Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-09-19
little wlndewsof tue stable aud sku}leeas

come round better"
Now forty dollars will not seem very
much to Won, but it was great deal to
Ann, who worked hard for all she earn
ed in Mr.. Carriers family, and to whom
this was just SO much clear beyond her
yearly income. AID this is how it
came to her. Three years before, an
emigrant wagon, bound still further
West, camped all night on the great
Illinois prairie, in the midst OF which
was Mr. Carriers section of land. The
Vermillion river ran close by, stream
full of rapids and deep holes and
treacherous quicksands. Supposin.
the ford perfectly safe, the owner of
the formost cow did not unite the COW
following behind, but drove in care
lessly, to find his horses, III moment,
off their feet and struggling in the
swift current. How they got across Mt
last he could not have told, but when
the screaming children we're safe on
the other side, the poor COW was found
to be dead, strangled by the rope
which had wound about her neck. The
calf, only a day old, had been lifted
into a wagon behind, and the owner,
discouraged Mt the loss of the mother,
went on next morning, leaving the little
thing by the campfire Here Ann found
it in the afternoon, almost dead, and
in her own strong arms took it home
and fed it with warm milk. Nobody
thought it could live; but AIMS baby,
as Alice called it, after mouth or two,
wherein it seemed daily diving, turned
about and grew as if to rlakc upfor lost
time. In year there was no finer
heifer among all Mr. Carters cattle,
and when by and by she
began to give milk. the neighbors all
declared it was as good as their cream.
Farmers came to see her, and Ann in
time found that her nursing was a De-
Won, and worth more than any COW in
the neighborheod. The calves were in
demand all about, and the money You
know about was the second forty dol
lars Ann had received and laid away
in the old Bible. Big Dennis, the
head man on the farm, looked upon
her rs an heiress, and was ready at any
time to begin housekeeping in the way
talked of by Alice but Ann, like many
another heiress, was afraid he loved
her money better than herself, and still
held back from answering his ques-
ton. ...
Johnny rode with them next morning
as far as the ford, ana watched the
wagon safely through, wondering mean.
time where the bridge had gone,
which III the spring freshet had hoated
off. stea
Don't go far from the house ~ his
father called at the last moment.
"All right ~ johnny shouted back,
almost wishing that something would
happen so that he could ring the big
bell, and call Dennis and the other men
from the distant field where they were
plOughing for winter wheat. Then he
walked slowly up to the house, going
into every room and banging every
door hard as he came out. 1t seemed
very lonely and silent, though the sun
streamed in and everything looked just
as usual But JOHNNY had his own
plans, and, going to the barn, he pick
ed out two big pumpkins and carried
them into the kitchen, stopping mo-
ment to watch big Dennis, who had
come up for spade.
"There is wagon on the prairie,
camping, he said Il wonder it don't
go on, such fine day as it is. %
"Maybe there is somebody sick,
JOHNNY said, remembering the baby
that had died on the camping ground
before.
81 II go over at noon an AK Them
Dennis said, walking away.
JOHNNY lugged his pumpkins to the
kitchen, sat down on the floor, an9 WAS
soon busy digging them out for Jack
o-lanterns. ..#r
It was hard work, but he refreshed
himself by thinking how fine they
would look, one each side Of the great
gate, when all come home. Once or
twice he looked up, thinking he heard
a sound as if somebody were trying TO
open a window; but those in the
kitchen were wide open, and AIMS, he
knew was fastened down by big nail
The pumpkins we're followed out. and
Johnny was intent upon the eyes,
when step behind made hicl Jump up
and cry ont, as he was caught and
held tight by dark gypsy-looking
lad, seventeen or eighteen. Johnny
screamed loudly, but in moment was
silenced by handkerchief stuffed into
his month and another tied over it.
"Tnat II keep you quiet long enough,
/ reckon, said The boy, looking around
uneasily, as If fearing some one might
come. = Now, you little varnint, you
see that knife If you stir or move,
III cut your throat as easy as I'd cut
pigs. [ know what l want. and I'll
help myself"
Johnny kept his place on the floor,
half choked, but so frightened he could
not stir; while the boy, first boiling
the kitchen door so that no one could