The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-11-13
CAUGHT In A BRIER.BUSH.

Our in part of the country where it
is very billy, there stands red house
at the foot of steep hill whose side is
covered with birch and pine trees, and
thick underground of brush. In that
house live two little children, and what
do you think they did one dayP
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 they
finished it. Then Susie's white kitten
tried it, and stepped across without once
wetting her dainty feet.
"Now that's done, and what'll we do
neXt?" asked restless little Susie.
~ know" said Bonnie; "let's go
up the hill and find where the brook be-
gins. It's hard climbing, and mother
thinks amt big enough; but I'm big
ger now than | was the last time l
asked her."
"Well, let's go then" said Susie,
eagerly, and off 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
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 mewily to meet
them.
Haven't we gone much as mile?"
asked Susie at last, winding her arm
around young birch tree, while she
stopped to take breath.
"No, not more than three-quarters, l
guess" said Bennie "See, there's
our chimney down there, and smoke
going out. Mothers making pies.''
"Oh, then let's hurryr' Susie ex-
claimed, starting again, and as she
pushed her way around a 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.
"Oh, Susie, make cup of your hand
and drink some water!' said Bonnie,
bending down to do it himself.
81 can't! Ican't! l am caught in the
briersr' 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.
Bonnie 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, and she be-
gan to cry.
"Oh, dear! / wish mamma was
here" said Bonnie, looking wistfully
down at the top of the home chimney
below.
mamma! mammal he shouted
then as loud as he could but the wind
blew the wrong way and took the shout
up hill instead of down. Then he said
he would 90 home and tell her to come.
"Oh, no, nor' begged Susie. ~
don't dare be left alone; there might
be bears among the trees, or snake.
Don't go, Benniep'
"Well, WON'T" said Bonnie; "but
| wish l had some scissors or knife
Father ought to giUe me knife, any
how; Pm big enough
Then he sat down by Susie, and they
wondered what they should do; would
they have to go without dinner and
support 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.
Lets send a note to mamma by
kittyr' he exclaimed. GIVE 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 Mania, We air up here Tangild in
BRRE Bush. CuM!'
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 clapping his hands
at her, said in dreadful tones:
"Scat! Scatr'