River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-11-15
OAKS LONG RIDE.

van - NO-hO
The old Ashley country place lay fair
and stately, but very still, under the warm
sunlight of one of Junc's beautiful days.
To and fro in the wide hall, up and down
the broad stairs, in and out of the vine
shaded veranda, fiuttered 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, and
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
PHILIPS starching and ironing; but the
place was uncOmfOrtably warm, and there
had been constant stream of warnings
and ordinations at every movement she
made.
"Oh, look dar now, Miss Oak; mind
yer white dreas. nebbeT see such chile
90 get dresses black Take care dem
frames; yer'll get yer mas lace sleebes all
rumfled. Spect yer better go up stairs,
honey"
Oak "spected" So too, and assembled
slowly, counting the steps 10y way OF
amusement, and sliding her little hand up
the broad balustrade it could Oy no means
clasp Then she wandered into the par
tialiy-darkened drawing-rOOm, and, en-
sconsing herself in the depths Of great
rocking chair, surveyed in the dim light
the pictures on the walls. The one which
held her gaze the longest was of a hot
dry desert, its white sands stretching
away under a burning sun, until at the
far-off horizon, lurid heavens and dreary
waste of earth seemed to blend. No spot
10 gladden. the eve, save where rock
lifted lis head and threw Its cool shadow
4 stream of water, fresh and pure. flowed
from it, and in its protecting shadow
ver,lure had sprung up. Toward thi.
oasis three travellers were struggling
one far out on the desert was pressing
forward with straining eyes; another
had fallen a little distance from thu
lOnged-f for goal, and with feeble strength
was creeping toward 1t; while the third
more fortunate, had reached the blessed
water, and was lifting full cup to IN
ips-
Oak vaguely cOmprehended, in child
ish way, the pictures significance, ant
remembered the words her grandfathe
repeated when looking at it the day it wa
brought hOne-"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 rocl
in weary land"
Il don't know what made grandpa sa
life was full of cold winds and tempests
though" she said, "and don't think tn
world Is a bit of a weary land only,
tsighing a little) ~in the long Afternoon
when everybOdy's busy, and there's no
body to play with. o dear l wonde
what had better do next"
She slipped down from the perch, saun
tered 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
iIl-deserved title. In a moment the chill
was running down the steps and acroS
the lawn, sash and curls flying.
- Jeml I'm so glad / We toun
vour' she exclaimed, in a tone of gratuls
tiOn.
We'll, thin, I'm glad, too, Miss Oal
though it was unbeknOwnst to mesilf II
tireIy that | was LOST
What are YOU doing t. the rOs,
bushesl' continued the little one, ana
ious TO have some one to talk 10.
"TryIn' To persuade them To grow u
1T for a gintleman's garden, an not to b
runnin' all round with no moe civilit
than a wild b. mble. There's many
one in gintlem, ; places, little Acorn
a. shows by thei manners they don't b,
long there said lem, with a twinkle
his eye.
I'm not Acorn'-I'm Oak" inte
posed the child, half laughing, half pou
ing.
An that's the next thing TO it, axi
yer pardin. Great oaks from lit
scorns grow"
Il didn't anyhow" answered Oak Onl
half satisfied. What are you going
do when the rOsrs are fixed.'
Well" said Jem, meditating," I'm e
in Ia hitch up the boss an wagon an tab
some corn over 10 the new mill fOrnin
the village. to see what the grinGin's lib
they be talkin' so much about. Yer gran,
father wants to try EN-"
The little girls eyes sparkled.
20 Jem, I'll go too! she exclaime'
clspping her hands gleefully; ~Ill G
with YOU. shant" /, Jem"
ats not me as will be sayin' 10, If y,
mothers wlllin,' Miss Oak said Jen
good naturally; "an' Ill fake fine care
We"
The child sped away, never dOubtin
success. and before Jem drove around I
the avenue she vas ON the steps waitin
4 little embroidered sacque covering h
arms and gipsey hat tied over her curl
Take good care of her, Jem," called
Iadv's sweet voice from an upper wiudO
As the wagon came up and the little 81
was lifted into it.
THAT I will, ma'am,' responded Jer
seating himself beside his young eharg
and away they rolled down the long lar
and out into the road.
They suited each other well, the
travelling companions: JeIn 50 fond
his little friend, So kindly and so talk
tive. with kind Of childlike sImplici
about him that made him understand an
enter into her enjoyment; and the lit