Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-11-21
Selrtt Storp.
WHAT Wa IN HilDA HIDE'S
BUNDlE2

MISS t1iIua flyue, WHO uleu III lut
aims house on the 10Th instant, at the
age of 50 years, had been there sixty
years Ii WAS her home. and probably
| the only one she ever clearly remember
ell. She was u regular attendant upon
church services and often carried with
| her 10 the Westinghouse a bundle, which
K she laid in The pew 10y her side, but never
opened. Oldriiie Gazette.
Would you like To- know? can tell
you about Hilda Hyde for have seen
her ever since was boy. when we first
moved TO Oldvile.
You know that kind Of girl. with
glossy yellow hair that iumbles down
over her face, and blue eyes that look
out at you. slan.ing, from under deep,
shady lids, and the veil of red blush
over her cheeks. Ii is sunny hair that
loves the sunshine, or else she would not
be running out So often into it, or would
not so often let her hat slip down over
her back. or shake her head SO deiiantly
in The very blaze of sunlight. Not that
she is often long in one place, but flashes
out from the dark porch over the grass,
or goes STOPPING among the currant
bushes. or tilts back her head with all its
curls. as she reaches up into the cherry.
trees. No wonder she likes to be out in
the open air. hunting for yioleIs in the
spring, poking about the asparagus beds.
digging up ll0wer borders, tying up vines
to the porch and the windows, picking
roses. getting the thorns out OF her TN,
gers. or holding one up to YOU to find
the thorn in it.
l. it liilda HYDE | am describing, or
that kind OF girl hardly know; for |
never saw llilda VIXEN she MAS a
girl; YOU see, that vas sixty years ago.
But my grandmother knew her. and she
was telling me about her, and about the
color OF her hair and eyes. one evening.
And when my grandmother talked oi Hill
da, thought OF Annette, as she had look
ed that afternoon.
Reuben and had come home with the
oxen, lust before sunset; and we were
on our way up to the barn when Annette
came flashing out OF her house in this
way.
Reuben is not my brother, though you
might think so. He is my cousin, moth
ers sisters sou. lie came 10 live with
US when his mother died. He was a hall
\ head taller than | and that measures
the distance between US all over. And
together we had all the care OF the farm,
worked in the fields together. and had
the same books.
And Annette had only been staying al
the next house this summer, and she WAS
going back in the autumn. She came out
into the yellow OF the sunset, ~ | tell
you, up through little garden-walk by
the side Of her aunt's house; there was a
row OF boxes each side Of the walk, and
the skirts of her dress brushed il; | can
smell it now. And she came through q
little break in the hedges of currant-
bushes into the green patch in front oI
our barn, where Reuben and stood with
the oxen
is there anybody who wants to drive
me over to Grantly this EVENING"" she
asked.
Aunt Mary wants me TO 60 over with
a message to Kate; and uncle says | may
have the horse and wagon, if can find
q driver"
OF course Reuben and both started To
meet her, when she came to speak to US.
lone at once :" she said, laughing, "Or
stop minute. III settle who shall GO
You are not to sec which suaw is the
shortest, for the one that draws the long
is 10 90 with me ;" and sire held ont both
of her hands, with the straw crushed in
between them.
You shall draw" said Reuben so
drew the shortest, and ! went back to the
oxen.
1t was moonlight evening; for as the
sun went down up rose the full moon op,
posite.
/ And il was that evening some OF the
children had asked grandmother about
/ Hilda. We used tn see her on Sundays
and the next Sunday | saw her. an Old
old woman thin, with clear eyes, looking
forward; and she came always into the
pew in front of ours, aud set her bundle
down by her side. 1t was Deacon Cor
don's pew; his was one OF the old fam
! lilies; and, when she was child, Hilda