The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-11-04

worse for few more piokets," and. drop
ping basket and hoe, Isei1ed the Ratchet
and soon reduced one Of the Aforesaid
pickets to suitable size, through which
timely aid the aspect of things WAS
changed to such an extent that our ket.
tie was soon boiling and bubbling mer-
r : away in the most approved gypsy
fashion. We consigned both corn and
potatoes to its depths, being too hungry
for any slower method, and unanimously
decided it was too late for any further
efforts in the culinary line, as We drew
our three-legged table to the open door
way and prepared to discuss our eorely-
needed repast. Never, I think. did corn
and potatoes taste better than those
eaten with laugh and jest that quiet
summer morning; albeit many an ear
of the former, owing to my lack Of
knowledge, was decidedly young and
"green," and many Of the latter tubers,
owing to the same cause, were in state
of infancy.
p. "But, Man," said Jessie, ruefully, in
a pause OF our merriment, as our morn
ing troubles came back to her: 1--WE
can't have all this trouble every day
about q fire. What did Thoreau have
for kindling?"
"Green hickory, split fine ; don't you
remember?" answered I. promptlv.
{" I'll tell you what we'll do, though :
Cover the fire every night; damp grass
and leaves will be just the thing then
rake it open in the morning, and start
it with some of this old fence"
Which we did, and successfully. too.
"Nan," said Jessie again, this time
somewhat hesitatingly = "Nan, what
will We have for dinner? 2"
"Dinner !" echoed I, in dramatic
tones; "dinner are we never to be free
from that, not even in these solemn
woods? What did Thoreau have ?"
"Corn bread and molasses the bread
simply meal and water kneaded hard.
and baked before the fire, " answered the
little puss, demurely. I WINGED slightly.
for I'm somewhat epicurean in nv
tastes, and the witch knew it, II
thought that would be pretty dry, though.
so I'll make ours thin and bake them
fresh every time. See I've borught a
griddle."
"And, Nan, I've something else to
show you," she said, triumphantly lead
ing the way down to Clear brook. where
she displayed small butter jar sunk for
more than half its depth in the cool
water. and I, firm disciple though I was
Of Thoreau, uttered no word of protest
at this daring innovation against Walden
rules.
After this our days slipped quietly,
sweetly past the three-legged table was
Well laden with books-so well, indeed,
that, as meal-time circled round and we
removed them from thence to bed or
chair, or vice verso, Jessie was wont to
refer mournfully to til. two pieces Of
limestone that Thoreau had, but threw
away, because he found that he must
"dust them"
Our slight duties dispatched, it was
two very prim young ladies in the plain
est OF CARDS and the smoothest of braids
guiltless alike of wave" or "cri1np ;"
at least, mine were Jessie's, little
witch, were as dstractingly pretty as
ever-that sat down ut that self-same
table, armed respectively with "Taine
and Ollendorf," to econ each lesson
manly peasnnt ons eo Of dasa an
wonderment and girlish gossip foated in
whenever Jessie found a German verb
hard to conjugate, or I paused in some
unavailing search after new authority
bearing on the subject at hand.
Happy, helpful days were they, varied
by an occasional walk up to the house
when the coast was clear, or sometimes,
standing on the crest of the little rise
just behind our cottage, we would sur
vey the graveled sweep of Beechwoods'
carriage drive through On old tield-glass
Jessie abstracted from "Brother Fred's
room, and laughingly comment on the
frowning faces some of the fair inmates
of the cushioned barouches carried
away with them upon learning "The
girls have gone farther in the country
for seclusion and study" for Beech
woods was most delightful place for a
weeks sojourn, Us they we'll knew but
Aunt Kate, once won over to our side,
protected us manfully, so that none in
vaded our solitude.
But everything must have an end, and
so did the pleasant days that had graced
our weeks stay a. Walden, and we awoke
one morning to hear quick shower
r&ttering against the windows.
"Dear, dear F.; our fire will be all out I
What shall we do, Nan?''
do? I don't know. Go up to the
house for breakfast, I suppose. Every
thing will be too wet to kindle it again. i"
$50 up to the house T. echoed Jessie,
Indignantly. "Indeed, I shall do no
such thing. Haven't they been telling
us all this time that the first storm
would bring us back? I've no doubt
they're expecting US, and that plates are
laid for us this very minute (which we
afterward found to have been the CASEY.
Go back I'll go hungry 6rstr" and
Jessie looked very determined and pref
ty, indeed, as she finished her toilet and
announced that the rain was over.
''There's blue sky over yonder, Nan :
get your rubbers and come on" and
suiting the action to the word she sailed
forth, and I followed suit.
just as we expected, every spark of
the provoking fire, that we had covered
so iealo'lsly the night before, was out.
Making the best, however, of q bad mat
t5r, We set to work bravely, and that
devoted fence suffered as never before.
But it was slow work. Everything was
drenched and dripping, and we were
inexperienced hands-so inexperienced
that after an hour of toll breakfast was
still fair but distant prospect; and the
faint and struggling flame we had con-
jured up fickered dolefully, and threat
ened every instant to expire in smoke.
This was the state of affairs when.
Jessie having taken her turn in the
chopping department, I was bending
with an anxious face over the fire, striving
to place at the greatest advantage new
relay of kindlings, I was startled by the
ringing sound of an Enthusiastically manly
voice, exclaiming:
well, I never! if there isn't Jess !"
followed simultaneously by an ecstatic
little scream from Jessie, Of:
"Brother Fred, where did you come
fro.n?" as she dropped her uplifted
Ratchet and rushed to meet him. Irose
to my feet hastily, only to find myself
confronted by tall, dark, aristocratic
gentleman, whose smile of recognition
brings deeDer rOsea tn nv chooEs for