Connecticut western news., 1879-09-10
Only Joe.

only Joe.
 The family at Deersfeld was rather ssiDgularly grouped. The children of the house were of divided percentage. Belle was the daughter of DeersGeld's present owner. Jane was his orphan niece, Caroline, the only child of widowed mother, was destined to be heiress of. Deersfeld after the lifetime of her cousin Belle's father. Joe was the half-brother of Belle by her mothers former marriage. He was an orphan, possessed of substantial patrimony. The guardians of the four children were the master of Deersfeld and the mother of Caroline, who very harmoniously rnled these incongruous clements given into their care by strange fate. Belle and Jane were not difficult to manage. Joe, gentle lad, gifted with wonder ful talent for coloring to the life, and I f1icted with stammering speech that made him reticent of talk and shy of CT mp nionship, was devoted almost to the degree of solitude in his ceaseless application to Lis art. Caroline was tease and romp, forever in disgrace.
 It was no matter of surprise to Joe that on the morning after Charlie Evans's fancy ball the Daughter of the Regiment was in solitary confinement as punishment of some unpardonable act. She hailed Joe from her window as he crossed the lawn, motioning to him that she waDte to let down basket for provisio~ as she would not and could not 6 at E dry bread"
 Joe had be.n her forager before her slave he always was. To say truth, he loved this wild, naughty, sel.-assertive playmate of his with all the secret fer. vor of boys heart. Caroline was aware of the hidden sentiment, aud inn posed upon the homage egregioasly.
 Joe having satisfied himself that the coast was clear, received the basket which Caroline dropped flom her win dow with cord. The basket contained three-cornered note.
 DEER JoE.-It's perfectly shan eful that I'm locked up. should starve if it were not for you. All did was to go up in the cupola last night with Charlie Evans to see his caged eagle. Poor thing, it pines. And it was so nice up there, we staid an hour. Mamma was awfully angry. So was Ben, for was engaged two dances with him, and missed both, Oh. Joe. you ought to have been there! it was very poky in you not to come late, as you promised.
 Tell Nan to send minced veal if she has any-I think she must-and plenty of bread and butter (and some brown sugar to sprea D, and some pickles, and piece of cold chicken, and anything else that is nice.
 CAROLINE"
 A quick, sharp flush crossed Joe's face as he read this note, not in disgust, as one might imagine, at the mundane appetite of his fair goddess, but at the one sentence Of the note not marked en- phatically with underline: cup in the curola last night with Charlie Evans. '
 Joe smothered his jealous pang, bribed Nan the cook iberally, and sent the basket up to Caroline so heavily loaded that one ounce more would have broken the cord.
 Mamma from recess of the library window caught glimpse of this trans action, but by the time she reached the thisd story, unlocked the door, and con. fronted her prisoner, basket and con tents had alike vanished. CaroIine's lips were extremely red, but otherwise there was no sign that anything haG been devoured. She sat in the window space breaking bread into crumbs; fl 'ck of wood birds lowered around her
 T can not eat dry bread, mamma, she sad but my birds do; they seen to love it.'
 "Carrie, Carrie, what girl you are T said mamma. She meant to be re .proschful, but her voice was not stern she was viewing her daughter in one o those winning traits that offset he holden ways. Caroline, often unkin' to people, ta animals was always kind Every dumb beast at Deersfeld love, her, from the Alderney COW, who's affectionate face she stroked every morn ing, to the last little golden-dow1 chicken of the white hens brood. Sh had broken to saddle more than on spirited colt, and her pack of pet dog numbered many of formidable breed oIe bloodhound.
 The rosy-cheeked, bright. eyed Carri was an attractive creature as she sat the sunlight feeding the birds, whicl answering her call, sped from the grow and alighted fearlessly on her head, he hands, and her shoulders. Mamma forgiveness was won by the picture.
 To Joe, looking from below, th wis on was even more picturesque: th doImer-window in the gray roof ove hung with vines of woodbine an wis taria, the dark recess relieving tf sun lit figure, the smiling face weleomir the birds.
 As years passed on, the three pre- Echool-girls became winning and wor