The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-02-07
written for the Free Trader
LOCUST VALLEY;
OR,
MONEY Is POWER.
CHAPTER |.
by DIR. STEINWAY.


orchard near the fountain pump" at the ZOO
Of an ancient gnared oak, that stood just out
side of the orchard on the steep hillside, front
jag the south was seated comfortably be
tween the great projecting roots, with my pacH
AGAINST the grand old tree and an ancient vol
ame in my hand, nov don't laugh,-lt was
The Children of the Abbey" that most In
comparable of novels. had waded through
its hundreds of pages, and arrived just WHERE
Lord Mortimer was holding the divine Aman
da to his heavlng bosom, who, after many
trials. troubles and tribulations, had promised
70 set out with him in tcw days for London
70 his aunt's, Lady DoomI to become his wife
had shed my tears-not quite barrel-oyel
their numerous trials, and was now crying
for JOY, as their cup of happiness seemed run
alng over | heard voice calling my name
md looking up, saw my sister, OF six sum
ners, running gally towards me. | loved my
book, but loved my sister more; therefore
dropping the precious volume, arose to my
feet and opened my arms to her. She rushed
Into them, exclaming;
"Oh, Ned, am so glad; our cousins have
come from West Land, and are going to stay
over Sunday with us; aren't you glade
was glad, and yet little disappointed, for
| was anxious to get Lady Amanda and Lord
Mortimer married before any more terrible
troubles came between them. But, placing
my book in little box, and showing it far
back into little hollow under the roots
oil the great tree, took my little sister by the
hand, and we quickly walked along the well
beaten track quarter of mile to meet our
cousins But rs we walk homeward, suffer
me to describe my little sister. She was slight
oh, so very slight.-yet sprightly and MIN
Bic as young fawn. Her features were moi
bcautiful-she was too thin, and peeked, and
pale-but her eyes were the lOveliest, large
brown, and so expressive; and her smile was
the sweetest that you ever beheld. But hel
hair was the "crown of glory" long, COLDER
and glossy, reaching to her slender waist. Sh'
had sweet, tiny voice, and sang to her dolls
and to me by the hour And as we sat some
times in the sylvan shades Of our lovely hom'
i reading and she snging-hcr voice woulC
,ttract my particular attention by its peculiar
soitncss and far.away sound, and then
would steal glance at her as she rocked IL
her little chair, clasping her iavorltc doll II
her arms, with her look up among the clouds
watching their swift motions, or cndeavorinl
with her fine Orbs to penetrate the deep ehc
blue and gaze directly into the happy homc
Of the blessed angels us she sang, "llush, m.
dear, lie still and slumber; holy angels guarC
Thy bed, " or "IIow tedious and tasteless thu
hours, when Jesus no longer see" or,
III thou impart thyself to NE,
No other good need:
II thou, the Son, shalt make me FREQ,
| shall be free indeed.
~ cannot rest till in thy blood
full redemption have.
But thou, to whom come TO God,
Canst to the utmost save.
From sin--the guilt, the power, the pain,
Thou will redeem my soul
lord, / believe, and not in vain,
My faith shall make me whole.
81, too, with thee shall walk in white,
With all thy saints shall prove
The length and depth, and breadth and height
or everlasting love"
Then she would sometimes give her chair
bitch, and peep around to see If | was regard
ing her With my hand shading my eyes
would bend down closely to my book rs
deeply engrossed with it; then through m
hngers | would behold "A novel sight. Softl
gliding down upon her knees, she wOul'
offer up something like the following prayer
Dear Father, look down and bless me AM
my little ones, Billy. and Johnny, and Fred
Mary, Susie and Martha. Make me II bette
mother, more patient, kind and good, and keel
my dear boys from sin, and my dear girls iron
harm. | know not, dear Lord, how soon
may be taken from them Shelter them eve
with thy wings for the dear Redeemers sake
Amen"
knew well where she got the words of he
prayer. 1t was from her dear mother, VIII,
was in delicate health, and was fearful of be
jag taken from her babes ere long. But nov
we have reached home, and must tell you o
Pay cousins, and of our rambe over the dea
trm.
Betsey, or Elizabeth Martin, was youn!
sri Of sixteen, and companion TO our Mary
incline, fourteen, and companion 10 Susie
'-hua, eighteen, and companion to Theodor,
ald Abel, playfellows Of mine and my siste
artha.
II was three o'clock and our cousins ha,
den seven miles since dinner, therefore GU
ther ordered lunch, consisting of bread
tier and milk, and some Of housekeepe
MI. III rf.1t.
led forth, Theodore and cousin Joshua il
lead, the girls following, and Abel and
Martha between US, each taking her b.
hand, as we had long walk before us
And now must describe our farm II con
cd of five hundred and fifty acres, divided
many fields, with a fine forest skirtin.
east and south sides Of the tarm, of whit
/ black oak, maple, birch, walnut and hick
:, with every other variety known in tina