The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-06-19
A Struggling avenue of weeping will

forgotten Spring time. This was Willow
dale.
"Not over cheerful, IS it ?" said Lizzie,
in q disappointed tone, as they stood in
the porch, awaiting an answer to the
summons 'I'm sure there are owls in
ivy.
"Oh, Liz, dear! you're an owl your
SELF" cried Kate, with assumed vivacity.
''I'm sure it is q charming old place.
What could look cheerful in a storm like
this? Well, Poppet, here we are" she
SAID, as, in reply to her last vigorous as
sault upon the wheezy, old, brass knocker,
bright little black girl opened the door
few inches, and peeped out "Where's
your grannie ?" she continued, guessing
incumbent ''And where's the fire?"
Granny was not far away. Her great
eyes We're cleaning few feet back in
the hall, and, as the shiyering girls pressed
in, she came sulkily forward
'"Pears like we didn't 'xpect you, ladies,
it's so stormy" she mumbled, by way of
surly apology.
"Pears not, indeed ~ mimicked Kate
sotto yoce, as they entered a room whose
walls were almost leperous with damp
ness, and whose great fire place held the
white ashes Of a long extinct fire. Then
aloud to the little maid, "What's your
name sis ?"
Lutte" answered the child, pouting
her dusky lips.
"Well, Lutte, see how quickly you can
get US a fire made here A rousing one,
mind"
How Lizzie thanked her friend tor
taking command of the situation Cold,
fatigued, and depressed as she was, she
felt entirely unequal to it.
Ten minutes of patient pacing up and
down the long room, with their wet wrap
pings still on, followed, then, half suf-
focated with the smoke that filled the
apartment. Kate went over to the hearth
where Lutte was down upon all fours,
making a bellows of her puffy cheeks
before a 1orlorn hope.
"Well, Lutte, what ails the fire? Why
won't it burn ?" she asked cheerfully.
''Chips is wet" was the laconic reply.
''Have YOU no dry ones ?"
A negative shake of the woolly head,
and Il fresh application Of oxygen, was
her only answer.
''See here, Lutte" said the bright girl,
who was not to be batfied. Il want to
know what you kindle the fire with when
you're in hurry to get breakfast. Come,
tell me-"
The youngster glanced up quickly, and
seeing something like mastery in the
merry but resolute blue eyes above her,
muttered the single word, ''Cobs."
"Heaven knows what they are !" eX-
claimed the city bred girl in an aside to
her friend. '.But any combustble short
ofnitro- -glycerine will be welcome. Come,
child, bring them along; the sooner the
better. Here, perhaps, these will hurry
you," and, transferring the remainder OF
the chocolate to the dark, little hand, she
took her turn at tanning the tlickering
flame.
The delicate confections, which were as
unknown to the little maid as the guarded
fruit of Hesperdes. had the desired effect
In a few minutes, 4 royal fire was blazing
in the chimney roaring and cracking
among the messy logs, and sending forth
waves OF light and heat into the chilly
room. Even the greattul tea, which soon
after made its appearance, must have
owed something to their saccharine in
t1uence.
1t was while the meal was being served
that Lizzie attempted to make her bargain
OF alliance with the reigning power.
81 did not intend keeping more than
one servant; perhaps not that" she said
after some conversation concerning w ages
''but AS Lutte is your grandchild, | have
no objection to her remaining for the
present.
''Tisn't Lutte !" exclaimed aunt Debby,
Indignantly. '"Course, q lily baby like
dat must stay with her granny. cts
Lonzo, Lonzo's Il mighty pert young
chap, Miss. Make a splendid waiter OF
coachman. He kin make dollar day
down in the oyster beds; but I'd rather
keep him at home. It's more spectacle, y
and the old woman drew herself up witt
all the dignity OF a southern matron.
'.But | don't need his services" re
monstrated Lizzie. Il shall keep neither
waiter nor coachman."
GLOW you ladies gwine to get to town
then ?" was her pointed question.
Both girls smiled. Glad refugees from
the din and hustle Of a great city, it was
not likely they would be much tempted
by the mild dissipation of the little country
town.
''We shall not want to 90 often, and
when we do, we will walk" answered
Lizzie, adding gently but firmly, II
have told you the terms upon which | will
keep you and Lutte. You can use your
own pleasure about accepting them; but
| cannot afford to engage your grandson
in any capacity. You must understand
that this is decided"
Either Lizzie's unf1inching manner con.
vinced her that farther pleading would be
useless, or her voluntary admission of
poverty astonished her beyond the power
of speech, for she marched directly from
the room, wearing, however, an express
sion of countenance which boded no com.
fort for her young mistress.
"Well. Lizzie, this amt so bad after
ALL" said Kate, when, half an hour later
they were enjoying the light and warmth
cit seems as if we have all the necessaries
and luxures we need. Even this jingline
old piano-dear me | wonder who played
on it last? I'll tighten the strings, and
tune it up tomorrow, and we will have
one resource more than we calculated
on"
Lizzie sat upon rug before the great
fire place, watching the hickory logs as
they were slowly transformed into bed
of glowing Goals, and letting the genial
warmth and cheer steal through her whole
nature.
Talk about vine and fig tree," con
tinued Kate, giving final run over the
yellow keys; then coming and dropping
down upon the soft bear skin beside her
friend; "but, on a night like this, the
ingleside sounds better. Are you seeing
pictures in the fire, Liz ?" she asked,
presently, noticing the dreamy look in her
eyes. ''What are they-does our chocolate
friend figure in them? ?"
The last question was asked silly, with
keen glance at Lizzies face; but the IN
opportune falling of some embers, and
consequent flashing up of the fire might
have accounted for the warm flush which
crept to her very brow.
"What goose you are, Kate I" she ex-
claimed, with a light laugh, removing
her eyes from the fire. Gas if L"
She was interrupted by the entrance of
aunt Debby with bed candle
(Which room is you ladies gwine TO
sleep in ?" she asked abruptly.
''Whichever is most comfortable, aunt
Debby," answered Lizzie, promptly.
"Humph ~ with ludicrous shrug OF
her canaciOus shOnlders ssRaokop dar