Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-11-24
Selected Storm.
QUALITY HILL.

room. With her feet on the round OF the
CHAIR, and her fingers in her ears,
Il ike 20 hear thunder we'll enough; /
don't know hut what | do | am not any
afraid of that. But be scarf OF the light
ming" said she, starting as the heavens
blazed over with a sheet of h1me IN instant
glory, with crash and roar that found Its
way through her fat fingers, and through
two wads of pink cotton, bursting on her
ear like tie trump OF doom.
"Mercy on me - shrieked Mrs. Wood
stock, chat struck, Now You may rely on
il, as sure ~ you're living creature, that
struck.
Mr.. Spoflord i old sorrel horse. the only
living creature in sight, made no reply,
but kept on nibbling away at tho white
clover on the green before the door. be
only turned his back to the driving rain,
that flew from west to east, 30 fast and 80
heavy. it was moro like bank of fog than
moving drops of water; and gave passing
SILVER when the rainfall changed TO hail,
and ratified down IA stones as large as
birds eggs.
But Mrs Woodcock was above the blind
trust of the beast, so, pale and trembling,
she pressed her hands tighter over her
ears, and looked at a spiders web in the
darkest corner of the room rs steadfastly
as if she were sitting for her photograph.
The thunder growled itself to sleep at
last, the lightning flashed its life away,
and the sun broke out like sudden smile
on baby's face. Still the unconscious
Mrs. Woodcock held on to her ears and
Qazed at the spiders web until the outer
door was flung open, and the choire-boy
4 ~ IA 4 nm aIr ~
buttermilk-eyed lad of fifteen, who was
either half-witted or halt-crazed-possibly
both.
"Ho Aunt Prssy," he cried "what are
YOU keeping Independence for. the day
after fourth 1t has all come of clear as
new cider and You arc wasting ySur time
sitting there like a statute. You better
be mending my pantaloons.
As he spoke, sudden sunbeam darted
through the western window, and flashed
athwart the corner.
'.If there isn't a cobweb right In my
kitchen !" quoth Mrs. Woodcock, deliber.
ately putting down her fingers and her
feet, and going for wing-a gray goose
wing that hung by strip of red calico on
q nail behind the door.
"Oh You come, Orson? Where did
ii strike?" she continued, appearing to
discover the grinning boy.
The hail struck everywhere, particu-
larly on DR.. Seaorest's grape-v,nes |
haven't heard az the thunder struck nj all,
not even on some folk 4 ears, returned
Orson, who was mainly composed OF q
pair of overgtown bare feet, blue cotton
frocl and oyerais, set of broad white
teeth, and a weat her-beaten hat with wide
slouchlng bnm.
"You don't mean to say the doctors
grape-vines are hurt essentially 90 you
queried Mrs. Woodcock deaf to the
impertinence ~ she had been to the thun-
der.
Don't know nothing about no essen"
ces," replied Orsou, who was fond OF long
words, but not clear as to their use. But
| can tell you one thing, though. You
ought lust to see the DOCTOR new grape.
vines he sets so much by. The tendons
and young grapes are fairly chewed to bits.
Yesm. l don't expect five hundred dollars
in gold would put it back to where 1t was
m hour ago"
How You talk = gasped Mrs, Wood
cock, who liked TO have things happen,
and the worse they happened, the better
she liked it. She Was kind-hearted SOUL
but something to talk over was worth As
much MS her dinper.
But it is so ?" she continued doubtfally.
"Reaily aud truly, Orson2 Now speak
the truth, lust exactly rs it is
Orson had as much idea of truth as lac
had of geology.
Yes N" said ne, getting bolier The
doctor said TO me, Orson Larely, said he,
Il wouldn't have this management done to
nv vintonRge, not if you had offered me q
FIVE hundred dollar bill right IN my hand.
And then he looked as sober as anything,
and walked straight into the house. | saw
Mrs Seaerest through the open window,
and she was crying like fury. You ought &c
take a look at it yourself, Aunt Prissy u
YOU don't believe me, he continued, IN al
aggrieved tone.
Mrs. Woodcoek did not believe him en-
tirely, to be sure, but yet there might be
something worth seeing; 50, after lttl,
reflection she decided that il would be
handy rs have dose of salts and SIENNA IL
the house, aud she might Ms well step nj
to the doctors, and get 1t then as ans
time.
Thele was no need for the grass TO dry,
10. Mrs Woodcocks chocolate and the
white calico. guiltless of panler and IN
nocant Ola trail, did not even brush tbs
BROAD plautG,n leaves and the fairy speed
well blossoms bordering the we.l-,roadau
foot.path tina led from her doorstep right
into the world; aud her heavy cad.sk'r
shoes squeaked to seorn the idea OF wet
ting through"
So she tied on her log cabin sunbonnet
that had n pert calico bow prospecting