The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-11
KATE SIBBERT'S AUNT.

"The Blixton carrier had to turn again,
though he had three 'osses to, an and
one OF 'em went down an nearly wor
drown,d. Iii goes on, We shan ha' it
higher than last time, mebbee near as
1929. That wor a food, if you like" he
added, widening his eyes and comforting
the rest of his features "This is bad
enough, but then, bless you, sheep were
drowned in Davis's top croft. dunnot
think this can be quite SO bad as that.
Not but that it'll be bad enough, yet,
this wull."
at is like driving through sea,
Bates! But we are in the hands of Prov
idence," calmly observed the elder lady.
"And look ut the poor birds, homeless
and foodless,p added Kate, with a pa
thetic futter of the gloved hands. One
of the many whirling focks Of birds had
Just swept over them.
"Never mind the birds, Miss" was the
old mans reply. ''They han wings to
carry 'em off, If they are drowned it is
their own fault. 1t is the cows and sheep
as is wust of, for they're stuck to the
spot"
hanging the gate behind him, he
grinned in CHASTITY way
"When was in the lower field yonder
/ heerd couple O hares screamin' like
babbies at being cut off by the water in
some corner"
Kate had already set herself to search
Everywhere in the carriage to see II
any Of the provisionshad been overlookd;
Mss Beamish Auently told Bates what
help they had taken to the distant cot
tagers.
''It d be great pity" he said, ''if af,
Ter doin' 80, you wanted yoursens. The
Grange has 'scaped ever sim my fathers
time, but it had it when he was Lad.
remember hearing him say as five pigs
'wor drowned in the sty."
Miss Beamish had taken her purse out.
She nearly dropped it as she quickly
said:
"What! I always thought we were
quite safe"
Bates was with an ace of losing the
shilling whice Kate's aunt had got ready
in certain anticipation of no missed
stores being found by her in the carriage,
There is nothing left, Bates" Kate
said.
1t recalled Miss Beamish. She had be-
gun to get the ponies into motion at the
mans last piece, of news. Disengaging
ole hand from the reins, she dropped
coin into the old mans palm, eagerly
outstretched for it.
.'Bates, if you meet Willie and oul
Thomas on the road, hasten them. They
ought to have been back long ago. VIII
lie had no business togo-none at ALL"
1t was said quite angrily. Willie
Kate's brother, was her auut's darling
He and the single man servant there wa
at the Grange, had gone that forenoon il
light cart to a county town, and th'
keeper OF toll-bar father along had tole
Mis- Beamish that they had not passe(
on their return journey.
Kate ventured to whisper an assurance
that Willie would be safe.
How do l know? Bates talks OF tht
Grange being in dangerp'
q "Nay, nay, hope it's safe enough,
answered the old laborer, closing bis har'
fingers on the coin with clutch.
He stolidly went on:
"Mind, dunnot say it will reach yo
ct the Grange. dunnot hope it will;
hope it wunnot."
After taking another look at the shil
ling, he grinned-
''In '29, money wasn't of any use. w
could ma eat it, an if the water ha,
kept up three days longer, we should ha
died with the price o loaves in our pock
cts, But this II come in some time
grinning a. he slowly and CAREFUL,
stpwed it away.
II hope it wunnot reach the Grange
if on'y for your kindness; but if tn
Red Hill Gully fills, you nun look out
The only folks who'll 'scape then III b
Mr. Dixon. 1t is pity every house cal
not ha' hill to itself this weather" b
continued, excited by the money gift.
The ponies were already frisking th
road, making turn in ita little furthe
on. ... .s,.t -s ..g..-. ...s .
elbow senseless of Bates to keep harr
ing on the Grange! We are safe enough!
muttered Miss Beamish, in vexed tone
Suddenly, at the turn Of the road ur
der the two trees growing there, the forr
of horseman appeared.
4 There is nothing like good horseman
ship for showing u young man at an ad
U advantage, though it is only done at til
risk of looking very ridiculous if yo
X fail. Mr.. John Dixon, Jr.-for he
was-was suddenly put to rather a sever
test. To lift your hat in time to coupt
of ladies driving past, at the momen
II your horseis half off the road, spatterin,
!; with his hind feet in an oyerfowing dyke
" is not easy. If, 1.-THE same time. YOU
saddle is laden with ham, with parts o
Il two fiitches Of bacon, and bag contain
ing -four, the difficulty is increased
\ Still, John Dixon did it, His face REQ
L dened, but he kept both his temper an
and his seat, though the fitches wer
endangered for moment. His fathe
4 had had to return hurriedly for som
X business reason, and the son came HON
/! with him, leaving the rest Of the famil
/ on visit near London. On arriving ur
exnectedly at Prospect House, the sigh