The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-10-14

build mill, too. I'll be Mr.. Brown.
and you may be the Co.-Brown & Co.,
After q good drink of the clear, cold
water from a cup made of Eastwood
leaf, they washed faces and hands, and
went to the fiat rock for breakfast. The
Dutternuts were not quite ripe; they
stained fingers, and they were hard to
crack-with just stone for hammer
but there were "lOts of them" as
Ted had requested.
All the long bright forenoon they
worked about their water-power, put
ting up an extensive mill of stones and
sticks, and having no trouble at all, ex-
cept when Ted got tired of being called
&C.," and insisted on being Mr..
Brown part of the time at least, in
spite of Kitty's argument that tho
youngest ought always to be Co.
so. about one o'clock, when their
father and uncle were gslloping here
and there in search of them, they were
sitting at their rock table cracking more
nuts, and listening proudly to the MINI
&c roar OF the water going over the dam
they had just completed.
Sometimes they heard faint echoes
and queer hootings off in the distance.
''We'n play it's Indians, and we're
hiding from Them" said Kitty, never
dreaming that all the men in the neigh
borhoOd Of her home were hunting and
hallooing through the forest for two
very lost children. Once, when the
shouts came quite near, the echoes
mixed up things, so that Kitty was al
most frightened, and drew her brother
into the shelter of some thick bushes.
at sounds like q crazy man." she said.
After a while the noise slowly died
away down the mountain-side. and the
woods seemed more comfortable to
Kitty. But sunset drew near. and still
there came no cheerful father-voice.
The supper of butternuts was not very
jolly one. Ted tried to. be brave, but
finally he dropped his face into his
elbow and walled forth, ~ want some
bread and BUTTER" and cried loud and
long.
IF we only had Matches" sobbed
Kitty, after Ted's cries had hushed a
little, 1--WE could make a fire, and-and
maybe find something to roast"
Ted stopped crying by trying very
hard, and began to examine his pock-
cts. The prospect of bonfire is cheer
ing, even to hungry boy. First a dull
jack-knife was laid on the rock, then
two nails, then little rusty hinge,
then piece of slate-pencil, then q
brass button with an eagle on it, then
more slate-pencil, then piece of string
wound into ball, then half of a match
the end that wouldn't go! Then, hap
PLY, he thought of his inside pocket, and
the hole that was in it! Feeling along
the lining of his jacket, there in its
corner was something which might be
yes, it sOas a match!
1--WE won't care very much about it,
anyway" said experienced Kitty, land
then it will be more apt to burn"
Nevertheless, after they had piled up
some dry leaves, and laid birch '.quirls''
and small sticks over the top, she
struck the match across the sole of her
shoe, shielded it with her hand, and
watched it anxiously. The little blue
light quivered, paled, almost went out,
and then leaped cheerfully upon dry
leaf, and in an instant the pile was
alive with snaps and sparkles and
dancing flames. The children gave
quite merry shout.
'.And now what'll we roast?' said
poor Ted.
1--WE must fix the fire so it won't
spread first," said Kitty; and she care
fully scraped away all the leaves and
sticks that were near. Then she took
her brothers hand, and started to look
for she hardly knew what, but trying
with all her motherly little heart to
think of something likely to be found in
such a woods.
''Sour grapes wouldn't be very nice,
but maybe they'd be sort of relish,
you know, Ted;' and she stopped by
tree overgrOwn with wild grapes, and
began looking for the not very tempting
clusters.
"Why, here are some that are nearly
ripe. See! really purple a little"
Suddenly something alive sprang out
of the brambles at their feet, and
whirred away with tremendous rush.
ats the partridge nest, sure's you
live!' said Ted, diving down among the
leaves; and after minutes eager
search they were found-two, four, six,
eight, nine speckled eggs in the cozy
nest. "We'll leave one for the poor
partridge to come back to, won't we,
Kit?" said Ted, swiftly placing them in
his hat!
More wood was piled upon the little
fire, and they waited not very patient
ly for hot ashes. The eggs were rolled
up in large grape leaves, and fastened
with little twigs. The sun went down,
and the fire light began to shine bright
ly on the overhanging boughs and the
watchful faces of the children. Final
ly Kitty said it must be time, and pro-
ceeded to push away the blazing brands,
aud to roll the eggs in among the
glowing ashes. She had just covered
them, after q fashion, with the stick
she used for poker, and was saying
to Ted they would soon be done, when
something came crashing along through
the brush, and there was a man with q
scratched face and torn coat, and a
gun on his shoulder, standing before
them.
'.Oh. papa" said Ted, after taking
second look at him, ''mayn't we stay
until the partridge eggs are done?
Cause we're SO hungry"
''Ob, ou-rascals," was all the IA
Their could say; and he was either very
tired, or else Kitty rushed upon him
and Rugged his knees too vigorously.
for he sank right down on the ground.
and commenced wiping his face, and
his eyes seemed to need great deal
of wiping.
1--WE didn't mean to camp out, papa"
said Kitty, softly. 1--WE only wanted
to 90 home the nearest way, and we
couldn't find it at all; and 50 when we
found we were lost a bit, we stad right
where we were, SOS not not get any
more lost. Wasn't that right, papa?
We knew you'd find u.s."
Eyes, an we knew yow wouldn' tcome
hollerin' round like crazy Ingins. An
isn't the eggs done, Kit?" said Ted.
"Here's things to eat-thinge grand