The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-08-30
Bessie alone. when All the rest


Bnt Jack replied with kiss and SMILE
p" If ever am 1t Is thanks to you 70 Hfa
Mary X. Bradley in 50. Nicholas for September.
After Pulk. H..
Bertha was down that day, and she
and Roland had exhausted all their
playthings in the forenoon. At dinner
they were bemoaning the fact that they
had played everything they wanted
new worlds to conquer. twas no more
fun winding up the cars and sending
them off; the winking dolls only gave
their father and mother sensation of
ennui even the perambulating French
maid could not raise smile, save on the
! face Of Aunt Lou, who, to the surprise
of the children, seemed still amused at
the maids pedestrianism, and made
some remarks as if she would be willing
to stake money on her powers.
- SEVEN tableaux are no fun now, I" said
Role, leaning back in his high chair,
very much swathed about the neck with
napkin, and looking at Bertha. with a
| pleading air as If she, any way, could
make things brighter-and she generally
could. Now, however, she shook her
head grayely as she held out her plate
for more jelly.
"We've had tableaux until I'm tired
to death of them I" she said with en-
phasis. m -nst
There was silence for few moments,
during which the appetites of the chill
dren asserted themselves.
When it came turn for pudding, Aunt
Lou, who was hungry, as usual, found
time to say:
eff everything is really exhausted
suggest the pulk. hole."
Both children looked up with spark.
ling eyes, though they had not the least
idea what was meant by her remark.
"Can we have it this afternoon-be-
fore go homer" asked Bertha, eagerly.
"Of course, of course p cried Role,
tearing off his napkin; "we'l have it
before you go. Is it in the house, Aunt
Lou?"
"The pulk-hole is not at present I'M
der this roof" was the reply, "but we'll
go to it. It's up the lane, in the rocky
pasture. Well all go this afternoon,
and 1 think we'd better go armed, in case
we see pulk."
"Oh what is pulk? ?" exclaimed
both of them.
cit is semi-amphibious animal, sub
sisting chiefly"
"There goes Aunt Lou off on
her big words" interrupted Role,
screwing his napkin into his
ring in a very strange state, and
looking up with comical depreciation.
Aunt Lou had discovered that the sound
of big words rather amused her nephew,
even though they made him impatient
sometimes.
"I was about to tell you, Roland,
she said, that pulk is second cousin
to a shark" ..g
Gail right" said Bertha; snow what
shall we take ," 4
"Bertha shall have the potato pop
gun, and six slices of large potato fol
ammunition. Roland shall take tina
new leather sling which was given t.
him by friend this morning, and bag
of shot II"
"And what shall we take to put tn,
pulks in ?" questioned Bertha.
Aunt Lou unused.
"There's nothing big enough to holt
the number we shall probably get, wa
the answer at length. "We'll pile then
up in the pasture, and Bertha may asl
, her father to send Dennis with cart TO
them" r,
BY this time you may be sure the chill
dren were eager for the play.
1t was past midsummer, and the rock.
pasture lay in a haze of loneliness at tnt
, upper end of the long lane. ~
The boy and girl were soon armed
and while they were discussing thei
equipments Aunt Lou disappeared for
few moments.
{ A little later they were all on thei
way, the little ones chirping in thei
blithe young voices, and caracoling q
they went; then falling for momen
into grave discussion concerning the siz
, and appearance of the animal they wer
going to see, the general look OF tn
, pulk-hole, and kindred topics.
1t was curious to hear them, and Aun
I Lou, walking behind, wondered an
Z smiled much. +iu 81
They toiled slowly up the hill, stop
ping now and then to pick some OF tn
blueberries which were so plentiful
then darting off for daisies and butter
7 cups in a wild hurry of delight. fa
{ So they went across the pasture unit
2 they came to the opposite slope OF tn
hill, aud to deep depression in til
ground, which was nearly grown up wit
1 pines and cedars. Now it was dry, bu
e only in midsummer did the pools c
/ water leave the place so it could be ez
plored.
"This is the place." announced Aun
: Lou, land now [ am going to static
you outside, while I go in and bes
Y about the bushes and see if can scar
] any pulks out. If / do, you must fir
at them, and give chase, and try not
lose sight of them-so much depends o
: your keeping them all the while
: sight"
n The eager intentness of the little face
was sight to see.
!, But, Aunt Lou" called out Role
4 in shrill, excited voice, rs she wf
! about to push through the bushe