The Van Buren press., 1871-06-20

they chewed their respective cuds, with
half shut eyes, rs if enjoying the sport.
"Oh, you cunning COW you make be-
liove you do not see me! III wake you
up! Now for nice swing"
Mr.. Buckram was amazed TO see Irene
take Sukey by the horns, and swing her
self down from the fence. He was very
much alarmed, and ran forward to rescue
her from her dangerous position. lie
climbed the fence, and found the little
girl with both arms around the cows
neck, striking and petting her He look
ed at her with well feigncd amazement
and said jestingly;
"Ah! it was not my fine heifer that
| fell from the fence and broke her pretty
neck u
"Did you think was calf? Don't
you know calves cannot climb 7"
Yes, DO remember, they jump and
kick up their heels and try to fly like
birds, and run like squirrels "
"Oh, now, you heard me talking to
Sukey. II is mean to scolJ because
everybody cannot sit UP in q straight
backed chair all day and sew. j."
"Is it possible' Has Sukey been try.
ing to make her calf sew p
ala ha ha What funny man you
are Do you think cows can sew ~
"Did you not say Sukey wanted to
make her calf sew. "
81 mean some people think little girls
must, but I won't I'm going to climb
trees, ride horses, and play with cows,
and"
"And pelt gentlemen with acorns, and
made faces at good lady who tried to
teach you.
Irene hung her head for an instant; !;
then looked defiant into Mr. Buckram's $
face. He seated himself on low wood
en- bench and said Come Irene, and
sit beside me, and answer my question
Do you intend to worry Mrs Goddard
and disturb our visitors, and make your
self so disagreeable that | will have to
send you away"
Irene gazed into his face, and saw de
termination written on every feature,
Choking back rising sob, she exclaim
ed:
"You cannot send me away! You dare
not! Mr.. Buckram, you promised him
that you would care for me, Oh, she
has told you mean stories on me. hate
her yes, do her hate herP
"Irene, l will not permit this you
must not get into such fits Of passion.
l promised your father to care for you,
but ! did not promise to allow you to
destroy the peace of my home. Do you
think your father would approve ofyour
conduct Did you not promise him that
you would be good girl2 Have you
kept your promise, lrcne:'
His eyes looked into hers demanding
an answer Ii came from the depths of
wounded heart Her lips writhed with
mingled scorn and anguish rs she asked :.
Gould you be good if somebody told
you every hour how much trouble you
were, and how bad you were5 If some
body teased and vexed you, and called
you little plague! If you did some
thing just for fun, how would you feel if
somebody told you that you were mean
and heartless9 Oh, ifyou had nobody
to love but the trees, and horses, and
cows. you would stay with them, and
throw your arms around them, and love
them just as do"
Tears sprang into Mr.. Buckram's eyes
as he drew the wayward, passionate little
girl into his arms.
Irene, l know good lady who is
willing to take charge Of you and love
you as her own little girl. Will you live
with her, and try to do as she bids you p
Must leave Sukey, and Brndle,and
the horses; and will she be good like pa
pa, or will she scold like somebody ~
81 am afraid you will be compelled to
leave your pets behind, as the lady lives
in the city of New Orleans. But il you
are good she will love you, and will Of.
ten bring you here to visit them. y
Several weeks elapsed ere Mr.. Buck
ram removed irene to her city home, and
in that time he found place in her way
ward little heart. A large party Of pleas
ure seekers filed the boat which bore
Irene and Mr.. Buckram to the Crescent
City. Music and dancing resoundod in
the cabin until late hour. Irene sat on
the guards watching the sparks flying
backward like vast sheet of fire, some
strange fascination seemed to hold her
spell bound. The night was dark and
the boat was running rapidly Irene cast
q lingering glance into the darkness and
entered her statc.room loud explosion
followed, and she was thrown with great
violence into the cabin.
Stunned BY her fall, for time she
knew nothing but gradually recovering,
she heard groans, and shouts, and excited
voices crying " Fire ! fire fire." Where
was Mr.. Buckram? Irene ran headlong
with the crowd; her feet became entan
gled in something, and she fell down. A
grsan came from the mass at her feet.
Her little heart beat wildly; and her first
thought was to run on with the excited
crowd; then she thought, 81 will try to
help this poor man. !"
She stopped beside him and said
"The boat is on fire, and the captain
says, il we will be quick, he can save us
all Come, get up | will help you.
The sufferer groaned and said "El
len May! Oh, what agony"
"Mr. Buckram Is It your
"Yes. poor child, my leg is broken,
and, oh, my God, am ] blind ?"
"Stay here, Mr.. Buckram, and l will
get some one to help you.
Irene ran wildly on, entreating. i'm
ploring aid. Every one advised her to