Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-11-23
LEFT ALONE.

was very bold and fearless child,
and my brothers and sisters often
dared me to go into lonely places in
the dark. or do perilous feats of vari-
Gus kinds, which challenges / never
refused. Often they set out to play
tricks on me, but it usually happened
that they fell into their own traps,
while | performed my part in safety.
Very possibly the consciousness that
they were about to dupe me gave me
more courage than | would otherwise
have had, for any unusual noise or APP
pearance would be attributed to one
or another coming to brighten me.
But, night or day, | used to go
straight up to and touch whatever
seemed fearful, and finding the object
of doubt resolved itself into very sim
pie elements, L acquired an ease which
stood me instead in times of real dam
ger.
We lived in a large old house built
of English oak, and bearing it's nearly
two centuries very lightly. 1t opened
to the south, and the two large parlOrs
looked to the east and west.
The dining-hall and spacious kitchen
formed the square of the house, while
at the west and back was another large
room, sometimes called the great
porch, and at the east and back was
the dairy and another porch.
There were three stairwayS leading
to the upper rooms, and garnet,
whose ample space was broken only
by the great chimney in the center.
We had a gay and lively house, and
were used to a great deal of company
and visitors, for my parents were
greatly given to the old-fashioned vir-
tue of hospitality.
The humbleSt wayfarer coming in
at the porch was entertained kindly
and babe Godspeed, as well as the
guest whose elegant carriage and span
drove round to the front door on the
southern side.
am not going now to tell you of
my handsome gentle parents, or
my brothers and sisters-only about
myself.
There were a great many of us when
we were all at home, especially in the
winter holidays, but at times we were
nearly all away.
Boarding-schoclS, academies, travel
ing-all claimed us at various times.
Yet it was rare indeed that one was
ever at home alone.
1t so happened, however, and to me.
1t was a summer day, and warm,
bright and beautiful. The morning
promised a lovely day. Just after ouI
early breakfast, a merry party came
riding down the lane, in carriages and
on horseback, and calling joyouSly fol-
my father and mother to accompany
them on pleasure trip. They We're
accustomed to this mode of impromptu
festiyity, and gayly answered that they
would soon be ready.
1t was only the day before that my
father had returned from the Austria
iian gold fields, and had brought will
him a bag of gold. | knew he had this
for had seen him the night before
counting some of it. and putting it into
another bag, and badly wanted to ash
him to give me one of the pretty coins
but was too well taught to interrupt o.
tease him.
Thomas brought the chaise to tn,
door. Fathers favorite black horse
whose coat looked like lustrous velvet
and who stepped so proudly, was paw
ing the ground impatiently as he ap
peared. He handed in my beautiful
mother, and / stood looking on will
childish pleasure at her beauty ant
rich dress that SO became her. NJ,
father suddenly turned to me anC
said, taking his key to his iron-bount
box:
Run, Ann, and get me the httl
bag you saw me put away last night.
| was proud to be so trusted; bu
when | quickly returned with it, h
was already in the chaise, and par
way to the gate. He looked out an
said:
mo matter, row, Ann; you ma
put it back again, for we are going an
other road, and will pay Harris to
morrow. Take care of the key, m
dear, and good-by."
"Good-by, and a good time to you,
I laughingiy replied, and ran back t
put the treasure in safety.
| fastened Indoors again to see then
wind down the private way that le