The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-12-06

) from Ben's resolute hand, and he jus
dragged himself inside the camp, an,
/ stretched himself before the fire. Uncl
J Simon had already given out.
, walking home could hardly hav
been worse" Ben said. simply. Per
} haps he was thinking of somebody wh'
might have met him, kindly, at tn,
journeys end, in view of the dangers h
, had passed.
Perhaps Bruce II come yet, return
ed Uncls Simon.
Through chink in the camp doo
Ben watched the sunset fade like fire
among the woods; and one by one the
stars shine out, each in its appointed sol
itude, and the northern lights palpitatt
rosily along the sky. The bowling ot
wolves echoed dlsmally, while now and
then a branch cracked in the forest, and
the wind trembled among the pines
Inside the fire made a comfortable glow
under the influence of which he was soor
nodding off to sleep, when through the
fog of his semi-consciousness he seemed
to hear sort of ringing in his ears, al
first mere thread of sound, then loud
er and nearer, as if every tree in the for
est was church steeple with all the
bells a-swinging. Then he heard no
more till smothered groan from Uncle
Simon caused him to raise himself upon
his elbow. The fire was still swapping
and blazing brightly, and the form and
profile of woman was shadowed forth
upon the walls of the camp-a ve-y fa-
miliar face and figure it was, too, that
appeared to be bending ever something
that was cooking on the fire. Was it the
excited action of his brain that photo
graphed Louisa Bruce on the wall? If
so, he prayed that it might last forever.
Then he turned his head languidly to-
ward the fire, and met pair of eyes that
had shone for him all his lie with the
fascination of a will-o' -the-wisp. Were
they still to haunt him across the con-
fines of this world?
"If you are awake, Ben, you had bet
ter taste this cruel that I made for you, "
said Louisa, quietly. You must be
nearly famished.
How came you here?" was all the an
swer Ben vouchsafed.
"You are mighty polite il you are al
most starved. Who else could come.
and father not able to lift his head? l
brought Tim; he is putting up the hors-
es. It's no such pleasant journey either,
[ can tell you, between the wolves and
the frost, not to mention cold welcome
Come, ain'ty going to take something?
Here is broth and brandy and Cruel
take your choice"
NAY, you shall choose for me-" said
Ben. Listen. Unless you take back
the words you spoke when we met last,
unless you give me back love for love,
swear 1 will not ,ste q morsel of any
thing you have to offer. I'll stay here
and starve rather than take crumb of
comfort from your hand"
"What did l say?" asked Louisa,
meekly.
"You said that you could live without
me-"
"Oh yes, suppose I could, but I
shouldn't want to-"
"But you refused to marry me-"
Certainly, because you didn't want
to marry girl with no more heart than
an adder, Ben."
81 want to marry you, heart or no
heart"
VERY well; have some broth first,
won't you?"
And then Tim came in, and Uncle ST.
mon awoke. and there was an end of star
vation in camp.
| JUDGING BY APPEARANCEs.-A good
story is told in illustration of the folly of
Judging from appearances. A person
dressed in suit of homespun clothes,
stepped into house in city, on some
business, where several ladies were as
sembled in an inner room. One of the
company remarked in low tone that a
countryman was in waiting, and agreed
logue ensued:
"You are from the country, sup
pose?"
eyes, l am from the country"
| "Well, sir, what do you think of the
city?"
''It has got tarnal sight of houses in
it."
"I expect there are great many la
dies where you come from"
''Oh, yes, a wondy sight; jist for all
the world like them,'' pointing to the
ladies'.
"And you are quite beau among
them, no doubt"
Eyes, 1 beaus 'em to meeting and
about"
Maybe the gentleman will take a
glass of wine," said one of the company.
II thankee; don't care if do"
'But you must drink toast"
81 eats toast what aunt Debby makes,
but as to drinking, Inever seed the like. )
What was the surprise of the company
| n ho a frnr + foI1
Ladies' and gentlemen, permit me to
wish you health and happiness, with
every other blessing earth can afford,
and advise you to bear in mind that
we are often deceived by appearances.
You mistook me by my dress for a
country BOBBY; I, from the same cause,
thought these men were gentlemen. The
deception was mutual. 1 wish you
good-evening.
Washington Irving received S24O, 900
for his literary labors. In that respect
no American author has equaled him.
Bayard Taylor and Longfellow have
made about $50, 900 each by their books
Taylor. however, has good proprietary
interest in the Tribune, which enables
him to live in good style abroad, though
he is man not given to show. Of the
later American authors, mark Twain
has probably won the most coin, and he
is as thrifty with pence as with pen.
|
French vine-culturists now protect
their vines from the blighting spring
frosts by the use of the smoke of coal
tar. They place small caldrons. of the
tar at intervals of about fifty yards from