The Portland daily press., 1873-12-13

The fuss had not driven off the mother-bird.
She sat there eyeing proceedings and taking
very Intelligent interest in the matter.
ANY signs of water yet, father|
mo, responded Andy 81 shall keep on
Tor spell right down towards Chany.
There IL be some satisfaction in seeing what
buttresses and supports the old farm, how
the old studs and sleepers are put in. It's
queer how body feels going down into the
insides of the 'arth. I've thought of all them
passages of Scriptur' where it speaks of life
eternal, and compares it to a well ofIiving
water. And l expect if L 60 down deep
enough, to see stars shining in the daytime.
It's something to be sartin the sun don't
snuff EN- out every morning like candles in
the gold candlesticks that was set before the
ark OF covenant And to see that robin
roostin' up there on the plum tree limb, as if
she knowed all about it and give her consent,
is kind OF company. / shan't loose nothing
by the job, for if it fails Jonas Strong must
pay up. I'll let him do it just to show him
he mustn't try to come it over folks with no
such hocus pocus."
But what will you give Jonas if you sue
coed ?" asked Lucy.
Dunno" responded Andy, slowly, wiping
the brown mould from his face, ''unless let
him take YOU"
Polly said no more, but the tin-type SEEM
ed to burn in the depths of her pocket in
sympathy with her cheeks. So they worked
on, with holyhocks blooming in variegated
ranks, and the lurkspur, and candy-tuff, and
sweet Williams, spreading perpetual ban
quet for the brown bees; while Mrs. Human
snapped out the pillow-slips and towels she
had washed. and hung them on the culrant
bushes, and brood Of downy chickens peep
ed into the burdock. All that day they work
ed, and the next, and Andy was deep in the
well his hands nod
ly there came voice from the pit,
THAT rascal was right after all. There is
water here; it's rushing in fit to drown me-,
And Andy scrambled out fast as ever he
could.
Polly was pleased as if they had found
diamond mine under the pear tree.
1.-The worst of it is, can't crow over JON
as said Andy, scratching his head; ''but
sh all say it was a lucky guess. Wonder
what your mother'll do now she hain't got
the well to dine in? Guess my old clothes II
ketch it worse than ever.''
When the well was cleared the whole faml-
ly came out to taste OF its refreshing draught.
tits prime Adams ale. said Andy, pass
ing the tin dipper to his wife. Don't believe
there's better well of water in the town. I
never thought before that goodness struck in
to the 'arth much below my growing crops,
but the grounds full to it. You can't dig
any WuClC UuG WudG you ii SCrlk6 some Dies
sing or nuther. If should follow well-dig-
ging for living, believe should turn phi
los6pher."
81 hope you won't turn into anything so
shiftless as that" observed Mrs. Human,
with proper contempt; ''and what I'm think
ing OFFS whether 1 shall have to make I've for
washing, and whether it won't use up sight
of SOAP"
In the course of week, Andy stoned up
the well, built a neat curb, and hung buck
ct ready for use Polly was only sorry that
the bucket could not be made moss-covered
to order, like the one in the song. What
sentiment is there about spick-and-span
new well! ... -
One day, when the work was finished, Jo-
mas Strong came over to inspect it. Polly
went out with him, bare-headed, into the
shady, grassy yard. She wore white spen-
Ger and ablack bodice, and had put a red rose
in her hair. She stood close to Jonas under
the great pear tree, that made sheltering
bower with its long arms, and they peered
down together at the little, cool, clear mirror
below.
i''They say Truth lives far down in the
WELL" Jonas remarked, as his hand stole out
and clasped his companions: "but can read
something sweeter in your eyes, Polly"
They kissed each other, while the robin
looked sedately down from her nest; and that
day Love got into the well alone with Truth,
and for aught l know, has lived there ever
since.-Christidn Union.