The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-25
STREWING HEMP SEEDS.
A Christmas Story.
Coming next week."

Eyes, Rosie, he'll be here Tor the New Year
if nothing happens"
Rosie tossed her yellow rlnglcts, and put up
her red lips in q childish pOut.
~ shall hate him, aunt Eunice. I'm sure I
SHALL The simple fact that am bethrofhed
to him, willy -nilly would set my heart against
him if he were Prince among men,
"He is a Prince among men, my dear, and
Eunice, quietly.
II tell you Pm sure not to like him." insisted
Rosie. "Poor papa made Il great mistake; he
should have left me free" 7
ut would have been wiser, perhaps; but
you: father had looked upon Ben as a son SO
many years, and felt sure of his making a
good husband-"
IAN old poke, twice nv age" pouted Rosie.
"Oh, no, not quite so old as that. But wait
until you have seen him. Never cross bridge
till you come to it, Rosie. Ben won't be here
for week yet. When he is here, and you
have seen him, if you really dislike him dare
say he'll not compel you to become his wife"
"But promised poor papa on his DEATH
bed, too, and a promise to the dying is sd.
cred"
Pretty Rosie was no kith or kin to Aunt
Eunice, oL4y an adopted child, cherished and
loved for ner dead fathers sake, and Ben was
Amt Eupce's only son, q Calcutta agent, who
had not seen his native land for years, and
who had last parted from his promised bride
when she was a little miss in pinafores =
But after his old friends death, and Rosie's
promise to become lis wifewhenever he saw
tit to come hOsae and claim her, Ben had sent
home 8 handsome ring, and Rosie wore it on
her pretty finger. And now he was coming
in a week.
Don't fret, Rosie, Wait until Ben is here
and you have seen him"
Seeing him won't make me change nv
mind retorted the willtNl girl. II have him
IN my minds eye nova poky old togy, just
like Mr.. Sykes, the parsou. Oh, dear!"
Il trust the will not be quite SO bad as
that, Rosie. But what are you going to do
with all those hemp seeds, my dear-feed the
pigtonS"
'Feed the pigeons, indeed?' cried Rosie,
transferring the seeds to her pocket. ''Why,
auntie. Pm going down to Hazel Hollow to
try Eny fortune All the girls are doing it,.
Jennie Burr strewed hemp one dark evening,
month or so ago, and the handsomest young
man came following her, and now she's en-
gagged to him."
Aunt Eunice laughed, and crossing the
room. drew the ylrl's head to her breast and
kissed her tcnderly.
'Yoarc good child, Rosie, only u bit way
ward, and trust you may be very happy, dear,
whether you ever marry Ben or not. There,
run along, and strew your hemp seeds if you
must, and hurry back to supper"
Rosie threw on her shawl and scarlet hood,
and ran away, like the silly child she was.
The sun was quite down when she reached
Hazel Hollow, and the shadows lay dark and
thick in the wild glen. Rosie was not the
bravest little woman in the world, and her
heart gave great throb Of fear she walked
on under the whispering willows.
At the edge of the Hollow she felt sorey
tempted to turn round and run back to Aunt
Eunices CHEEKY freside, but a thought of Jen-
ME Burr's success urged her on. She drew
out handful Of the magic seed and started
across the glen
Hemp seeds strew, hemp seeds SOW;
Let my true love follow me and now.
She repeated the charmed cOuplet in little,
quaveling voice, strewing her seeds right and
left. She was half across the gloomy Hollow
before she could muster courage to look back.
When she did glance over her shoulder, a
sharp cry. burst from herlips. Not far behind
her came tall, manly figure, with something
which loo ked like a veritable scythe in his
hand Rosie shrieked, stared an instant and
then sank down on the damp ground. scatter
ing her precious seeds as she fell.
She awoke to consciousness some time after
with full moon shining in her eyes, and a
@'Oh, where am l? What has happened?"
she cried out in dismay, as she struggled to
Nothing has happened" rspned deep
voice; 'only you were strewingg hemp, and I
followed you.'
Rosie ventured one wild glance. A hand.
some, bronzed, bearded face bent above her.
'Let me go home," she ,faltered, t~emb-
ling like a frightened bird, "home to Aunt
'Assoon as you please, my dear Rosie; but
don't forget you belong to me now. The
fates willed it, you see."
ooh, let me 20 home" cried Rosie, in sore
alright. .~.'-
Come along; I will escort you to the
gate"
And her strange companion drew her hand
within his arm and led her along the moon
lit path; ".'i f..-s.-
Rose's heart beat she could not get her
breath The instant they reached the gate,
she broke away from him.
"What! you won't even stop to say good
bye? No matter we shall soon meet again
You belong to me remember. No man alive
can ever take you from me; and in token of
my claim you shall wear this"
heavy gold chain flashed over her head,
and quaint, carved locket hung upon her
bosom. s T..
Through the gate, across the lawn, never
pausing once to look back, went Rosie, SOB
bing like child in her excitement.
Aunt Eunce stOoc on the steps of the old
farm house awaiting her.
"Why, my dear, how long you have been!
was just on the point of starting to hunt
you.'
"Oh, Aunt Eunice!n cried the girl, rushing
into her arms and beginning to sob outright.
Il am frightened to death. Some one did
follow me and speak to me, and, oh, look at
this on my neck!"
Aunt Eunice led her into the old-fashioned
sitting room, and by the light of the blazing
wood fire she examined the locket that hung
from the heavy chain.
"WeI,'' she said, looking at the pictured
face it contained, "a merry twinkle lighting
her eyes, "the face is a very nice one! There
must be something in your hemp-sowing,
after all. Rosie!"
''Oh, there is something Aunt Eunice,''
painted Rosie 'Dicn't tell you that Jenny
Burr's engaged to the man who followed
.her?'
$50 you did, pet. "Wen, if it must be it
can't be helped. You'll have to marry this
handsome stranger, and let poor Ben and
your promise go!''
Rosie flushed charmingly as she stole
glance at the pictured face, but the tears rose
in her eyes.
mo, I could never do that" she said 81
could never break my promise to poor pa
pa" u.s., .- +. L'....
Rosie was in hutter of intense excitment.
On the Sunday morning following her adven
tuse when she took her accustomed place in
Aunt Eunice's pew, who should she see Sit
ting opposite but the original of the picture in
her locket the hero of her hemp-seed charm4
"Ch, Aunt Eunice, look, there he ist''
gasped Rosie, her heart in her mouth.
so see, my dear" said the old lady, qu-
city; and, after service, when the stranger
came I'D and introduced himself as Mr.. Am