Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-11-05
CAUGHT IN A BRIER.BusH.

~@AN - - a ~ "A 4 ILAa
OUT in apart Of the country where it
is very hilly, there stands a red house
at the foot Of a steep hill whose side is
covered with birch and pine trees, and
a thick underground Of brush. In that
house live two little children. and what
do you think they did one day?
Their mamma was busy baking. and
they went to play by the little brook in
the yard. They were making a bridge
OF stones there. and that morning thew
finished it. Then Susie's white kitten
tried it, and stepped across without once
wetting her dainty feet.
" Now that's done, and what'u we do
next?'' asked restless little Susie.
! know said Bennie; lets go
up the hill and lind where the brook be-
gins. It's hard climbing, and mother
thinks amt big enough; but I'm big
ger now than 1 was the last time l
asked her.
well, let's 20 then" said Susie,
eagerly, and OF they started, hand in
hand at first, but they soon found they
each needed two hands to catch hold Of
the bushes and projecting rocks. as
they climbed up the hill close by the
little bed Of the brook. Up and up they
went; it was pretty tiresome, but there
was fun in it, for the white kitten ran
nimbly ahead and kept stopping for
them, and the brook seemed to laugh
out loud as it danced merrily to meet
them.
Haven't we gone much as a mile?'i
asked Susie at last, winding her arm
around young birch tree, while she
stopped to take breath.
mo, not more than three-uuarters I
guess said Bennie. "See, there's
our chimney down there. and smoke
going out. Mothers making pies"
"Oh, then let's hurryrn Susie ex-
claimed, starting again. and as she
pushed her way around thick briery
bush, there was the white kitten wait
ing for them just ahead, and there at
last was the bubbling spring, gushing
from among the rocks, the birthplace
of their dear brook.
"Uh, Susie, make q cup of your hand
and drink some waterr' said Bennie,
bending down to do it himself
Il can't! Ican't! l am caught in the
briersn' cried Susie, struggling as she
spoke to disentangle herself, but it
seemed as if every thorn on the bush
reached out to catch at her, and she
could not get away.
Bennie ran to help her, but only got
his hands scratched, and when Susie
turned her head, the briers caught her
curls so that she could not move any
more without her hair being pulled.
This was too discouraging, anu She be-
gan to cry.
"Oh, dear! l wish mamma was
here" said Bennie, looking wistfully
down at the top of the home chimney
below
Mamma, mammal he shouted
then rs loud as he could; but the wind
blew the wrong way aud took the shout
up hill instead of down. Then he said
he would go home and tell her to come.
"Oh, no, no!' begged Susie. II
don't dare be left alone; there might
be bears among the trees, or a snake.
Don't go, Bennier'
"Well, | won't" said Bennie; Z" but
| wish had some scissors or a knife.
Father ought to gre me a knife, any
how; I'm big enough"
Then he sat down by Susie, and they
wondered what they should do; would
they have to 90 without dinner and
supper? Would they have to stay all
night there on the hill?
''Oh, am so tiredr' said Susie, NOV
ing her head little, but it hurt so that
she began to cry again. The little white
kitten rubbed againt her and purred, but
it could not help her. Yes it could help
her! A bright idea flashed into Ben
nie's mind.
Let's send a note to mamma by
kitty!' he exclaimed. I've got some
paper in my pocket and little stub end
OF pencil, aud / can print"'
Susie stopped crying and watched with
great interest while Ben slowly printed
down these words on a torn slip of
paper;
Deer Mama, We aiR up here Tangild in a
BRiRE Bush. CuMf
Then he found piece of string IN his |
pocket, and tied the note around the |
white kittens neck. When that was |
done, he turned her head down the hill |
towards home, and olapping his hands |
at her, said in dreadful tones:
''Scat! Scatr'
The frightened kitten darted down
the hill, and was quickly out of sight
among the bushes.
"NoD mamma'u GOMEZ said Susie,
with SIGH of relief. But Bennie had,
thought of something else.
I'm going to send letter in boat
nOw," he said, and again he slowly
pinned on another ragged slip
"DeeR Mania, We air up heRe TrlngILd in
a BRiRe. Cum"
This he fastened to a piece of birch
bark, and launched it down the little
tumbling stream, which carried it
swiftly out OF sight.
NOW she'n come pretty soon,n he
said, sitting down in perfect faith to
wait,