Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-06-24
THE WILLOW SWITCH.

About forty wears ago a large part OF
Central New York, that is now fast be-
coming a garden, was almost = new
country, and people talked Of moving
West" when they emigrated from the
banks of the Hudson to those of the
Gcnesee. Still one of the cities on the
line of the Ere Canal was even then a
town of some importance and boasted
much Of what then amounted to wealth
and even ariStocracy.
OF this latter class had been the family
Of Judge Morton, but sundry unlucky
speculations had made it impossible for
him TO retain his accustomed position
among his old neighbors, and he was
about to seek q new teld IN one of the
Younger settlements.
Everything had long been prepared,
the wagons were laden, the adieuS for
the most part had been said again and
again, and a par; of the cavalcade was
fairly under way. The heavier goods,
indeed. had been started two or three
6avs before. The ladies of the party Is
well Us the gentlemen had decided TO at
temp; the journey on horseback, well
aware that the condition of the roads,
even though spring was now well ad-
vanccd. could no, be depended upon.
Apart from the rest, mounted on a
stout and quic, looking pony, sat a young
lady Of some eighteen summers, IN whose
rosy cheeks and bright, black eyes the
excitement Of the occasion seemed almost
to have overcome It's sober suggestions
Still. something ike a shade was on her
face as she leaned forward in her saddle
and convcrscd in low tones with a gen.
tleman whose arm was thrown carelessly
over the neck of her pony.
Never mind me, Charlie; why It
isn't three days riding at the very worst,
and that won't hurt me. ~
but me, Susie, am ordered off for
a long cruise, and | cannot tell when
shall see YOU again
but YOU will come back
'Yes-but when: And will you
"Will | what, Charlie;'
WAIT q moment, Susie,
And the Young man, who was in the
undrcss uniform of d naval officer, sprang
off to the side of the road, where some
willow trSes were growing in untrimmed
luxuriance. Catching hold of one of the
gracefully bending boughs he cut there
from a long and plant slip, with which
he returned, stripping off the leaves as
he came.
There, Susie, that will answer for a
riding-whip, but do not wear it out on
Your pony, even if the roads are bad
why not, Charlie; :;
Because at the end of my cruise |
shall come back to claim it. VIII You
keep il for me-
\ very soft light stole into the black
eyes; but she said in low voice, "Yes,
Charlie, will keep it. But are YOU sure
you.will come to claim it,
If live, Susie
"Ah. then it is good-by, sure enough,
now, for father is calling me. Good-by,
Charhe,'
There was most passionate earnest
ness in the young officers reply, and he
stood gazing after the pony and his mis-.
tress long after they were hidden by a
turn of the road We cannot follow
him. however, by land or sea, for our
business is with the willow switch.
If Susie's pony suffered on the road il
was not from any excessive application Of
Charles queer memento, and on the
third day about noon Judge Morton rode
up TO the side OF his daughter and an
nounced that they were close at then
! journeys end.
They were nearly at fork of the ROAD
at the foot OF a gently sloping hill, anc
just where the two ways met little
spring bubbled up and wandered off into
an adjoining meadow. There were more
signs Of improvement than Susie had ex.
pected, but enough of wildness remained
to add TO the rural beauty of the spot
''Our new home said the Judge
''wil be on the top Of this knoll when il
is built, and our present quarters, such as
they are, will be little further on"
A sudden thought seemed to have en-
tered the brain of Susie.