The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-27
OAKS LONG RIDE.

OAKS LONG RIDE.
The old Ashley country place lay fair
and stately, but very still, under the
warm sunlight of one of June's beautiful
days. To and fro in the wide hal, up
and down the broad stairs, in and out of
the vineshaded veranda, 1uttered lit
tie whiterobed 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 afternoon, was Oak Ashley. Nam
ma 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 her
self in old PHILIPS starchipg and ironing;
but the place was intentionally 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 Dress nebber see such chile
to get dresses black. Take care dem
frames; yer'll get yer mas lace sleebes
all rumfed. Spect yer better go up
stairs, honey"
Oak "spected" so too, and assembled
slowly, counting the steps by way of
amusement, and sliding her little hand
up the broad balustrade it could by no
means clasp. Then she wandered into
the partially -darkened drawing room, and,
ensconcing 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 burning sun, until at the
far.of horizon lurld heavens and dreary
waste of earth seemed to blend. No spot
to gladden. the eye, save where a rock
lifted its head and threw its cool shadow.
A stream Of water, fresh and pure, flowed
from it, and its protecting shadow verd-
ure had sprung up. Toward this oasis
three travellers were struggling. One far
out on the desert was pressing forward
with straining eyes; another had fallen a
little distance from the lOnged- for goal,
and with feeble strength was creeping to-
ward it; while the third, more fortunate,
had reached the blessed water, and was
lifting full cup to his lips.
Oak vaguely Comprehended, In a child
ish way, the pictures significance, and
remembered the words her grandfather
repeated when looking at it the day it
was brought home "a man shall be as
an hiding place from the wind, and a
covert from the tempest; as rivers OF
water in a dry place and the shadow of
a great rock in a weary land"
81 don't know what made grandpa say
life was full of cold winds and tempests,
though" she said, land don't think
the world is bit of a weary land
only" (sighing little) in the long aft.
ernoons when everybody's busy, and
there's nobody to play with. o dear!
wonder what l had better do next?"
She slipped down from the perch,
sauntered into the hall, and from thence
to the veranda. Standing there, one
dimpled hand shading her eyes to give
clearer vision, she suddenly espied her
grandfather's faithful hired man, and her
own particular favorite-Jem, the gar
dener and overseer, the "gineral agint
of outdoor consarns," to give his own eX-
pressive and not ill-deserved title. In a
moment the child was running down the
steps and across the lawn, sash and curls
flying.
go Jem! I'm so glad I've found your
she exclaimed, in a tone of gratu alton.
well, thin, I'm glad, too, Miss Oak,
though it was unbeknownst to mesilf in
tirely that was lost"
"What are you doing to the rose
bushes?" continued the little one, anx-
ious to have some one to talk to.
"Tryin' to persuade them to grow up
fit for a gintleman's garden, an not be
runnin' all round with no more civility
than wild bramble. There's many a
one in gintlemen's places, little Acorn,
as shows by their manners they don't be-
long there" said Jem, with twinkle in
his eye.
"rm not 'Acorn'-Tm Oak inter.
posed the child, half laughing, half pout
ing.
AN that's the next thing to it, akin
yer pardin, Great oaks from little
acorns grow"
81 didn't, anyhow" answered Oak
only half satisfied. "What are you
going to do when the roses are fXed?"
Well said Jem, meditating, Pm
goln' to hitch up the boss an wagon an
take some corn over to the new mill for
ninst the village, to see what the grind
ms like they be talkin' so much about
Yer grandfather wants to try EN-"
The little girls eyes sparkled