The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-03-13
A NIGHT WITH A BEAR.

"Tell you what, Roxie, wish fath' r
and Jake had some of those hot nut
cakes for their dinner; they didn't carry
much If anything, aud these are proper
NICE"
Mrs. Beamish set her left Land upon
her hip, leaned against the corner of th,
dresser and meditatively selected anoth-
or nut cake, dough-nut or cruller, as you
may call them, from the great brown
pan piled up with these dainties, and
Roxie, who was cured upin q little heap
on the corner of the settle, knitting a
blue wooden stocking, looked brightly
up and said:
Let me go and carry them some,
ma. It's just as warm and nice as can
be out.of doors, real springy, and i
know the way to the wood lot I'd just
love to CO."
"Lot's see-ten O'clock" said Mrs.
Beamish, putting the last bit of cake
into her mouth, and wiping her fingers
upon her apron. "It's matter of four
miles there by the bridge, Jake says,
though if you cross the ford it takes off
a mile or more. You'd better go round
by the bridge. anyway"
r." Oh, no, ma; that isn't worth while,
for pa said only last night that the ice
was strong enough yet to sled over all
the wood he'd been cutting" said Roxie,
earnestly, for the additional mile rather
terrified her.
"Did he? Well, if that's so, it is all
right" replied her mother, in tone Of
relief, and then she filled n tin pail with
nut-cakes, laid a clean, brown napkin
over them, and then shut in the cover
and set it on the dresser, saying
"There, they've got cheese with
them, aud you'll reach camp before they
eat their noon lunch. Now, get on your
leggin's and thick shoes, and your coat
and cap and mittens, and eat some cakes
before you start, so as not to take theirs
when you get there"
a" l wouldn't do that, neither not if
I never had any" replied Roxie, little
resentfully, aud then she pulled her
squirrel-skin cap we'll over her ears, tied
her pretty scarlet tippet around her
neck, and held up her face for a good
by kiss. The mother gave it with un-
usual fevor, and said, kindly:
Good-by to you, little girl. Take
good care of yourself, and come safe
home to mother"
eyes, ma. But / may wait and come
with them, mayn't /? They'll let me
ride on old Rob, you know"
"Why, yes, you might as well, sup
pose, though I'll be lonesome without
you all day, baby. But it would be bet
ter for you to ride home, 80 stay"
1t was lovely day in the latter part
of March, and although the ground was
covered with snow, and the brooks and
rivers were still fast bound in ice, there
was something in the air that told of
spring that set the sap in
the maple trees mounting through itf
million little channels toward the buds,
already beginning to redden for THEN
blooming, and sent the blood in little
Roxies veins dancing upward too, un
til it blossomed in her cheeks and lipl
fairer than in any maple tree.
"How pleasant it is to be alive I" saiC
the little girl aloud, while a squire
running up the old oak tree overhead
stopped, and curling his bushy tail l
little higher upon his back, chattereC
the same idea in his own language
Roxie stopped TO listen and laugh aloud
at which sOund the squirrel friskeC
away to his hole, and the little girl