The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-10-29

X }
suiting the action to the word she sailed
forth, and | followed suit.
Just as we expected, every spark of
the provoking fire, that we had covered
SO jealousy the night before, was out
Making the best, however, of bad mat
ter, we set to work bravely, and that
devoted fence suffered rs 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 fame 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, l was bending
with an anxious face over the fire, striving
to place at the greatest advantage new
relay of kindlings, was startled by the
ringing sound of an Enthusiastically manly
voice, exolaiming:
''Well, I never if there isn't Jess |"
followed simultaneously by an ecstatic
little scream from Jessie, of:
"Brother Fred, where did you come
fron?" as she dropped her uplifted
Ratchet and rushed to meet him. Irose
to my feet hastily, only to find myself
confronted by a tall, dark, aristocratic
gentleman, whose smile of recognition
brings deeper roses to my cheeks; for
was not this same gentleman Mr.. Archer
from the city, and one of the greatest
lions of the last season, and my Qu09adGm
partner for more than one German dur
ing the previous winter? place my
hand in his outstretched one, only, how
ever, to withdraw it quickly as 1 discover
now many and deep are the marks it
displays of its recent conflict with that
refractory fire, and an added color springs
to my face, lest that also bear the same
traces.
"This is Nan, 1 know" said tall,
blonde Fred Cameron, releasing himself
from his little sister and turning toward
meas much of a gypsy as ever, l
see "-and-well, his greeting was very
brotherly, indeed.
"But what does it mean, Jessie? you
girls out here at this hour ON a rainy
morning? anything wrong at hehouse?"
and look of anxiety darkened his face.
Nothing wrong, but where have
you gentlemen been, pray tell me, and
how did you arrive in this out of the way
place, at this time of day?"
"Been camping out took fancy to
come up home and bring Archer along
walked up from tire station to surprise
the folks, " replied Fred, briefly.
Camping out that is just what we
are doing, Fred, Nan and l"
odd you ever. Archerl" said Fred.
appealingly, but that gentleman, with
The relics of Boston conservatism still
clinging to him, answered never word,
only smiled Observation-Disclosures I,
aroused, answered coolly-using the
very words of our oracle-"We came out
in the woods because We wished to live
deliberately, to front only the essential
facts of life, and find out what it had to
teach u.s." A look of establishment grew
IN their faces.
Yes chimed in Jessie, quoting from
the same source, 1--WE were tired OF
cabin passage, and wished to go before
the mast, and ON the deck of the world"
"1horeau, as / live," cried Fred, and
the look of establishment deepened.
eyes, Thoreau," said Jessie, calmly,
but mischievously.
"No man (or woman, either) can ever
unfold the possibilities of his own intel
lect who does not at least checker his
life with solitude"
Mischievously--I say-for the scene
was, to say the least, slightly amusing.
Tlme-early morning, and rainy one at
that. Place-the river bank overarched
by dripping trees. Properties-ag gypsy
replace, a smoky fre-two young
ladies engaged in attendance upon it,
and pausing in this occupation to quote
from the classics was somewhat aston
ishing!
A look of amazement, mingled with in
terest from Mr.. Archer at this last quota
tion-wondering, doubtless, that a young
lady should read other than the latest
novel, or the newest society poem.
$50 you read De Quincy, Miss
Cameron? He is one of my friends, toop
eyes, admire De Quincy very much,
but Thoreau is our oracle just now let
me bid you welcome to Walden. ,"
And Mr.. Archer's eye frightened as
he caught sight through the open door
of our ponderous volumes, but [ inter-
rupted here with dolorous cry,
"The fire has gone out; what shall we
do?"
True enough, that provoking fire, tax
ing advantage of lull in our efforts, had
disappeared in smoke.
go dear, we'll have to go up to the
house, I suppose, after all our trouble.
Just see how I've hurt my hand" And
while Fred examined critically the little
pink palm / related our moving adj
ventures"
GA fire, is that al? ?" said he at their
close. 81 have not camped out in vain
all these summers" and his ready knife
soon reduced another picket of that
devoted fence to the requisite size and
ere long a sparkling blaze rewarded his
efforts.
"Why need we go up to the house?"
queried Mr.. Archer. "No one knows
we are coming, and I quite long for one
more outdoor repast. Besides, we have
been 'roughing it so long as to be
scarcely wonted to civilized life as yet.
"Capital /" echoed Fred. "What
have you girls got for breakfast"
"Corn and potatoes roasted in the
ashes, and corn-bread and molasses.
You remember Thoreau's bill of fare; it
is ours, too" replied Jessie, demurely,
with glance at Mr.. Archer as she spoke.
But the gentlemen professed themselves
entirely satisfied, and I said, oracularly,
"He that eats must work, and if you
gentlemen stay you must pay the pen
atty. Cousin Fred, there is the basket
and hoe, your post will be the corn field
and potato patch. Mr.. Archer, this fire
will need constant replenishing, SO you
may gather sticks" Having thus as
signed them their station, Jessie and I
turned our attention to the matter at
hand, and after much merriment and a
great deal of waiting, we sat down to a
very creditable repast of the above-men-
toned articles, further reinforced by
Boston crackers and cold tongue from
the gentlemen's lunch basket. We had
moved the table out under the trees,
and what with improvised seats, the
novelty of the situation, and the laugh
ter and jesting consequent thereupon,
passed pleasant hour.