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


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, tluttcred 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
3er 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
ohilly's starching and ironing; but the
place was uncomfortably warm, and there
had 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
20 ret dresses black. Take care dem
frames; yerll get yer mas lace sleebes all
vumtled. Spect yer better go up stairs,
honey"
Oak 'spectcd" so too, and assembled
amusement, and sliding her little hand up
the broad balustrade it could by no means
s,ylnsp. Then she wandered into the par
tally darkened drawing room, and, en-
sconsing herself in the depths of a great
rocking. chair, surveyed in the dim light
the picfures on the walls. The one which
held her gaze the longest was OF hot,
dry desert, its white sands stretching
away under burning sun, until at the
tar-otf horizon, lurid heavens and dreary
waste of earth seemed to blend. No spot
70 gladden. the eye, save where rock
Efte1, 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
forward with straining eyes; another
Y,,d fallen little distance from the
lonced- for goal, and with feeble strength
was creeping toward it: while the third
more fortunate. had reached the blessed
water. and was lifting full cup to III:
ips. .,,;,a
ish way, the pictures significance, ane
remembered the words her grandfatne
repeated when looking at it the day 1t 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 roci
in weary land"
Il don't know what made grandpa 50.
life was full of cold winds and tempests,
though" she said, land don't think tn
world is a bit of weary land only,
{sighing little) "in the long afternoon
when everybody's busy, and there's no
body to play with. 0 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 dimplet
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 con
sarns," to give his own expressive and no
ill-deserv d title. In moment the chill
was running down the steps and acros
the lawn, sash and curls flying.
90 Jem! I'm so glad We toun
YOUR she exclaimed, in tone of gratula