Connecticut western news., 1877-12-21
StreWing Hemp Seeds.
A CHRISTMAS TALE.


 "Yes, Rosie. he'll be here for the New Year, if nothing happens.
 Rosie tossed her yellow ringlets, and put up her red lips in a childish pout shall hate him, Aunt Eunice I'm sure shall. The simple fact that am betrothed to him, willy-nllly, would set my heart against him if he were prince among men," ....s
 "He is prince among men, my dear, and you'll be sure to like him when you see him, ," replied Aunt Eunice, quietly. "I tell you I'm sure not to like him." insisted Rosie. "Poor papa made a great mistake; he should have left me free"
 It would have been wiser, perhaps :; but your father had looked upon Ben as a son so many years. and felt so sure of his making good husband"
 "An old poke, twice my age" pouted Rosie. #-
 "Oh, 10, not quite so old as that. But wait until you have seen him. Never cross bridge till you come to it, Rosie. Ben won't be here for week yet. When he is here, and you have seen him, if you really dislike him I dare say he'll not compel you to become his wife,
 "But I promised poor papa on his death bed too, and promise to the dy- ing is sacred"
 Pretty Rosie was no kth or kin to Aunt Eunice, only an adopted child, cherished and loved for her dead fathers sake, and Ben was Aunt Eunice's only son, Calcutta agent, who had not seen his native land for years, and who had last parted from his promised bride when she was little miss in pinafores. But after his old friends death, and .Rosie's promise to become his wife whenever he saw fit to come home and claim her, Ben had sent home hand some ring, and Rosie wore 1t on hel pretty finger. And now he was coming in week.
 "Don't fret, Rosie Wait until Ber is here, and you have seen him."
 "Seeing him won't make me change my mind" retorted the willful girl. "1 have him in my minds eye nova pokJ old fogy, just like Mir. Sykes, the par son. Oh, dear P
 "I trust the case will not be quite SC bad as that, Rosie. But what are you going to do with all those hemp seeds my dear-feed the pigeons ?"
 |" Feed the pigeons, indeed !" criet Rosie, transferring the seeds to he pocket. :" Why, auntie, I'm going dow1 to Hazel Hollow to try my fortune. Al the girls are doing it. Jennie Bur strewed hemp one dark evening, montl or so ago, and the handsomest young man came following her, and now she engaged to him."
 Aunt Eunice laughed, and crossing tn, room, drew the girls head to her breas and kissed her tenderly.
 "You're a good child, Rosie, only bit wayward, and I trust you may b very happy, dear, whether you ever mar " Ben or not. There, run along, an, strew your hemp seeds, if you must, am hurry back to supper"
 ISOSl6 bAE6W Ou HOT ouhW1 hl1u bCttIl6 hood, and ran away, like the silly chil she was. Ce1 q .fs
 The sun was quite down when sh reached Hazel Hollow, and the shadow lay dark and thick in the wild glen Rosie was not the bravest little woma in theworld, and her heart gave 8 grea throb of fear as she walked on under tn whispering willows.
 At the edge of the Hollow she fel sorely tempted to turn round and ru back to Aunt Eunice's cheery firesidt but thought of Jennie Burr's success urged her on. She drew out handful ( the magic seed and started across th glen.
 Hemp seeds strew, hemp seeds I SOW;
 Let my true love follow me and mow."
 She repeated the charmed couplet in little. quavering voice, strewlng he seeds right and left. She was ha across the gloomy hollow before sf could muster courage to look back.
 When she did glance over her shou