The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-12-18
A Rescue From Cannibals.
A STORY FOR CHRISTMAS.

Hulda came down into the bowels of
the earth to find me, as she usually was
compelled to do. There was no necessity
for her remaining amid the rust and
reaches. the gloom and interminablt
steam, of that cavernous kitchen floor
of ours on Brooklyn Heights. We had
kept boarders now for years and years,
or perhaps the boarders had kept us, or
it might have been mutual eking out
of existence. But l took care of the
cooking, because in that the main
strength of success lay, and 1 didn't
want TO keep boarders all my life.
When we began it was to please Bro
ther Bob. He was a well-to-do sales
man then in the city, and used to come
down to the dear old homestead with 80
many airs and graces about him that
we grew to look upon him with sort of
awe, and wondered if this prinky
gentleman in the high hat and linen
duster could be our Bob that used to
kick all the bottoms out of the chairs,
and never had a whole knee in his
breeches that robbed the birds nests,
worried the schoolmaster, was nearly
drowned in the millrace and had his leg
broken by fall from the bay rick. No
body would dream he had ever kink
in his leg, now that he had got to be a
commercial man. He was as straight
and tall as the finest of our scarlet-run-
ner poles, and butter wouldnt melt in
his mouth, he was that smooth and
sleek and soft. spoken. How surprised
we were when he proposed himself to
go aud hear David Devine's first sermon,
holding the hymn book all the way, and
Il IL. - A. L.
used to be his favorite in the good old
days when he didn't know a snub nose
from Grecian one, and Bob found my
carroty hair and freckles much finer
than the silken locks and delicate com
plexion of Hulds. He used to call Hulda
q milk and-water baby, and l was the
one he came to in all his scrapes and
shortcomings. But, somehow, after he
got to the city l never could find much
favor in his sight, and had no relish for
a dead delight. The boy was gone from
me as utterly as if he lay in the old
church-yard by Sister Betty's side. The
memory of him was far sweeter than any
present delight in his prosperity.
l was always opposed TO giving up the
homestead when father and mother died,
and going to the city'to keep house for
Bob. But Bob persisted, and won over
Hulda, as he always did. think he had
n sneaking design from the first that
Hulda should win the admiration of one
of his employers-the bachelor member
of the firm of Marley & Brothers. He
came out with Bob in one OF the vaca.
tlons, and certainly seemed to admire
Hulda, as one might say, ravenously.
He ate more In quiet way than any per
son l ever saw; and il seemed a very
high compliment, in BOb's eyes, thai
while he was eating, his grave, owl-like
eyes were fixed upon Hulda, though why
can't say, as L always did the cooking.
l used to tell our youug preacher, Davy
Devine, that he couldn't expect the hot
place would have the terror for me il
had for others, seeing that was used tC
the hottest corner, and rather liked it.
David made some kind little reply in hi
pleasant way; and / must say my choic,
for Hulda had always been this hand
some, fair-worded, pure hearted, God
LOVING young neighbOr of ours. He hal
always cared for her since they wer,
children together; and l knew father ant
mother would have been we'll content {,
have Hulda the parsons wife in the oil,
Dat Ia church where they had gone ia
gether year 10 aud year ont, aud now la,
resting close by.
Hulda was little moro than child
but was taking kindly to the wonderful
pleasant ways of Providence Just then
AMI after mother died she clung NOR
and more to me and David. He and
us d 20 talk the matter over, even to th
sHrnishing NJ Of tho old parsonage
never draining bat that Rll would b
sight J; sHsEic3 ~ sstasRi "a rae e