The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-03-27

1t was winter morning.
Not only was this to be asccrtained by n
glance into the almanac, but nature told ITS
own story IN words only too plain. Over the
face of the earth that lately bOssomed with
fields of laughing grain, messy banks and
sweet .smelling meadows, bad fallen white
mantle that lay like a shroud, and the death
like silence that penetrated everywhere added
to the pOstmOrtem effect.
This mantle was snow.
Yes, the beautiful snow, that had come 81
lently down during .he watches of the night
and kissed the black sin-laden earth until it
resembled a maiden IN her bridal robes.
How different, u year later, when she is
hanging up red flannel shirts on line with
her tiny coral mouth tull of clothespin
But about the snew
In the distance lay little hamlet--the orig
NAL Hamlet died some time since. Rustic
simplicity was everywhere observable. Hen
and women got up at an unhealthy early
hour, and not woman was seen chopping
wood. From the chimney of an humble, but
presumably mortgagcd, cottage rose Il tiny col
anna of smoke which curled INTO fantastic
shapes rs ii reached the air In the stove be
low tlCkercd and glowed new ymade fire.
Let her flicker a moment while the reader
goes with me into the adjoining apartment.
On a couch, whose sheets and COunterpanes
rvaed in Wilderness the snow alluded to above,
lay beautiful maiden whose life was slowly
ebbing away. One hand (her left duke had
fallen from Der breast during the restless SUM
Der that always accompanies sickness, and lay
cold and ghas,ly on the patchwork quilt.
Yes she had Land down her hand.
Soon her moiher--a woman whose carewOrn
face and lack of corsets tell too plainly that
she Is in trouble--enter5 the room. The girl
wakes with start, but presently sweet smile
a. tIn of
dropping mouth, illuminating her worn face
with a strange and holy light.
Has he COme?" she asks.
NO my child" says the old lady, in a
husky voice while something seems 10 choke
her.
1t was a cold baked potato she was eating,
and no wonder her voice was husky. Hastily
swallowing the fruit the mother prepares the
simple morning meal Of dried.appe short.
cake and cold water. II is an expansive dish,
but not costly.
With a weary sigh the girl places her head
on the other pillow, while her emotion tax Is
the form OF brine, which silently courses down
her elaborate nose.
Suddenly she arose, with a weary look and
pulled on pair of striped stockings.
Then she went to bed again.
All at once the sound of sleigh-bells is heard
Us their merry tinkle pierces the silent air.
"He Is coming" loylully exclaimed the
maiden, as she grabbed her hustle and began
to bounce around and harness herself Hard.
" had she finished when loud rap was
heard at the door TWAS opened the door, not
the rap by the cOrsetless mother and a young
man came in. He was handsome and strong
lmbed, like the forest oak, but his trunk was
light
A weeks board was the most he could get
on it,
The girl fell into his arms with glad cry
George, my dsrlingl Have you really
conner"
You're shouting" said the young man.
And did you keep your promise, darling"
Il should remark" said the youth as he
drew from his vest packet tiny envelope and
handed il 10 the girl. She opened it with ner
vous haste and extracted two slips of piuE
cardbusrd Then, in voice chOked with emo
ton and shoricake. she said:
"Oh, George, and right IN the front row n
The parquet circle, too; YOU are too awfnlll
nice for anything
What prnti,e,h 1; man If he send his gar
TO the matinee and she fiiri with another fel
low
Not q great deal, that's fact
Croquet, In great variety and a. lcvest pnees