The Republican journal., 1877-10-11

"What made you plant them so neal
the fence !''
THAT was my blunder but you see
the soil is just the thing, better than low
er down"
why don't YOU buy bull dog ?"
II think its more Christian to shoot {
man outright than to set one Of those
devils on him. The breed ought to be
eXtripated."
Put some ipecac in one or two. That'l
fetch 'em. ! know how sick it made Inc
once"
II did: but more were stolen next
night. | can't afford to medicate the
whole village Last night | sat up tC
watch till twelve o'clock, when mother
made me go to bed
'I'll watch tonight, said Arthur
land give EN- Il lesson with good load
Of beans from the old shotgun"
lit wouldn't pay replied his father.
IL concluded last night that all the mel
ons in the world weren't worth a nights
sleep. They'll have TO 60, and next year
I Ill know more than to plant any
You 90 and help Amy pick currants,
and let me talk to the boy Il little" said
Mrs. Steele, coming up and taking Ar
thur off for promenade up the broad
path.
CHOW pretty Amy has grown said he,
gIancng with pleased smile at the girl
as she looked up at her father II sup
pose the young men are making sleeps
eyes at her already"
'lt doesn't do them any good if they
are" said Mrs. Steele, decisively. "She's
only sixteen and little girl yet, and has
sense enough to know it."
"What had she been CRYING for when
arrived? | saw her eyes were as red as
the currants."
"Oh, dear :" replied Mrs. Steele, with a
sigh Of veXation, ''it was her troubles at
the seminary. You know we let her 90
as a day scholar this summer Some of
the girls slight and snub her, and she is
very unhappy about it,
NV by, what on earth can ANYBODY
have against ANY, demanded Arthur
IN indignant surprise.
II suppose it is because some of the
little hussies from the city have taken
the notion that they won't associate with
mechanics daughter, although Amy is
very careful not to say it in 50 many
words, for fear of hurting my feelings
But expect that's where the shoe pinch
es"
Arthur muttered something between
an oath and a grunt, expressing the EN-
phaslS OF the one and the disgust of the
other
II tell Amy is is foolish 10 mind their
airs but I'm really afraid it spoils the
poor girls happiness"
"Why don't YOU send her away to
boarding school, il it is so serious as
that =
I'VE can't afford it," said his mother,
whereto Arthur promptly replied
'l'll pay her expenses. I'm making a
good deal more money than know what
to do with, and I'd really like the chance
of doing little good"
His mother glanced at him with atfrc-
tlonate pride.
"Nou're always wanting to pay some
bodyS expenses, or make somebody q
present. It's really unsafe when You're
around, to Indicate that one isn't perfect
ly contented, But You caught me up too
quickly was going to say that We
couldn't spare her from home. anyhow
She's the light of the house. Besides
that, if il comes to objections, Eve my
notions about boarding schools, and l'd
trust no girl of mine at one that wasn't
within sight of her home. No, she'll have
to keep ON here and bear it as she cam
though its pretty hard, | know. The
trouble tonight was, that Lima Maynard
who is one OF the older girls, has invited
nearly everybody at the seminary except
tn q, hirt hl.,y- tn | If
tie mink, ! could shake her. And the
worst Of it is, Amy thinks there's nobody
like Lima Maynard"
After tea it was still light, and Arthur
and Amy went out to walk In spite OF
the ten years difference in their ages, he
always enjoyed her company as we'll us
anybodys in the world, because she was
SO retreshingly child like and natural.
Every chord of feeling answered 50 true
and clear to the touch, that to walk with
her was like playing on a musical instru-
ment, only far more delightful. Arthur
had looked forward to walks and talks
with Amy as among the jollcst treats of
his vacation She tried her best now to
seem light hearted and to entertain him
with the local gossip, for which he always
depended on her. But she couldn't stimu-
late the vivacious and eager air that had
been the chief charm of her talk. AS he
glanced down, he was grieved to see the
sad set OF the pretty child face at his side,
and how still had grown the fountain of
smiles in the hazel eyes that were wont
to send their ripples outward in constant
succession. 1t is to be feared that under
his breath he applied some very ungen
tlemanly language to Lima Maynard and
her clique, whose nonsensical ill-nature
had hurt this little girls feelings 50 sore
ly, and incidentally spoiled half the fun
of his vacation.
There, there, YOU needn't talk any
more" he finally said. rather rudely, half
veXed with her. as lelptul people are
wont to be with those they can do moth
ing to help.
She looked up in grieved surprise, but
before he could speak again they came
face to face with a party of girls coming
from the direction of the seminary.
There were six or seven of them, per
haps, but Arthur only got the impression
of one and lot of others. The one was
a rather tall girl of 1.-the figure and I'M
usually fine carriage. Her olive com
peXion was lighted with great black eyes
that rested on You with an air OF imper-
turbable assurance, as penetrating as it
was negligent. She was talking, and her
companions were listening and laughing.
AS they came face to face with Arthur
and Amy he saw that they barely no
ticed her, with glancing at him rather
curiously, with the boldness Of girls in a
crowd Of their own sex. They evidently
observed that he was stranger to the
village, and of quite Il different style
from that of the country pumpkins and
rural eXquisi es they were accustomed to
meeting. There was in the big black
eyes as they had met his moment, Il
suggestion of interest that was strangely
tiattering, and left a trace of not I'M
pleasant agitation.
"Who was that y he asked, as they
passed out of hearing.
He only thought Of asking for one, al
though there were six, nor she apparent
ly of answering inditferently.
- inn Maynar1 ThaN ara Gam