Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-12-08
NO. 8.

Betsy Blngle, arrayed in her Sun
day gown, with an astonishing vel.
low bow, which gave her the ap.
pearance Of being pinned to a
ticket, had as much as she could
do to attend to what she called the
boys "shindys.'
"Why don't you shut your fly
trap, Miss Binglep said Seth, the
biggest boy-whom she considered
head "skezecks'-as the openness
Of her countenance became more
and more apparent.
you're a sassy boy, and don't
mind your manners" returned
Betsy, with a snap but for all that
she laughed until the great brown
turkey nearly slipped off the plat
ter she was carrying.
o, wonder il a dinner before or
since ever looked smelt, or tasted
as gloriously as that dinner did to
the sharp senses Of Linda's little
boys? 1t overaOwed the big claw
footed dining table, and went me-
andering away on sideboard and
ancient half round, in pies, and
puddings, and shaking iellies
"Hadn't / better keep on the
watch, marm, for fear the old
Squire should popin ?" whispered
Betsy, coming up to the old lady's
chair where she sat with her
eyes blurring at sight of the row
of little exp ectant faces opposite,
and Linda in her old place.
go along, Betsy Bingle, and
take the baby said the dame.
Don't be pestering, to spoil the
comfort of this one day." she
added in a lower tone. And after
that ] think they all forgot the ex-
istence of the Squire; even though
his coat and stick seemed to men
ace them from the wall.
How | wish ! could tell you of
the way that dinner was eaten, of
the fun and the frolic. How, when
each of the little lads had a big
plateful of turkey before him,
snicker" ran along the
line, and, being reproved for it,
how they declared it had snickered
itself. How they stood them
selves up, and shook themselves
down, and began bravely all over
again, until, when the great plum
cake was brought on, the weakly
one got up on his shaky little pins,
and cheered out sweet and shrill,
until the others joined in, and
Grandma made a time of wiping
her old eyes.
At last they were down on the
hearth, cracking nuts and toasting
apples, and Seth, had pulled the old
Squire's hat and coat off the hook
to play wolf in, and was chasing
Ben down a long side passage,
when the breathless lad ran into a
remarkably sturdy pair of old legs
"Get along with your apple cart, "
cried he, just as Independent as
top wood saver; and the next
moment something big and gruf
collared him, and shook him smart
ly, and he looked up into stern old
face, fringed with white hair, sur
mounting a shaggy top'coat and
muffier.
"Who be you, saucy box p 'growl-
ed voice from the depths of the
muffler.
"Ben Mason" SAID the boy
promptly looking up with his frank
eyes, as proud of the name.
The next moment he was whirled
into a corner, and terrible foot
step went clumping down the pas
sage.
"Massyful Peter the old Squire
has popped" screamed Betsy; and
she let the baby fall just as the door
broke in, revealing white face,
quivering with passion. The bless
ed little thing set up an opportune
squall; and the mother snatched
it to her bosom, and hid her face
on its downy head, and the sturdy,
manly little lads gathered about
her, as if they meant to make a
wall uetween mother and harm.
$50 you come sneaking back, did
rnu ," cried the Squire half choked
with rage, and at the same time
pointing to her with his long, trem
ulous finger, "as soon as, my face
was turned?I didn't think you'd
do it, he added, with bitter irony.
Il had more respect for you
"Don't blame her. cri d the old
wife, running and putting her hand
On his arm. 81 begged, and be-
sought, and plead with her to
come; because it has all been kept
from the children, and l wanted
them to feel there was a welcome
for them In the old place on
Thanksgiving day, once, before
died.
"You dared to de itl' he ex-
claimed, in tone of unmitigated
astonishment.
"Yes, Chester and the old
woman Strengthened up and met
his eye without any break in her
voice. ~ was always afraid ofyou.
You made me so the first day we
was married ; but mother-loye. they
say, is as strong as death. IT.
makes even such poor creature
as me brave, l couldn't have seen
Indy and her innocent children
suffer. if I'd died for helping them