The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-04-27
MY PERIL AND ESCAPE.

L was very DOld anu fearless girl, ana
my brothers and sisters often dared me,
to go into lonely places in the dark, or
do perilous feats of various kinds, which
challenges / never refused. Often they
set out to play tricks on me, but it usually
happened they fell into their own traps,
while l performed my part in safety.
We lived in large old house, built
of English oak, and bearing it's nearly
two centuries very lightly. 1t opened to
the south, and the two large parlors
looked to the east and west. The din
ing-hall and spacious kitchen formed
the square of the house, while at the
west and back was another large room,
sometimes called the great porch, and at
the east and back was the dairy and
another porch. There were three stair
ways leading to the upper rooms and a
garnet, whose ample space was broken
only by the great chimney in the center.
We had a gay and lively house, and
were used to a great deal of company
and visitors, for my parents were greatly
given to the old-fashioned virtue of hos
pitality. The humblest wayfarer COM
ing in at the porch was entertained
kindly and given God-speed, as well as
the guest whose elegant carriage and
span drove around to the front door on
the southern side.
1t WIS a summer day, and warm,
bright, and beautiful. The morning
promised a lovely day. Just after our
early breakfast a merry party came rid
ing down the lane in carriages and on
horseback, and yelling joyously for my
father and mother to accompany them on
pleasure trip. They were accustomed
to tnis mole of impromptu festivity, and
gayiy answered that they would soon be
ready. It was only the day before that
my father had returned from the Aus
tralian gold-fields, and had brought with
him ii Dag OF gold. / knew he had this,
for / h&u seen him the night before
counting some out OF it and putting it
into another bag.
Thomas brought the chaise to the
door. Fathers tavorite black horse,
whose coat looked like lustrous velvet,
and who stepped so proudly, was paving
the ground impatiently as he appeared.
He handed in my beautiful mother, and
/ stood looking on with childish pleasure
at her beautiful and rich dress. that 80
became her.
wind down the private way that led
through our extensive grounds, and hall
wished l were old enough to go with
them. Hearing Il slight noise, | turned
and saw II stranger, figure not unusual,
man with q bundle hung on stick.
He was leaning on the stone wall, and
apparently looking otter the carriages.
He came forward III moment, and asked
if he might sit down and rest, and if /
would kindly give him something to eat
OF course l said yes, and soon had
him substantial lunch OF bread and
cheese, which he came into the kitchen
to eat Betsy and Hannah were busy
hurrying to finish their work, for they
were gong out to tea and to spend the
evening. They talked gayly about their
visit paying little attention to the
stroller, who was quietly eating. He
had laid his straw hat on the floor, and
saw that his head was bald on the top,
and the finnish hair brushed up from
behind over it.
He had prominent ears low forehead,
and large mouth, with receding chin,
where grew a stubby beard of grizzly
black, like his hair. I don't know why L
observed all this, or his eyes, small and
hid under grayish brows, that seemed 90
glance furtively about him. when no one
appeared to be looking. His voice was
harsh and croaking, and had startled me
when he first addressed me.
We were used to strollcrs of all kinds.
as l have said. Perhaps was mentally
contrasting his repulsiveness with nv
fathers noble and dignified features He
seemed to me very ugly. / was glad
when he had finished his meal and risen
TO go. He asked permission to LIGHT his
pipe, which was readily granted. He
went out directly, passing accidentally
through the dining-room and out of the
great hall, where he fingered for a mo-
ment or two. He had thanked me civillv
enough for his breakfast, but the girls
laughed and nodded as he went ont and
said they should think had picked up a
raven.
All that long, bright day, / was busy
and happy in the flower garden, or sew
ing or reading and when the girls left.
looking very cheerful at their half holi-
day, | wished them merry time, and
told them not to hasten home, for Thomas
should come for them. l expected my