Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-08-15

had to wade the best she could. She used
to come through storms that would have
kept many grown people in the house, and
often came into school wet to the skin, and
with water running in streams from her
clothes. For one whole year this little
girl WIS neither absent nor tardy.
Whenever any Of the children happened
to be late, they were sure to bring some
very good excuse, though sometimes i,
would DO worry comioal. One morning
about ten o'clock boy came rushing. all
out Of breath, into the school-room, ex
claiming, aided, ms'am. l couldn't
| hep bein, late DIS mornin not ter save my
lite. NJ v Nanny done got q cow, au' de
I cow dono got Cali, an do calf done runaed
away, aM' Dc cow done COMO ater do calf,
IN l done eone afer de 9. W, an l spec l be
late ebcry mornini now, gwine af'er dis
yere."
My class in Sunday school consisted of
dozen boys between the age Of eight and
twelve; most Of them bright, and one q
real original,- "a sort Of boy Topsy; unlike
anything in the wide world but just him
self. He belonged also - my day school,
and on entering gave his name as q Chris. y
"Chris what ~ asked.
"Name Chris,'' he repeated.
"But have you no other name ?"
"Done tole yer my name fore name
Chris y; and he looked ut me in amazement
1t my stupidity. So as Chris" he was
registered, and that melodious monosylla-
bio was tho only name he ever acknowl.
edged.
Ills dress was the most wonderful thing
that ever was seen, ind was arranged
without the least consideration of times
md seasons. On y stormy winter day
whom the cold seemed to pinch ones very
bones, and an Exquimaux suit Of furs
would have been comfortable and suitable,
Chris would dawn upon the school in
smiling Satisfaction, i.ttirtd in the thinnest
possible summer clothes, and usually bare
looted. On warm spring day when every
ono else thre~ aside extra wrappings, he
would frequently appear with two suits Of
wollen clothes, one over the other, and an
overcoat that reached to his heels, the tat
tors dragging on The ground, and collect.
ing mud fringe around the edge Of the
garment. With this costume he wore usu-
ally one boot and one shoe, or if he 90 iar
CONFIRMED to fashion as to wear pair Of
boots, one leg Of his pantaloons was sure
10 be tucked in and the other left hanging
down. Uniformity was something that
his soul abhorred. Surmounting this
varied attire was = hat,-but that must
have u paragraph all to itself.
No description can do justice to that hat !;
it was without its like in the wide world.
Ills mother had made it out IF some black
material, quilted. TWAS immensely large,
and the binding was sowed 90 tightly
round the edge that the rim-brosd
enough tor a Quaker-was drawn down
almost straight, and rested on his Shout
tlers. This article he wore wrong side out
through the week." 80 g ter keep toder
side clean for Sundays:"-h explained !;
md as the lining vas Of bright.colored
calico, he looked, ! 1T little distance, IS if
his hoa1 had turned into a big snowflower.
Every Sunday I read to the class some
part Of Bible history, and tho next week
questioned them as to what they remem-
bered Of It. On one occasion had taken
the story Of Adame and Eve. Chris
seemed particularly interested, and aban
doned lis usual occupation Of pincbing bis
neighbors for fully i've minutee to listen.
The next Sunday whom ! asked no could
tell me anything about our last reading,
his hand went up instantly.
"Can you tell me about it Chris ~ l
asked.
"Yaas'm, kin tell a heap. Boy, I'll
mash your. mouf eff yer don't quit foolln'
wild me. Guess knows as much as you
does" This last was addressed to one of
the class who audibly expressed his
doubts as to Chris telling anything about
lesson. 1t was tho first tune he had at
tempted such thing, and the children
were astonished teyoad measure. Having
quieted Them, said, "Now, Chris; let %
lear how much you can remember"
"Ynas'm. De Lord done mado Adam
az Eve, I'M put 'em in de garden OBJ Evil.
boy, I'll choke yer eyes ou'en yer head
If yer don't quit rollin' 'em at mel Dey
got long we'll huff till Eve done eat de
apple, den she carry enc % Adam an'
Gus, at him to eat II, an den dey done
druv 'em outen dc garden, an put an in.
gine at dc gate to keep 'em from comm
back"
What kinl of IN engine was il, Chris?''
l asked, whe: he paused breathless.
Frc-ingine, ma'am;" responded Chris,
triumphsntly. He bad understood angel
Us ingine, and this accounted for bis inter.
est in tho story. He had once seen fire.
engine that had greatly interested him, and
nothing could persuade him that it was
not the very samo article that had barr d
the gates OF Eden against tie return Of
the exiled pair.
Almost = match for Chris in oddity was
his neighbor Peter; but there WIS this
difference Potter learned readily, and as
rule understandingly, and was a re.
markedly intelligent boy Tor his age and
advantages, or rather disadvantages.
Whatever question WAS asked Of Peter
was sure to receive IN answer of some
kind, whether he knew anything about the
subject or not He utterly disdained to
ask tor assistance or explanation, and this
disposition, together with his unbounded
confidence in himself, frequently led him
into cemical, and to him rather mortifvin
mistakes.
One Sunday the class was repeating in
concert Psalm lob. In the fifth verse;
lie satis6cth thy mouth with good things,
so that thy youth is renewed like the
le'sn'-Peter said sonnet hing tina,
sounded strangely. Icould not mako Out
just what it was, but surely something not
in the text. stopped the class and told
him to repeat the verse alone and evi.
IDENTIFY considering this distinction
awarded to his superior merits. he shout.
ed cut with great emphasis, He satisfied,
thy mouth with good things, SO that thy
youth is renewed like nigger's"
Al ono Of the monthly meetings he un'
dertook to recite the third chapter Of
Matthew, and told about the Phariseet
and tho Pad,seees," and burning the chat
with " unsQuenehable fire )" and once when
the hymn :" / want to be an angelo wal
sung, Peter sang: apparently pouring ou
his whole soul III the words, II wants tt
DO an eagle,an' wild de eagles stan'."
Was it any wonder that they shouli
have made many end great mistakes, ke,
as they had been in ignorance Us complet,
rs that Of heather lands? Was it not til,
greater wonder that they so eagerly ant
readily applied themselves to Judy thu
they learned SO rapidly and remembered
30 we'll?
Many pleasant days NO spent togethe
in that school-house, and when tho tim,
Game that we must say "good.bye;" it wa
hard for ~ all very hard know for me
tor dearly had / grown to love my it'll
Virginia freed children.
ELIZABETH KILllAM.
Beauty Of Martlla's Vineyard.
MIR. Charles Dudley Warner finds tn
lower end of Martha's Vineyard en-