The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-11-22
LITERARY


The old Ashley country place lay tar
and stately, but very still, under the warm
sunlight of one of June's beautiful days.
To and fro in the wide hall, up and down
the broad stairs, in and out of the vine
shaded veranda, tiuttcred a little white
ROBBED figure, restless as bee or bird, but
with no such industrious object in view.
The only child in the house. and with
literally nothing to do that bright after
noon. was Oak Ashley. Mamma was IN
her room writing letters. papa away, ana
grandpa taking his afternoon nap so the
little girl was left to her own resources.
She had stolen down into the kitchen
once, and tried to interest herself in old
ohilly's starching and ironing but the
place was uncomfortable warm, and there
mad been a constant stream OF warnings
and EXPLANATIONS at every movement she
made.
"Oh, look dar now, Miss Oak; mind
yer white dreas nebber see such chile
70 get dresses black. Take care dem
frames yer'll get yer mas lace sleebes all
vumhcd. Spect yer better 60 up stairs,
honev.'
Oak "spected" so too, and assembled
slowly, counting the steps by way OF
amusement, and sliding her little hand up
the broad balustrade it could by no means
s.1l,sn. Then she wandered into the par
tiallv-darkened drawing room, and, en-
sconsinr herself in the depths of a great
rocking. chair, surveyed in the dim light
the pictures on the walls. The one which
held her gaze the longest was OF not,
dry desert, its white sands stretching
away under a burning sun, until at the
tar-0ff horizon, lurid heavens and dreary
waste of earth seemed to blend No spot
80 gladden. the eye, save where rock
lifted its head and threw its cool shadow.
a stream of water, fresh and pure, flowed
from il. and in its protecting shadow
xerdure had sprung up. Toward TINS
oasis three travellers were Struggling
One far out on the desert was pressing
Sorward with straining eyes; another
n.d fallen little distance from the
tonoed- for goal. and with feeble strength
was creepinc toward it: while the third
more fortunate, had reached the blessed
water. and was lifting full cup 10 III
ips- o,;,a
oak vaguely comprehended, IN chlio
ish way. the pictures significance, an'
remembered the words her grandfathe
repeated when looking at 1t the day II wa
brought home-"A man shall be as
hiding-place from the wind, and cover
from the tempest; as rivers OF water IN
dry place and the shadow of great roc
in weary land"
Il don't know what made grandpa sa
life was full of cold winds and tempests
though" she said. land don't think tn
world is bit Of weary land, only,
tsighing q little IN the long afternoo
when everybodys busy, and there's nc
body TO play with. Q DEAR wonde
what had better do next?"
She slipped down from the perch, saun
sered into the hall. and from thence to tn
veranada. Standing there one dimple
hand shading her eyes to give clearer Wis
ion. she suddenly espied her grandfather
faithful hired man. and her own particu
lar favorite-Jem, the gardener and over
seer, the "gineral agint of outdoor cor
sarns," to give his own expressive and ne
ill-deserv d title. In moment the chill
was running down the steps and acros
the lawn, sash and curls flying.
40 Jeml I'm so glad l We toun
YOUR she exclaimed, in tone of gratuls