The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-28
.yohh's Promise.

had sprung up on the banks ola ravine
that cut through the western bluffs of the
Missouri In thicket Of oak saplings
high up on the side of one Of those bluffs
stood u hastly-built house, sided with
rough, upright, cottonwood boards-as
are many of IFS western neighbors-a
rusty stove-pipe sticking through the
roof; small window, curtaned by a
scalloped-edge newspaper, aud n white
door taken from sunkcn steamboat
whose nicely finished panels contrasted
strangely with iis surroundings, complet.
ing the exterior.
One pleasant May evening, Just as the
shril whistle Of steamboat echoed
among the hills, this door was opened by
a pleasant young woman, who was fol.
lowed by a crying child.
oh, Sammy, quit your noise that's
pappy's little man; see the great big
boat way yonder," lifting him up; don't
you see ? look right sharp now close ag'in
the bank. Does Sammy want to 60 down
town and see the big boat, and see pap.
ny % The willing feet toddicd down the
path but the mother called, "Wait a
bit aud mammyll pack Sammy" and
tying on pink sunbonnet, she took him
in her arms and started down the steep
crooked path
1t was a picturesque scene that lay be.
fore her. The sunlight, sitting through
the trees that covered the western hills
glintcd the windows here aud there and
reached. ike golden bar, ju.t across the
top Of the forest on the low eastern shore,
Scattered though the hollow and up the
sides Of the bufls, were divers houses, from
the pretenious Gothic dwelling on the
northern hill and brick business houses
down street, TO log cabins and cotton.
wood shantics while the road that wound
up the bed of the ravine was lined with a
long white train of Denver bound freight.
wagons.
She reached the steep main street to
Cad it filed with wagons that had been
turned cross-wise Of the street, to rest the
teams, But edging her way close to the
clay bank, she reached the river just as
the steamer was leaving the wharf TIE
srorting of the engine and the shouting
Of the deck hands, together with the puff.
ing of the mill near by, was too much for
baby bravery, and Sammy's lip began to
quiver. Catching him in her arms, hi:
mother sat down on saw-log, saying
There, there honey, don't be aieared, be
pappys man, now"
The tide.waves OF the receding boa
sank lower and lower on the sand the
gay crowd that leaned over the guard.
grew iudistnct, and she peercd more ant
more eagerly in among the tall cotton
wood trees on tho opposite shore. A
length four men came out OF the woods
and entering skitf, started across the
river She watched the skifi auxiously
for it frequently disappeared between tn,
waves which were raised by the strong
south wind-such winds belonging al
proverbially to Kansas springs, as whoop
ing.cough to children, or gaps to chick
ems.
-Four rough looking men. in red woolel
shrts-ior lumbermen did not pretend tt
wear coats, except in the coolest weathe
Jumped out of the skifT, and with boist
erous laughter and rude jests, entered tn
mill, Presently one of them spied her
and came toward her, saying boisterously
"IIoorah for you Nancy Whateve
brought you 'uns down ere this time o
evenin'? Mighty fine doins, when yo'
ouehter be to home gettin' your old ma
a bit o supper! Packed that young u
down, too, I'll bet Reckon you'd a
well get back, right quick, now !" H
snatched the baby from her and tosse
him on his shoulder, shouting, "IIoora
for pappy's man Peertest boy in thi
ere town! Mighty proud to see hi
pap" Poor Nancy! Her husband wa
drunk again.
She hurried up the street, pnning he
deep sunbonnet more closely about he
face that the passers might not see th
tears that would come. He had kept 50
Der so long that she had hoped he woul
come home sober again. She had antir
pated so much pleasure on meeting hil
after his weeks absence. How often 81
had thought of it in those long, lionel
nights when she had only her child AL
her thoughts for company.
1t took but few minutes to put SUI
per on the table. Then she sat down Q
the door step TO watch for her husban'
worrying all the time lest he should Il
something happen to Sammy. When I
last he came, the effects of the liquor wi
wearing off, and he ate his supper ar
smoked his pipe in sullen silence. 81
could not eat mouthiul, but she dare
not let the tears come, for she knew tn
II would make him angry. So she e