The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-23
AS ERRaND AT nIDNIGHT.
youths Com panion.I


On the east bank of the Red River, op-
posite the town of Alexandria, lies a
long stretch Of pine barrens, which ex-
tend great many miles. On the west
ern bank of the river the soil is as fer
tile, or more so, than the rich lands of
the Mississippi Valley, so Of course no at
tention is paid to the poor sandy soil of
the Pine Hills. Yet to a certain extent
these were utilized by the wealthy plant.
eTs, who built their summer residences
here before the war, and spent three
months out Of the twelve where they
could enjoy the pure fresh air and deli
cious spring water of the Pine Hills.
Mr.. Layton, an impoverished planter,
had found himself compelled to make a
permanent home of his pine woods
refuge. There he and his two children,
James, boy OF twelve, and Effie, a girl
of two years younger, lived, with no
neighbors nearer than three miles. About
four miles from Mr.. Layton's place was
the little village of Pineville.
To planter accustomed TO rich lands
and heavy crops, the meagre sandy hills
were u sore trial. But Mr.. Layton
brought some scientific knowledge to
his farming, and in spite of its natural
poverty, wrested some very fair crops of
corn and cotton from his pine lands
Then his two motherless children were
healthy and happy, for they remembered
no other home.
James was his fathers assistant, and
Elsie, in spite of her extreme youth, was
almost as helpful and useful as if she had
been twenty instead of ten.
Such grave, thoughtful little woman
as she was Very pretty, too, with black
eyes, and yellow hair, and certain odd
preciseness of speech, which grew out of
her lonely life with books, which were
her usual companions.
1t was clear, bright September even
ng. Elsie sat in the broad gallery in
front ofthe house, sewing, and watching
her father, who was driving his wagon
through the lane with the last load of
corn.
"Have supper ready before dark,
Elsie" he called out to her. "Pve sent
James ten miles off on business, and he'i
not get back until tomorrow. Pll have
TO work after supper TO get all this corn
in, but !. will be moonlight until mid
night, so it don't matter much"
Elsie put up hersewiug, and before dusk
supper was ON the table. Her father eat
hastily, but stopped as he went out to
kiss her.
"You are the best little daughter in
the world" he said, "aud what would
papa do without his Elsie? Don't sit
upfor me, dear, for may be late to
night"
But TO 20 TO bed without final good
night TO her father was impossible fo
the little girl. She had her lessons t,
study, and new Youths Companion t,
read, and Elsie, like many other children
in Louisiana, thought the little pape
was the very incest in the world. So sh
read on, every now and then stopping t
listen TO the thud of the corn as he
father threw it up in the barn, and t.
his CHEEKY whistle.
isn't it pity papa hasn't any on
to nelp himF' she thought. "Here,
Tom gone to sec his wife" (Tom was
hired man), Sand James away too, an
poor papa won't get through for hour,
o dear, and it's Saturday night, too p'
What farther thoughts passed throug
the child's mind were suddenly arreste
by terrible crash, and loud cry fror
the barn, which was but short distano
from the house. Elsie sprung to he
feet, her heart full of terror. She fev
rather than ran, to the barn, bu
before she reached it she heard h,
fathers groans, and found him lying O
the ground.
81 fell from the lott, )" he gasped. "Pl
terribly hurt in my leg and side. can
move, and no one to help me. VIII,
shall do?'
"Oh, papa, can't and Nanny Martl
help you to the house ?" and Elsie trie
to restrain her sobs. Nanny Martl
had nursed her father in his infanc
and clung TO him in his reverses.
"Call her." he said, family.
But Nanny Martha had heard t
fall as well as Elsie, and came hobbli