Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-16

~ INC Siotuu mere IS gOOu-1Or-nOthIng,
rollIcking "Nig," who can do almost
anything under the sun, that is difficult
and Improbable, but the moment you at
tempt to turn his talent to value it
vanishes in thin air.-Ch5cago Times.
>>>
The Old RegIme.-A H0Osier Reality,
1t was as pretty country cottage as is
to be found even now in all the Wabash
Valley, situated on a prominent bluff
overlooking the broad stretches of Dot
tom land, giving fine view of the wide,
winding river. The windows and doors
OF this cottage were draped in vines,
among which the moaning glory and the
honeysuckle were the most luxuriant;
while on each side of the graveled walk
that led from the front portico to the door
yard gate grew clusters of pinks, sweet
williams and lark-spurs The house was
painted white, and had very green win
dow shutters old fashioned, to be sure,
but cozy, honie-like and tasty withal
About the hour Of six, on Monday
morning, in the month of May, a fine
looking lad of twelve walked slowly up
to the path which led from the old orch
ard to the house. He was dressed in
loose trousers of bottle green Jeans, a
jacket of the same, heavy boots, and we'll
worn nat. His face was strikingly hand
some, being fair, healthful, intelligent
and bright, though now it wore an indie.
scribable, family visible shade, as of limo
cent perplexity or possible grief.
The mistress of the cottage was at this
time in the kitchen, preparing for the
weeks washing. She was middle-aged,
stoutly-built, healthy matron, sandy
haired and slightly freckled, blue eyed
and quick in her movements. Usually
smiling and happy, it was painful to see
how strongly she now struggled to master
the emotions of sadness that constantly
arose in her bosom like spectres that
would not be driven away.
A bright eyed, golden haired maiden of
sixteen was in the breakfast room, wash
ing the morning dishes, and singing occa-
sionally snatches from a mournfuI ditty
1t was sad indeed to see cloud of regret
and half-suppressed anguish on that fair
young face, and dimming the earnest
sparkle of those usually merry eyes
Mr.. Coulter, the head Of the family,
owner of the cottage and its lands, stood
near the center of the sitting-room, gaz-
ing fixedly and sadly at the picture of a
sweet child holding white kitten in its
lap, which picture hung on the wall over
II
sorrow betrayed itself even in the dark,
stern visage of the man. Occasionally he
drew his griZZled mOustache into his mouth
and bit it tiercely. Evidently he was
chatting under grief
The cottage windows were wide open,
as is the Weetern custom in fine weather,
and the fragrance of the spice-wood and
sassafras tloated in on the flood-tide of
pleasant air, while from the great locust
down by the yard fence fell the twittering
prelude to a tinch's song. A white line
of fog above the river was plainly visible
from the west windows, and through the
tleecy veil f1ocks of teal and wood ducks
cut swiftly in their downward sweep to
the water. A golden flicker sang and
hammered On the gate post the while he
eyed a sparrow-hawk that wheeled and
screamed high overhead.
The lad entered the kitchen and said to
his mother, in voice full of tenderness,
though hardly audible:
MA, where's pap?"
''ln the front room, Billy" replied the
matron, solemnly.
Passing into the breakfast-room, Billy
looked at his sister, and flash Of sym
pathetic sorrow played back and forth
from the eyes of one of those to the
ting-room, and handed something to Mr..
Coulter.
The man looked down at his boy
proudly, sternly, sorrowfully. The lad
looked into his fathers face sadly, ex-
ultingly, heroically. 1t was a living tab
leaux no artist could reproduce.
"Billy," said the father, gravely, 81
took your mother and sister to church
yesterday"
Eyes, sir"
And left you to see to things"
eyes, SIR" replied the boy, gazing out
| through the window at the flicker as it
hitched down on the gate-post, and finally
dropped into the CRATE with a shrill
chirp.
"And you didn't water the pigs"
$3.50! Oh, sir g! Geeroody Oh,
me Lawsy, lawsy, me p
| The slender scion of an apple tree rose
and fell in the hand Of Mr. Coulter and
up from the jacket of the lad, like in
| cense from an altar, rose cloud of dust,
mingled with the nap of jeans Down in
| the young clover Of the meadow the larks
and sparrows sung cheerily, the gnats
| and flies dancing up and down in the sun
shine, the fresh, soft leaves of the vines
rustied, and all was merry, indeed
| Oily EYES "eie luIHtu W toWaTu Tie
face Of his father in appealing agony but
still with sharp hiss the switch cut the
air, falling steadily and mercilessly on his
shoulders. And along the green banks OF
the river the willows shook their shiny
fingers at the lifting fog, and the voices
of children going by to school smote the
sweet May wind.
ooh, pap, Eli not forget the pigs nc
morei"
"'Spect you won't neither"
The wind, by sudden puff, lifted into
from sweet-apple tree, letting them fall
gracefully upon the patchwork carpet,
the while plowman whistled plaintlvely
in a distant field.
"Outch! Crackee! Oh, pap, pap!'
"Shet your meuth, or III split you K