The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-23
The bolt was cautiously withdrawn,
and the old lady's face appeared, white

- 49, 49,. = Ae'So ap PSst1 HiaAt "
| and terrified. .
"Come and sit down. said the boy,
tenderly. lam sorry ( frightened you
50. was afraid It would, but I could
not help IL"
II won't stir 8 STEP" said grandma,
stouty. What do you mean by all tlis2
You can't fool me! l heard the dogs,
and the lnen, too"
Allow, Pleasant laugh sounded through
the,room.
Twas only me, grandma ! saw.
those men meant mischief, and knew
something must be done pretty quick;
SO [ made believe there was somebody
| up there
''But the dogs!r cried the old lady, be.
Wilderea. "Where are the dogs2n
81 made 'em bark --listeuA
And then came from the throat Of the
little venfriloquist such a torrent Of
growls, whines and yelps, interspersed
with "Down. Tiger !" and "Be still, Fritz
that the door nas swung open, and grand
ma, leaning against the wall, exclaimed !:
well, never in al my life! If you
don't beat all the boys I ever did see 4!
and there. i 'sposed you was connivin' with
! them critters, and was so scarf I was
| just as weak as q rag"
Awhile after this fright at the farm
| house, old Billy, with his load Of ttree,
was plodding peacefully over the brow
OF the little hill quarter Of a mile from
home, when suddenly Mrs. Changers
voice, wild with terror, rang out sharply
| on the still air:
| "The house is afre!" she screamed
And grandma oh! Solomon, if grand
mas killed, I'll never forgive myself
never! Why did we leave that boy? Oh,
run the horse, Solomon; run the horse y
| 'NonsenseT said the easy going farm
er. Nevertheless, he whipped up old
Billy, and anxiously scanned the corner
| Of the roof visible behind the trees where
| the smoke WAS curling up, gray ana
| thick.
A dozen or more we'll directed pals Of
water had done their work, however, and
only wet, smoked timbers and blacken-
ed pile OF rubbish met the farmers eve
when he sprang from the wagon and
alighted at the side of the breathless lit
tie worker. :."%. ..-
The sight Of the house and barn un-
harmed and grandma standing in the
doorway alive and well, put ali fears to
flight in an instant But there was a
story to relate, and the boy stood mod
estly by while grandma dwelt upon the
exciting events Of the past hour. The
tranlps, it was supposed, were the in
cendlarles; but happily the fire had been
discovered In time to prevent any dam
age.
The returnin g loads of church goers,
eager to know the cause Of the unusual
stir, stopped at the farmgste; and the lad
suddenly found himself the hero Of the
hour. .'.@
81 told them all the bad qualities of
I1ge and Fritz, Uncle Georges dogs -
exclaimed the boy, unmindful until the
words were spoken that his hearers had
never heard Of "Uncle George" before.
Then, with bright blush, he dropped
behind one Of the men, and for time let
| the talk go unheedea
III do believe thai boys saved my life,
! Lowry. Depend ont the Lord sent him p
and grandma, concluding her .story with
d long drawn breath, sat down on the
| doorstep, and was Immediately engaged
! IN an eager talk with old Mrs Atkins
1t was many hours before quiet settled
down upon the inmates of the little farm
house; but before they settled for the
night Farmer Granger and his wife
learned all that YVES needful to know of
Jasper Goodrich's former life.
THE only reason haven't told you,:'
said the boy, in reply TO the farmers
question, "is because was afraid you'd
send ME back. It might as well come
out thought hare run away, but I
never'll 60 back to Uncle George's-Ill
| die first %
1t was short story. Until he was
seven years old he knew only q happy
life. Then his fathers health failing and
sea voyage being decided upon, his
father and mother sailed for France,
leaving him in the care Of the village
| minister and his wife. In six months
came the news of his fathers death, and
some weeks later his mother, too, died,
and was buried in q foleign land. The
| boy remained with his friends a few
| months only, for on the minister's re-
! moval to another town he was taken pos.
session of by half brother Of his fathers
rascally, unprincipled man, who had
no love or kind feeling for his young
iiSpAS". @lefe ne was SlAD1eIullY treated
till he could endure it no longer, and at
last, after six years of abuse and torment,
ne determined to seek home among
strangers.
Il wanted to stay" the boy concluded,
"but didn't dare to tell you, tor fear you
would send me hack''--
"Never, my boy!'' interrupted the
farmer, earnestly. "You can stay with
us till you find better home, and wen
do all we can for YOU"
"Well," said Mrs. Granger, as she lay
down that night, ''the idea Of my dis
trusting that boy. I declare it makes mo
feel mean to think of it."
Early the next morning the farmer har-
messed old Billy, and, dressed in his Sun
DAY best, took the east road over the
mountain" He returned late in the
afternoon.
The announcement made at the tea
table was startling to at least one nearer.
Il have seen your uncle, Jasper" ..t4
The boys face paled, but the farmers
next words were reassuring.
t.fTe was incIinac ~ fret r., 10 +, l;%t!o