The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-25
OU ALITY HILL.

the room, with her feet on the rug Of the
chair and her fingers in her ears.
vi like to hear thunder we'll enough
don't know but what l do. I am not
any afraid Of that. But be some scarf
OF the lightning" said she, starting as the
heavens bluZed over with a sheet of
flame in instant glory, with a crash and
roar that found its way through her fat
fingers anil through two wats of cotton,
bursting her ears like the trump of
DOOM
"Mcrcy on mel" shrickcd Mrs. Wood
cock, that struck. Now you may rely
upon it, as true as you are u living Great
urc. that struck"
Mr.. Spoferd's old sorrcl horse, the
only living creature in sight, made no re-
ply, but kept on nibbling away at the
white clover on the green before the
door. lie only turned his back to the
driving rain, that flew from the west to
more like a bank of fog than moving
drops Of water; and gave passing shiver
when the rainfall changed to hail, and
ratified down in stones as large as birds
eggs
But Mrs. Woodcock was above the
blind trust Of the beast; so, pale and
trembling she pressed her hands tighter
over her ears, and looked at spiders
web in the darkest corner of the room as
steadfastly as if she was sitting for her
Photographic
The thunder growlcd itself to sleep at
last, the lightning flashed it's life away
and the sun broke out like a sudden
smile on IA baby's face. Still the uncon-
scious Mrs. Woodcock held on to her
ears and gazed at the spiders web until
the outer door was flung open, and the
chorc boy sllutflcdin. He was hempcn-
haired, buttermilk keyed lad of fifteen,
who was either half-wittcd or half
crazcd-possbly both.
llo! Aunt Prissy,' he cried, "what
are you keeping Independence for, the
day after the Fourth? 1t has all come
Oft as clear us new cider, and you are
wasting your time sitting there like a
statue. You better be mending my
pantaloons."
AS he spoke sudden sunbeam dartcd
through the western window and flashed
AthWart the corner.
I" IT there isn't cobwcb right in my
kitchen" quoth Mrs. Woodcock, deliber-
atcly putting down her fingers and her
feet, and going for wing-a gray goose
wing that hung by strip of red calico
on a nail behind the door.
"Oh, YOU come, ,Orson? Where did it
strike?" she continued, appearing to dis
cover the grinning boy.
"Thc hail struck everywhere, particu-
Iarly on DR.. Scacrcst's grapc-vincs. l
haven't heard us the thunder struck at
all, not even on some folks ears" re-
turned Orson, who was mainly composed
OF pair OF ovcrgrown bare feet, blue
cotton frock and overall, set of broad,
white teeth and wcathcr-beatcn hat,
with wide, slouching brim.
"You don't mean to say the doctors
grapcvines are hurt essentially, do you?"
uuericd Mrs. Woodcock, deaf to the inn
pcrtincncc as she had been to the thun-
der.
"Dont know nothing about no es-
scnccs," replied Orson, who was fond of
long words but not clear as to their use
But can tell you one thing, though
You ought just to see the doctors new
grape-vines he sets 50 much BY The
tcndous and young grapes are fairly
chewed to bits. Ycs'm. don't expect
it was an hour ago"
How you talkr' gasped Mrs. Wood
cock, who liked to have things happen,
and the worse they happened the better
she liked it. She was very kind
hearted soul, but something to talk over
was worth as much as her dinner.
But is it SOP" she continued, doubt
fully. "Really and truly, Orson? Now
speak the truth just exactly as it is.'
Orson had rs much idea of the truth
as he had Of geology.
" 1es'm," said he, getting bolder. "The
doctor said to me, 'Orson Larely,' said
he, wouldn't have this Management
done to my vintonage not if you had Of
fered me Il five hundred dollar bill right
in my hand And then he looked as
sober as anything and walked straight
into the house. saw Mrs. Seacrest
through the oriol window, and she was
crying like fury. You ought to take a
look at it yourself, Aunt Prissy, if you
don't believe me, he concluded, in an
aggrieved tone.
Mrs. Woodcock did not believe him en-
tircly, to be sure, but there might be
something worth seeing; so, after a it,
tie rejecting, she decided it would be
handy to have dose of salts and senna
in the house, and she might as we'll step
up to the doctors and get it then as any
time.
There was no need to wait for the
grass to dry, for Mrs. Woodcock's choco-
late and white calico, guiltless of a pam
ier and innocent of trail, did not even
brush the broad plantain leaves and the
hrry speedwell blossoms bordering the
"ell'trodden {ootpath that led from her