntie
Rose" taking the tiny fiiry into her
lap. "What did you give them ?"
| @This box full, penty of it," an,
swers Sue, as we observe, horror
stricken, that the box is labelled,
Fine Table salt" which article of di
ct Dr.. Murray had strictly prohibit
ed for hens.
So Sue was forbidden to feed the
chickens again, which almost broke
her heart, and our best hens sickencd
and died from effects OF the chloride
Of sodium.
George was very much interested
in the cow and calf, and used to watch
them eagerly while mama fed them
with corn meal, or something equally
palatable to cows and calves.
! The posSessor of the lacteal fluid
had way of shaking her head, and
advancing rapidly towards US, with
her nose down to the ground, that
struck terror to Rosie's heart and
mine. But mama insisted that it was
only because she wished food or wat
er, and laughed at our fears.
: Alas
"One morn we missed him from the
accustomed spot" (Alluding to Geor-
gie.) And just as we began wonder
ing where the dear boy was our cow
dashed by the window with George
upon her back.
We had only time to see a little,
white, frightened face look piteousiy
into ours, as they passed the window :
before we could reach the door the
COW was tearing down the street at a
fearful pace. Our brave little boy
held firmly by the horns, but we knew
his tender fingers must soon unclasp,
and shuddered to think of the mang-
led heap we might find on our path as
we flew down to the road after him.-
But Michael was our good angel this
time. Hearing the noise made by the
clumsy animals hoofS, he looked in
her direction, and quick as thought
was at the gate, Intercepted the COW,
and rescued our fainting treasure.
Dear little George, if his sunny
eyes had teen closed to Us forever =
We never could ascertain how the
child got upon the cows back. To
all our inquiries he persistently replied
that he was giving her some corn,
and she put out her head and jerked
him up quick"
1t might have been true; but few
days after upon my investigating the
cause of a scratch on his nose he in
formed me that he had stepped on it.
George was quite suhdued for
some days after his adventure with
the COW, which by the by We were
subsequently obliged to send away,
for she ran at mama and hooked her,
and also Frank and our chore boy.
But Sue not having got into mis-
sif," as she expressed her brother'S 5
dilemma, and being $50 nuts gooder," "
was a daily trial to US.
| If we wanted particular hen shut
up, Sue would be sure to 20 and let
her out. She would chase all the
setting hens off their nests and "pank
um" with sticks; would catch the lit
tie chickens aud duck them in the els
tern; fell into the "pig's den," one
Sunday just after she was dressed for
church; insisted upon sitting in my
lap all the time, when Philip, VINO had
returned, was calling and the first
time DR.. Allston the elder visited US,
informed him be wasn't so nice as
the man Auntie Maud kissed"
| One hen, particular pet of mine,
obstinately refused to lay her eggs
anywhere. save in our new carryall
On week days we succumbed to this
idiosyncrasy, but on Sundays We ban
ished her to a dark barrel, carefully
confining her there with a board.
And as Rosie had made all the
fowls so tame they would even at a
distance descry her bonny face, and
run to meet her, saluting her with all
sorts of accompaniments, they also
were captivated on the seventh day,
and thus prevented from displaying
their secular enjoyment on the Sab
bath.
George behaved well at church.
hut as nothing could induce Sue to
asst still and not speak out loud" we
decided after one severe trial, to leave
her at home with the servants, but
"Let US have Peace!" being our mot.
to, allowed the wilful young lady to
accompany us in the carriage. and re.
turn home with the driver. coming for
US again at the close of the services
One particular Sunday, mama had
extended an invitation to a rising
young clergyman, who preached to US
to accompany US home. Our party
were on the church steps with Dr.
Allston, Phil and Murray, when our
pretty bay span was drought to" in
style. Murray opened the carriage
door and was helping mama in, when
"with many firt and futter," and a
good deal of squawking, out cane my
pet hen, directly into the rising young
clergyman's face, and silvery little
laugh from the coachman's box indi
Gated the perpetrator of the mischief
The hen was caught and returned