The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-02-07
SALLY WATSON,S RIDE.

"SGlly, can't you go over to Uncle
Eben's this afternoon and bring homo
those pigsl There are seven in the
litter lc promised me, and they are get
ting quite large. l must finish getting
the wheat in, nud ho does not want to
feed them any longer. The pen is ready.
Sally, bright looking girl OF about
fomtoon. raised herself from the tub
over which she leaned, and said, as she
wiped down her arms with her hands !:
"How, fatheri"
Mr.. Watson had come in for his ten
o'clock snack after his early breakfast.
Ho stood in the middle Of the kitchen
floor, bowl Of coffee in one hand, and
huge piece OF apple pie in the other.
He took bite Of the latter, and drink
OF coffee before he answered.
SIN the little light wagon. Istopped
ut Eben's yesterday asI came from meet.
ing. and he said ho would put them up
securely in couple Of old coops that
would stand in tho back Of the wagon.
You can have Dolly; we are not using
her. What do you say, mother; can
You spare her!'
"Yes," said Mrs. Watson, d neat,
brisk little woman, who came in, basket
in hand, from hanging mp tho clothes !:
"tho wash will he nll out by noon, and
will clean up"
"Can't I have one Of tho pigs for go.
ing for them, father! You said you
only wanted half,dozcp; and there are
SEVEN"
"Ycs, and you eau buy your Sunday
snit next fall with the money it brings"
He pulled her ear when he went out again
to his work.
"My!" Sally gave little nod of her
head as sho began briskly rubbing her
car. "I'm suro I'll mako it fat. Jane
Burns'got sixteen dollars for the one
her father gave her last year. Mother,
can't I tako LotGnd Polly; it is such
long, lonesome wny to go by ones selfi"
Mrs. Watson assented, adding IDOL
lyis such fast trotter you can stay
there while, and get home before dark.
Be sure you stop ut the post-ofiice, and
60 to tho store and get me some but
tons."
There was great deal to do; dinner
was late, and tho afternoon had quite
set in when Sally started. Her way was
through the villnge half mile of, and
then nearly five miles beyond. It was
tho first week in October, the day was
warm aud soft, and the country beauti-
ful. The road lay through tho woods,
steep i'll places, running up hills and
down again in little valleys, through
which many creek babbled; it was not
fenced of, md the wild grape aud paw
paw wero almost within reach, rs they
rodo along. The trees had Just begun
to turn. The sugar maple swayed gent.
ly to the light breeze, scattering Grim
sou cloud to tho earth; the Virginia
creeper embraced the hugo trunks, or
flung out long, graceful branches Of
purple, md brown, and scarlet /; tho
pawpaw was flaming in golden yellow;
the hHw, with its red berries, dotted the
roadside, while here and there, brilliant
with the hue of royalty's self, great
clusters Of iron.weed lowered in au-
tumn light, aud from the branches Of
tho butteruut, hickory and walnut, the
occasional sound OF dropping nuts was
heard. ~.
Dolly trotted along briskly, and the
children talked Of the wonderful animals
they Ind seen tho Saturday before-for
n travelling menagerie had halted on
sono fields near the village, and the
whole population for miles around Ind
turned out to visit it. Lot, who was n
boy Of eight, had been most impressed
by the bears, but Patty, who was young
er, seemed to have been most fascinated
with the big snake.
Then they fell to talking "sposens,"
what they would do il bear or snake
was to attack them there in the woods.
Lot was extremely valiant; he thrust
about with q stick, showing how he
would put him to flight, and III tho
midst Of their talk they reached their
uncle's house, having mot but one per-
son on the road.
They made but short stay, as it was
getting lnte and, with tue pigs c0opGd
and slowed in the back Of the wagon,
which had no top and was open NIL
around, started for home.
Seated on the floor, Lot and Patty
pokcd bits Of apples through the stats
Of the coop to tho young porkers, specu.
lating upon their appearance and advis-
ing Sally which to take for her own.
Lot would have tho black one il he
were she, because it was the biggest,
but Patty thought the little spotted one
was $50 cunning"
They were about q mile from the vii.
lago at the top OF long hill, when Lot,
who had exhausted his supply Of apple
bits, and for the Inst fifteen minutes Ind
been poking the pigs, delighted to hear
them squeal, suddenly gave them such
thrust TINT Sally bade him stop the