Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-06-18
Stlett Storp.
THE BABES IN THE WOOD.

Ii was during the last days ot the
montn of November. that three little chill
dren. tempted by the mildncs' ut the
nooL day. begged their mother 1" let
them 90 a nutting in the big wood
The oldest child was niue. and the
Youngest live yeats ot age; Tut the busy
mother was used To having them "ut at
her sight. and the wood "u tue borders
uf which stood their little clearing. a"'i
:iuy log cabin. WAS the childrens iaN"r
itc play ground.
The good woman gave 4 ready cm
ssnl. and lett her work To kiss them, and
to linger at the door ill they entered TIA"
wood. Ere they did 80. they turned and
called out. Good by mother. good by; :
and the echoes from the purple hills be
hind the cabin, hoated dreamlly back
through the golden sunshine. to the
mothers ears with treble repetition al
the last words-good by-each growing
fainier rs the little forms melted away
like shadows, in the deusity Of the pines
whose feet were cnyeloped in tan Ilcd
under brush. and whose lofty top- sighed
back to the hills their mocking refrain.
Nellie led the way. and Johnnie and
Willie trudged sturdily after her. clad in
little rough jackets. made out OF their
fathers old coat. lhoir caps pushed back
on their curly pates. and their new won
derlul ed.topped. brasstoed boots on
their short legs. into which few inches
OF lrowsers had been coaxed. in imita
alton of iather's style OF dress.
Nelie's bright red hood and warm
JACKIE, looked very pretty in the gloom OF
the wood. asd were good guide for the
little boys who painted after her. as she
fitted before them. and she perched nn
the trunk of pine laid PROSTATE by de
cay, calling out for them To come on.and
L., the time they had reached the same
elevation, she MAS oil beyond. standing
on al old stump. listening lhoughliuily
To the spirit voices rushing through the
restless green branches above her heal.
Frequently the little boys were caught ia
sone trap. from which Nellie would
lanyhingly rescue them. and setting
them up steadily on their short legs and
popping berry or winlergr.cn IN thei'
mouths. she Was of again rs light and
and wayward as Il bird in her motions.
The wild grape vines laced from nee TO
uee, made natural swings Tor them in
which they swung while they rested
Bright moses of velvet softness cover
ing stones or decaying wood. were
treasures To be scrambled for. and dis
carIlel for cones or occasional acorns.
and thus they were tempted on and on
deeper and deeper into the iecesses oi
the wood than they had ever been before
The long vistas opening up on every
side. din and mysterious in their hall
lights. seemed 10 afford hundred paths
by which they could return when they
chose TO 10 SO; and with fearless con
fdence they roamed on till they reached
Il little glade, where 4 quantity oil g"iden
cone. lay sirewn upon the slippery
ground carpeted thickly with the brown
pine needlet. The cones had been 'isi,
ed by Jack Frost already. and their
wooden leaflets were spread open aud
emptied OF the tiny winged seeds SO
deity packed in their cells. and which
had gone forth TO SOW themselves in dis
tant places. But little heap OF cones
stripped neatly OF their leaflets, betrayed
The presence OF squirrels. which are very
fond Of the seeds, and with their sharp
teeth cut OH the protecting doors OF the
cells. and lake possession OF the inmates.
before the magician Jack arrives to sum-
mon them forth with . tap af hls magic
wanA heFe the children sat down to
rest. and TO ws.oh Tor tho son;:..rrsls whose
chee. chez they heard above their heads.
They gathered the cones aud played
awhile with them. bul no squirrels ap.
peared TO reward them for their waiting
The dim light grew DINNER, for the sun
was setting. and all at oaes Nolliv re-
memhered lhst shs had vet to get home.
and she started her little brothers to their
feet.
But they had wandered very tar and
both spipi1 and hesh were unwilling To
make even - moderate haste. The little
red topped boots had grown very heavy
and they stumbled fretfully along. drag
ging on Nellie. crying and mourning Tor
mother, and something 10 eat. till poor
Aellie's patience was nearly exhausted
In vain sha vrined THAR ewes and symDa.