The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-03-26

Whitman ceased to class HE youth n.
mong the boys.
In the course of week, eight strong
og-houses each a story in height, and
pierced with loop-holes, and each pro-
vided with capacious chimney, were
finished and fronted the little naked
square.
Mark Heber's house was simply ar
ranged, built upon the plan generally
adopted by the settlers. There were
but two roomsy one being entered
through the other. The inner room
was to be Gays. The outer room was
to be parlor, di1ing-room, kitchen, Ii
brary and Marks bedroom.
The house Is your province, Gay,
said the youth, upon the morning af-
ter the house was finished. shall
leave you to furnish it and transform
it into home while L work upon the
stockade. If you need my help when
the stockade and block-house are fin
ished, l will turn myself into house.
carpenter
L sha'nt need you, SIR said Gay,
saucily. You attend to the farm, and
leave the house to me-
The shelter provided, the eight hous-
es were left entirely to the management
of the women, the men working upon
the stockade, which was constructed
upon strict military principles, and
was model of worth and excellence.
1t required two weeks and the labor
of sixteen men to complete this work
Whitman and his family had been
living in their house for week. All
the families had moved into their
homes save the Hebers, but Gay with
pretty tyranny had not allowed NJ ark
to cross the threshold of his house since
he had finished it.
Now when Mark unyoked his oxen,
turning them loose i'm his own yard and
drew his wagon under great cotton
wood in his back garden, Gay called to
him with a bright smile. saying that
he might enter the house with her.
He came pleased and smiling. but
paused upon the threshold in mute a.
mazement.
! Was this the room with four rough
| log walls which he had given into her
hands?
Was his sunny little home log
house on the plains?
1t seemed incredible.
For little clever witted Gay, with her
delicate and skillful fingers, had fash
Toned lovely home out of her barren
materials, such an one as would delight
the eye to rest upon, and her sole helps
had been two kindly boys of fifteen
years, who had worked under her di-
| rections.
It's the prettiest room I ever saw
cried Mark, with enthusiasm. There
isn't house in town like it. Won't
the people open their eyes? It's just
| lovely y cried Mark delightedly. You
are regular home fairy, Gay. You
were meant for the frontier, and you
are the fairest flower on all the plains
NY precious little sister'
He drew her to him and kissed her
tenderly. But Gay, most unaccounta-
bly,, broke from him blushlng like q
rose.
'I'll call Whitman in to sec the
l,Uu>e.' exclaimed Mark, not noticing
Gays confusion. We shall set up for
the aristocrats of the town.
He dashed out in boyish eXuberance
and called in the entire population o.
the village.
They all came in, and there was q
general request that Gay should chris
ten the settlement.
Gays eyes Frightened even while
she shranll from the honor thus put up
on her.
Il can't she said. Mr. Whitman
is the oldest of us all. and is our Mayor
Let him name the village
Then I'll call it Heber in honor of
our little Gay cried Mr. Whitman.
What do you all say, my friends"
n cher it is = cried a dozen voices in
acclaim.
At that moment boy who had been
playing upon the platform inside the
stockade came in, gasping the words:
Indians y The above we publish as
o specimen chapter but the continue
ton of this story will be found in the
Der dated March So which can be had
at any news office or bookstore. If you
are not within reach of n news Office,
YOU can have the Ledger mailed to
you for one year by sending three dol
lars to Robert Bonner, publisher, New