The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-01-11

"Ay. ay. and rode home as hard a.
7 could, with him at my heels. But :,
no use o frightening Susan, when she's
going to morrow"
I'm not frightened. grandad," said
Susan. go ng up and kissing the old
man.
Ben here ran across and, coming up
unpreceived, pulled one of Susan's curls
which had tumbled from underneath
her cap.
Don Ben, you plague" cried Susan
and she trIed to catch him as he ducked
away from her hand and jumped over IL
seuee, where he sat on the floor in rh,.
attitude of frog, ready to leap if she
chose to follow him. But, seeing tina
she took no heed, he crawled up to her
and said:
What should you do, Susy, if f o.
pad came up and asked for your money
or your life2 I wonder whether you'd
call me plague then? Ha, ha."
Il shouldn't want you,' laughed Su-
san; for should tell him to go about
his business, and ask what he'd do with
my life when he'd gotit.
"Ah, its all very line to be pert NOW,
but you'll long for poor phguey Ben
then, / know and Ben here not onl,
pulled the curl again, but tHeaked The
cap off the girls head. She caugh, him.
and was in the act of administering pun.
ishment by a box on the ear, when he
leaped over her STOPPING form, and ran
/ up stairs to bed.
The next m"rning Susan rose at five,
and dressed herself with much care and
neatness. Ben met her rs she came to
the kitchen door; and Mrs. Dale, who
was already down, began to cut large
slices Of bread and butter, and told him
to be quiet and get his breakfast
Susan went to see that her basket of
poultry, eggs and butter was ready pack
ed.
Don't let the ducks go for less than
six shillings the couple, child said Mrs
Dale "and get as much as you can for
the fowls. Ducks are in season, and
ought to fetch good price"
-Susans duck herself" chimed in
Ben.
you're a goose, at all events,' reioin
ed Susan; though should'tlike to have
the selling of you. for you would no.
fegch much And she sat down op
pOsiIe he boy and began her breakfast.
The farm servants coming in soon after
to get theirs.
@Tummas started baiinnes,7 said Ben;
i"I beard HIM go. Make haste, Sasy-
ea' away
There's no hurry, my dear" said Mrs
Dale, as she stirred her porridge; "bnt
you can so and see if Jerry'S all ready
and bring him round"
Jerry WAS The horse, of respectable and
ancient appearance and somewhat clum
sy build. ou which Slsan usually made
her journeys to market. She was good
horsewoman. hacing been accustomed
TO ride about the farm with her grand
fther since she WIS quite child, and
she was Father impatient uf Jerry's slow
PAGES, though she knew them 10 be a
necessity on msrketday.
Lady. your palfrv waits cried Ben,
boving at the kitchen door with mock
dignity.
Hess the boy" exclaimed his moiher.
hes :ull uf fun. declare. Come and
help Susan with her baskets
Jerry was led to the mounting stone,
which stood in the ward, Susan was duly
se;t ed on her saddle, the baskets ad
jusied, and the horse ambled away up
the wooded lane.
Think of me when you meet the rob
bers, Susy," squealed Ben after her, as
he pretended to be overcome with grief
at her departure.
Susan rode along, enjoying the fresh
mUrning and the song Of the birds. The
dew twinkled Oh the grass an herhagn
and the sun g'inted through the Irees
overhead, while the scent Of the hay
now being made into ricks, filed the air
with its delicious fragrance.
When Susan turned into th- high
road she found it full of carts, horsemen
and farmers, all bent on the same errand
as herself
1t was of no moment whether she ar
rived at Hazleton sooner than her Neigh
bors. so she took no pains to urge on the
steady-going old horse, and she was soon
left alone at the foot of a steep ascent.
Before many minutes had elapsed. ii
gentleman on fine bay horse overlook
her, and. refining him in with difficulty, !
asked If he we're right for Halle ton, an |
if it we're maIk-t-day there.
Susan looked round at him, and was
struck with the handsome aquilIne face
and piercing dark ewes which seemed to
read her through. Dressed in the best !
fashion of the time, his horse carefully |
groomed till its glossy coat shone bright
ly in the sunlight, he made marked
contrast to Susan, on her thickmade
clumsy animal.
You are bound for the market, too
little maidl' inquired the gentleman :.
raising his hat as he spoke:
Yes. sir. All The folks are going there
Almost. this morning, think" answered
Su>an shvly. !
And what have YOU here: Chickens
and butter??7 her interlocu'c- went on
10 say. DO you ike The business Of buy
ing and selling?r !
1T depends on The price ! get for
;hem," return Snsan Quickly. !!
The gentleman laughed. and stopped
for a moment to arrange the leather Of
his s'irrup more 70 his liking; while
S,sn rode on. wondering What a well
bred msn. on thorough bred horse.
"o'ili want at Hazle;on on market
dav |
While she mHsed On these poin;s. he
again overlook her. /
-Nay iask your name?" he said. !;
Ny name is Sus,ar S-idnlph." she an
swered simply; and though she would
have given much TO ask him the same !
question, she refrained from innate feel
ings ofcourtesy.
As if he OWNED her thoughts, he
said:
"My name is Hamilton St John. Do
you like it," |,
Very much; and what DO you call
your horse, sir?7 l.
--Wildfre; and famous stopper he is
Good-by, Susan l hope you'll get good .
prices for your fowls and ducks And