The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-03
SALLY WATSON'S RIDE.

"Sally, can't you go over to Uncle
Eben's this afternoon and bring home
those pigs? There are seven in the
litter he promised me, and they are get.
ting quite large. must finish getting
the wheat in, and he does not want to
feed them any longer. The pen is ready.
Sally, bright looking girl of about
fourteen, raised herself from the tub
over which she leaned, and said, as she
wiped down her arms with her hands
Glow, father" %.
Mr.. Watson had come in for his ten
O'Clock snack after his early breakfast.
He stood in the middle of the kitchen
floor, bowl of coffee in one hand, and
huge piece Of apple pie III the other.
He took bite of the latter, and drink
Of coffee before he answered.
"In the little light wagon. stopped
at Ebcn's yesterday as came from meet
ing, and he said he would put them up
securely in q couple uf old coops that
would stand in the back of the wagon
You can have Dolly We are not using
her. What do you say, mother; can
you spare her?"
eyes" seid Mrs. Watson, a neat,
b1isk iittttlEa ifittlEa- -womap, .yho camein, basket
"the wash will be all out by noon, and
/ will clean up"
"Cau't [ have ono of the pigs for 60
ing for them, father You said you
only wanted half dozen and there are
seyen."
"Yes, and you can buy your Sunday
suit next fall with the money it brings" I"
He pulled her ear when he went out again
to his work.
"My!" Sally gave little nod of her
head as she began briskly rubbing her
ear. "I'm sure Ill make it fat. Jane
Burns got sixteen dollars for the one
her father gave her last year. Mother,
can't take Lot and Polly it is such
long, lonesome way to go by ones self2"
Mrs. Watson assented, adding "Dol-
ly is such fast trotter you can stay
there while, and get home before dark.
Be sure you stop at the post-office, and
go to the store and get me some but
TONS"
There was great deal to do; dinner
was late, and the afternoon had quite
set in when Sally started. Her way was
through the village half mile off, and
then nearly five miles beyond. 1t was
the first week in October, the day was
warm and soft, and the country bcauti-
full. The road lay through the woods,
steep in places, running up hills and
down again in little valleys, through
which many creek babbled; it was not
fenced off, and the wild grape and paw
paw were almost within reach, as they
rode along. The trees had just begun
to turn. The sugar maple swayed gent
ly to the light breeze, scattering Grim
son cloud to the earth; the Virginia
creeper embraced the huge trunks, or
flung out long, graceful branches of
purple, and brown, and scarlet the
pawpaw was flaming in golden yellow;
the haw, 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, and from the branches of
the butternut, hickory and walnut, the
occasional sound of dropping nuts was
heard.
Dolly trotted along briskly, and the
children talked of the wonderful animals
they had seen the Saturday before-for
travelling menagerie had halted on
some fields near the village, and the
whole population for miles around had
turned ont to visit it. Lot, who was a
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 if a bear or snake |
was to attack them there in the woods. |
Lot was extremely valiant; he thrust
about with a stick, showing how he
would put him to fight, and in the |
midst of their talk they reached their
uncle's house, having met but one per-
son on the road.
They made but a short stay. as it was
getting late, and, with the pigs cooped |
and slowed in the back of the wagon,
which had no top and was open all |
started for home.
Seated on the floor, Lot and Patty |
poked bits of apples through the Stats
of the coop to the young porkers, specu-
lating upon their appearance and advis-
ing Sally which to take for her own.
Lot would have the black one if he |
were she, because it was the biggest, |
but Patty thought the little spotted one
was $50 cunning" F.. .....a 81
They were about mile from the vii |
lage at the top of long hill, when Lot, |
who had exhausted his supply of apple |
bits, and for the last fifteen minutes had
been poking the pigs, delighted to hear
them squeal, suddenly gave them such
. thrust that Sally bade him stop the