Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-11-28

When quite near the bars tn
mighty girl launched herself in TIA
air, alighting with her stomach
across the top-most rail, where sh,
hung a brief m ment, made violen
muscular contraction, and alightet
upon the ground outside communi
eating to IL tremor quite percepti
Die from where | stood | climbed
over after her, and we sauntereC
under the trees back To camp.
The family had disappeared. few
dry boughs, however, thrown upoI
the Goals, blazed up, and revealed
their forms in the corrugated topc
graphy of the bed.
L bade Susan good night, and be
fore | could turn my back she kick
ed her mum ber-eleven shoes into tn,
air, and with mastery rapidity turn
cd in, as Minerva is said TO have
done, in fuIl panoply.
Seated upon my blankets nexl
morning. | beheld Susan's mother
drag forth the two children one af-
ter an other, by the napes OF then
necks, and, shaking the sleep out OF
them, propel them spitefulIy toward
the brook: then taking her pipe
from her mouth she bent low over
the sleeping form of her huge daugh.
ter, and in u high, shriIl, nasal key
screeched in her ear, "Yew Suse
get up and let the hogs out !"
The idea thrilled into Susans brain,
and With a violent suddenness she
sat bolt upright, brushing her green
colored hair out of her eyes, aud rub
bling those valuable but bleared or
gans with the ponderous knuckles OF
her fore-fngers.
By this time started Tor the brook
tor my morning toilet, and the girl
and met upon opposite banks,
STOPPING TO wash our faces in the
same pool. As | opened my dress.
ing-case her lower jaw fell, revealing
a row Of ivory teeth rounded out by
two well-developed "wisdoms, which
had all that dazzling grin one sees
in the show windows Of certain dent
al practitioners. 1t required but q
moment to gather up a quart or so
of water il her broad palms, and
rub it vigorously into q small circle
upon the middle of her face, the
moisture working outward to q Ger.
tain high-water mark, which, along
her chm and cheeks, defined the lin
l.s OF former abluton ; then, barring
her large red arms TO the elbow, she
washed her hands, and stood resting
them upon her hips, dripping freely
and watching me with intense curios-
ity.
w hen l reached the towel process,
she hereolf twisted her body after the
manner of the Balvedere torso, bent
low her head, gathered up the back
breadths OF her petticOat, and wiped
her face vigorously upon il, which
had the effect Of tracing concentric
streaks irregularly over her counte-
nance.
parted my hair by the aid Of a
small dressing glass, which so fred
Susan that she crossed the stream
with q mighty jump, and stood in &C.
slasy by my SIDE. She borrowed the
glass. aud then my comb, rewashed
| her face, and fell 20 work diligently
upon her hair.
All this did not 80 limit my percep-
ton as to prevent my watching the
general demeanor Of the family
The old man lay back at his ease,
putting a cloud of smoke; his wife
also emitting volumes of of the vapor
of "navy plug" squatted by the
campfire, frying certain Jumps OF
pork aud communicating an occao
sioual spiral jerk to the coffee pot,
with the purpose, apparently, Of stir
ring the grounds, the two children
had gotten upon the back Of con.
templative ass, who stood by the up
per side of the bed quietly munohiug
the corner of comforter.
My friend was in no haste. She
squaDdered much time upon the ar
rangement Of her towy hair, and
there was something like blush OF
conscious satisfaction when she hand
ed mo back nv looKlngSglass and re
marked ironically, 20 no, l guess
not, no, sir"
] begged her to accept the comb
and glass, which she did with maid
emily jy.
Ta.s unusual toilet bad stimulated
with self-respect Susan's every fibre,
aud as she sprung back across
brook and approaching her mother {
camp fire, | could not fail TO admire
the magnificent turn Of her should.
crs and the powerful, queenly pose Of
her head. Her full, grand form and
heavy strength reminded me of thC
statues Of Ceres. yet there vat witnr
al very unpleasant suggestion oI
lighting trim, sort Of prize-rine
manner Of swinging the arms ano
hitchirg of the shoulders.
1t required my PIKE County friends
but ten minutes 10 swallow teel
pork and begin the labors OF the day
Susan, after q second appeal from
her mother, ran over to the CORA
aud lee out the family capital, which
sireamed with happy giunt thFoa5l
.be forest, darkeuiug the tar greer
meadow gardens, ADD happily pass
/ iDg out OF sight,
When | had breakfasted | oiuet
Mr.. Newly 10 his trip 10 the CORA
? wnere we stood together Tor hour
during which / had mastered 10
story OF bis years since, 10 1880, b.
| lett bis old home IN PIKE OF Missouri
j II was one OF those histories com
D mn enough through this wide wesi
yet never failing 10 starLle me viii
] It's horrible lesson Of social disinte
grafton, of human relrogression.
. That brave spirit Of Westward Fl
which has been the pillar OF FIRE a.,
! cloud leading On the weary march o
> Prog ess over stretches Of desert, liz
: ing he way with graves of stroul
] men OF newborn lives; of sad. pr
I tent mothers, whose pathetic long