Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-02-09
A Memorable Ride.

door unfastened, Eliza :" said my
husband, as / turned the key in the
door and dropped it into my pock-
ct.
81 don't know" / said, doubtful
", then after moments hesitation,
"no, | think IL had better be fast
ened. The children might get ont
and run down to the gate at the
foot of the meadow, and it is but a
step from there TO the creek, You
know
lie made no reply. bat stopped
down and looked at some part Of
the harness with a slightly per-
picked air.
@ "What is the matter now :" ]
said with some asperity.
The truth is, my husband belong
ed to that numerous class of indi-
viduals whose motto is, "Never do
to-day what they can put off until
tomorrow" while |, on the con-
trary, was prompt and decided
With me, 70 will and TO do were
synonymous. aud l had little mercy
for such failing.
81 fancy this little piece Ct twine
will bring Us through this time
but / will certainly mend it to-mor-
row." he replied, as I climbed into
the old-fashioned phaeton.
The harness being adjusted to
his satisfaction, If not TO mine, be
seated himself beside me, and nod
ding a last goodbye to tie little
faces against the window-Pane, we
drove of
Our cottage was situated in the
little valley lying to the southwest
Of what was the village Of Lanoy,
OaDaAa, ~ luaL Aai4t.
A Hill Of considerable height
stood between US and the village;
on one side, a verdure-crowned.
gently rising slope, on the other
more abrupt descent with a rather
circuitous road winding past little
cottages and farm houses Of more
or less pretension.
Our present errand was the shop,
to which we carried our produce Is
it accumulated from time to time,
and received in exchange, grocer
les, clothing, etc. Our load con-
sisted in part of basket of eggs,
consequently we were obliged to
drive rather more slowly than US
ual.
/ left, as / had often done before,
the young children in the care of
Grace, who, though but eight, was
never moro pleased than when en-
trusted with some similar duty or
responsibility. / charged her not
to take the baby from the cradle,
but to rock him gently to sleep if
no awakened, or if he would not
sleep, to amuse him with his play
things until our return.
1t was a lovely day in the latter
part Of September, copious show
ers Of rain had altornated with mid
summers suns and the freshness of
the vendure was undimmed. 1t
was scarcely the time for the "sere
and yellow leaf" though the naples
had hung out their contrast with
the living green of the other forest
trees. The birds sang cheerily, as
they futtered to and fro in the
hedge-rows, and numerous ground
squirrels skinned along the fence
rails and dropped and disappeared
mysteriously.
Old Whitney ambled along in
bis usual monotonous fashion, and
we soon reached our destination
] had number Of articles to pur-
chase and examine, as well as the
merits Of new church to discuss,
aud just as we had settled all TO our
satisfaction, a neighbor whom we
had not seen for some time came
in, which detained Us longer, SO
that when we turned our horses
head homeward, I saw with some
surprise, as well as slight feeling
Of alarm, that the sun had already
set, and the twilight was stealing
up the valley.
Our load was a heavy one, my
husband having purchased several
agricultural implements, of no
great weight individually, but col
lectively making no small weight
for one horse; so that though we
were necessarily anxious to get
home, we were obliged TO drive
moderately, particularly as the road