The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-12-19
STREWING HEMP SEEDS.
4 Christmas Story.

COMING next week?'
Yes, Rosie, he'll be here for the
New Year, if nothing happens"
Rosie tossed her yellow ringlets, and
put up her red lips in a childish pout.
II shall hate him, Aunt Eunice. I'm
sure l shall. The simple fact that
am betrothed to him, willy-nilly, would
set my heart against him if he were a
Prince among men,
''He is a Prince among men, my
dear, and you'll be sure to like him
when you have seen him." replied Aunt
Eunice, quietly.
II tell you I'm sure not to like him,
insisted Rosie. Poor papa made a
great mistake; he should have left me
free"
1T would have been wiser, per-
haps; but your father had looked upon
Ben rs son SO many years. and felt
SO sure of his making good hus-
IAN old poke, twice my age" pout-
ed 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 a
week vet. When he is here, and you
have seen him, if you really dislike him
dare say he'll not compel you to be-
come his wife,
but l promised poor papa on his
death-bed, too, and promise to the
dying is sacred ..
Pretty Rosie was no kith or kin to
Aunt Eunice, only an adopted child,
cherished and loved for her dead faith
er's sake, and Ben was Aunt Eunice's
only son, Calcutta agent, who had
not seen his native land for years. and
who had last parted from his promised
bride when she was little miss in
pinafores. sst.s
But after his old friends death, and
Rosie's promise to become his wife
whenever he saw fit to come home and
claim her, Ben had sent home hand
some ring, and Rosie wore it on her
pretty finger. And now he was coming
in week
''Don't fret, Rosie. Wait until Ben
is here and you have seen him.
''Seeing him won't make me change
my mind,'' retorted the willful girl. II
have him in my mind eye nova poky
old fogy, just like Mr.. Sykes, the par
son. Oh, dearr'
Il trust the case 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 pigeons?"
Feed the pigeons, indeed!' cried
Rosie, transferring the seeds to her
pocket. "Why, auntie, I'm going
down to Hazel Hollow to try my for
tune. All the girls are doing it. Jen-
ME Burr strewed hemp one dark even
ing, month or SO ago, and the hand
soonest young man came following her,
and now she's engaged to him."
Aunt Eunice laughed, and crossing
the room, drew the girls head to her
breast and kissed her tenderly.
You're a good child, Rose, only a
bit maynard, 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 shad-
ows lay dark and thick in the wild
glen. Rosie was not the bravest little
woman in the world, and her heart
gave agreat throb of fear IS she walked
on under the whispering willows.
At the edge of the Hollow she fell
sorely tempted to turn round and run
back to Aunt Eunice's CHEEKY fireside
but thought of Jennie Burr's success
urged her on. She drew out handful
OF the magic seed and started across
the glen. ,,~e
49,, sg& ss,i
Hemp seeds ! strew, hemp seeds sow:
Let my true love follow me and now"
She repeated the charmed couplet in
little, quavcring voice, strewing hel
seeds right and left. She was hall
across the gloomy Hollow before she
could muster courage to l66k back.
When she did glance over her Shout
der, sharp cry burst from her lips
Not far behind her came q tall, manly