Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-11-30

| ufllUS, dCTOSS Uuc ClcdTlu&, saw lliu Sct
foothold on the ledge by the great pine
tree and spring out of sight. AS the
night fell they saw the clouds drift away
and the moon come up, and the hills
were bright with the light.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Do you never doubt, little mother?"
8 Never for an instant"
No more do T. Goodnight and
pleasant dreams"
PART lin THE VALLEY.
oh! papa, do you think it's going to
snow?' Bessie looked appealingly into
her fathers face.
Suppose, Puss, that I should say
'Yes?''
"Oh! then I'd give you most all my
candy" replied Bessie, holding up what
once might have been candy, but what
now looked like very sticky little
hand.
And if I should say Mop"
Then" said Bessie, it does seem tC
me as if never could speak to you
again
Papa went to the window. Outside
it was nearly dark; but he could see
easily enough, that it was going to snow
and pretty soon, too.
I'm take the candy said papa, 'fo1
l say Yes"
Bessie climbed upon her papas knee
and, putting her head down upon his
arm, she said:
Papa, / want to ask you favor
but it's such big one I'm afraid you'll
just say no the first thing
Does mamma know what it is all
about?'
"Oh! yes, sir. She knows, truly and
honestly. Don't you, mamma?
Mamma only smiled, and | think there
was some other reason than just because
she was counting stitches, that she did
not say anything.
Well, papa, you know-yOu know
day after tomorrow will be Thanksgiv-
ing; -and-Joe, he says he is going
to take his skates to bed, and want to
know, now, please, papa, if [ can take
Clear the Track to bed with me to-
night?"
Papa looked perfectly astonished.
Day after tomorrow will be Thanks
giving, and you want to take Clear the
Track to bed with you tonight, just be
cause it is to be"
No. said Bessie. 1T isn't that; but
don't you know Thanksgiving is one
good thing, and Clear the Track is an
other, and when two good things come
together it's ever so much more fur
than just only one, you see.
, Now, what do you think? Clear the
Track" wasn't doll, or pussy-cat, OF
steam engine; but, if you will believe
me, it was nothing more or less than d
new sled, with cushioned seat, and two
, long swans necks curling up in front
Now, you don't wonder, l suppose, that
papa opened his eyes so very wide when
Bessie wanted to take Clear the Track
to bed with her.
Why don't you say something, Nam
ma?' said Bessie why don't you say
you never, in your life saw such good
girl as | was when l pounded my finger
you know-or-or something?'
For once, however, Bessie's ally failed
| her.
But I tell you what, Puss," said pa
pa, you shall tie Clear the Track tc
the bedpost, and I'm sure he'll not get
! away before morning.
OF course, with both papa and NAM
ma against her, Bessie had to give up
although she told Joe afterwards that
she could just as well have slept be
tween the runners as not.
AS bedtime drew near Joe and Bes
sic never felt less sleepy in their lives
Joe had been caught with his skates
buckled on, walking over the dining
room floor, just to try his ankles, he
said (although don't see why he should
have been so happy, when the snow
that was coming would surely spoil bis
fun): and Bessie sat upon Clear tho
Track" all the evening, telling her larg
est doll the greatest stories OF what was
going to happen on the morrow. 1t was
nine o'clock. Joe was sound asleep, with
his skates under the pillow; and Bessie
with Clear the Track tied tight to the
trundle-bed, still clasping in her PLUMP
little hand the iron neck of one of the
swans, was dreaming of coast SO lone
that it looked at that time as if it woulc
last until morning.
At ten o'clock there was wind anC
cold enough, but still no snow; and the
little village went to bed-the children
to dream of skates and sleds, and the
older ones to wonder where the money
was coming from to buy them.
But the next morning There was NJ
doubt about it then, for the snow was
whirling past the windows at tremen
dOus rate.
What do you think about school to
day, mother?' asked papa.
Breakfast had been finished and thu
clock hands were slowly moving arount
toward starting-time.
No school to-day, | think, sale
mamma. looking out at the fast drifting
snow and the leaden sky overhead
on Clear the Track and came very
near crying.
g was going to drag Bessie all tn,
way to school and all the way home
again" said Joe, with very deep groan
''and now you've spoilt it all. And HI
put his head against the corner OF tht
mantlepiece and would not be com
forted.
" 1t doesn't seem TO me, said papa
'as if we could have heavy storm a
this time-only the 9th of November
Don't you think, too, mamma, that th'
clouds look light over there?"
Bessie was on the window-seat in
moment.
"Pooh!" she said, with a very wis'
look. There's blue sky enough to maxi
a Dutchman's jacket
Where? asked mamma.
Bessie looked again
well, ! don't see it now; but it i
there, really and truly"
will you promise to come home a
noon if the snow keeps on?'
"Oh! yes, they promised over ant
over again, and Joe, Bessie and "Clea
the Track" were soon ready to start
Keep in the road Don't go acros
the felds!" called mamma out Of tn
window.
Two kisses were thrown back, witt
the answer, "All right. Goodbye"
The school-house was long distanc
away; for, as the village wasn't ricl
enough to have school all to itself, tn
next village had joined with them i
supporting one, which was built hal
way, and the children had nearly mil
to walk.
! "OhI why did let those children gof