South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-08-21
How God Spoke to Jess.
ny JENNIE HARRISON.

called her for short. A short name suited
her: she was short herself plump and ro-
sy, and as bright looking as one of the wild
flowers which looked up at Der every day.
as she passed through the meadow, with her
little bare feet.
Ii bad been 50 close and warm in the
school. and the tiny breeze which
began TO stir among tho trees was very
pleasant to tho children.
jess, said CHARLIE, pulling some black
berries from the bushes by the roadside,
there's lots of 'em down in the hollow y
let's 60 get 'em !! answered j Ess, clap
ping her two brown little hands together.
Mother likes 'cm and well have some for
her tea, to sprise her.
jolly! said CHARLIE, expressing bis
agreement in boy fashion
well, you stay here, and I'll slip in and
get pail, and I'll be 20 sly mother won't
guess any thing about it,
CHARLIE Put himself astride If the rail
fence, and sat whistling conteutedIy, while
JESSIE battered in and secured the pail.
Mother was sewing, aud l just kissed
her, aud told her how hot it was, and said
guessed we'd stay out
Whats them 2 asked CHARLIE as some
thing ratified in the pail, on JEss's nrm.
Cakes. Mother said, Are you hungry
there's cakes in the pantry DO | got
some for you and me-.
They ate the cakes as they went down
towards the Hollow.
Aud the wind in the trees blew more fresh
and strong, and the shining black berries
nodded their heads, as Tito say, Come aud
pick us,'-and CHARLIE and JESS began
thor work with great zeal.
Its pretty big pail said CHARLIE, af-
ter while.
Ycs; but maybe if 80 get it full we'll
have blackberry pudding 10. morrow an
sweied JESS. Blackberry paddiug's good;
amt it, CuAsLIEY
Il bet you" CHARLES mouth watered,
aud he picked faster than ever
Ii grew cooler, and great cloud came
up and shut out the SUM-
That's good " said CHARLIE, pushing
back his straw hat, and letting the cool DIR
fan his face. JESS had long before let her
sun bonnet fall back, and the SUP aud
breeze had both kissed her rosy cheeks
Far off, over tho mountain, the prea,
cloud grew backer and blacker, end the
forked lightning flashed out every few min
utes bu. the children did not see it, with
their heads Liddcn among the blackberry
bushes.
The wind rose higher, and sounded like
great voices signing and moaning among the
trees.
why, b'lieve It's going to rain, JESS
Irs more'n half full, said JESS, boxing
into the pail. we can stay little longer;
'twon't rain yet
Zen be so july to have the blackberry
pudding : qnoth CHARLIE, picking away
again
The wind made such noise in the trees
aud bushes, that the children did 10. know
when the first sprinkle Of rain came, and
presently the sprinkle changed to a sudden
dash, which ciused them TO look W in de-
spair. Looking up, they saw the light
ming, too, and it was coming nearer and
nearer.
Ooh, CHARLIE, what'll we do 2
wen get it worse, if va try to 90 home
let's stay under the trees
Bat the lightning, you know, oh OH :!
], flashed into their faces, ADD q heavy clap
Of thunder made JESS almost cry.
I'VE might get killed" suggested CHAR
LIE, wish very grove face How mail
the clouds look just as if they ,raated
to bur, hoy aud girl !!
JESS lip quiverei, but she did not say
anything.
CHARLIE set the pail Of berries careful
ly under bush, aud then stood close to
bis sister, trying to talk very brlvoly, like
boy who wasn't bit afraid.
Il wish va bgI gono homo ,Lo,cb ;,,s
80 mean to be oil vet. YouU be soppiny,
JESS, ard catch your death Of cold, like e.
nough
JEss did not pay much attention to this
cheerful remark, but uttered her little cob
at every clap of thunder, aud clu0g to
CHARLIE s arm
IL was a fierce storm, but nothing did
them any harm, except the rain, and by
aud by they bad courage enough to % and
81, on n broad stone, Just at the edge Of the
field. The clouds began 10 break after q
while, and the rain softened TO gentle pat.
ter, and CHARLIE chatted away quite mer-
rily. Blu. JESS did not speak much, until,
suddenly, right among the clouds, and just
in sbe midst Of the dying storm, beauti-
ful rainbow appeared
'Ob, see, JESS there's rainbow Amt
il brightY
JESS checks, that had grown pale, flush
cd gladly aud she looked steadily at the
beautiful bow for a minute, without speak.
log. Then, she turned 10 her brother, with
large eyes, full Of earnest meaning
aio't ! ashamed TO be so afraid, when God
is up there, putting His rainbow in the
olcuds 70