The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-23
STRIVING HEMP SEEDS.
Christmas Story.

~ CS. nOSlC, AC IL NC uClC AL VIC 4NCW
Year, if nothing happens"
Rosie tossed her yellow .inylets, and
put up her red lips in childish pout.
~ shall hate him, aunt Eunice. I'm
sure shall. The SIMPLE fact that am
betrothed to him, wlllynilly, would set
my heart against him if he were Prince
among men,"
"He is Prince among men, my dear,
and you'll be sure to like him." replied
Aunt Eunice, quietly.
d., 81 tell you I'm sure not to like him.
insistsd Rose. Poor papa made great
mistake; he should have left me free"
ut would have been wiser, perhaps;
but your father had looked upon Ben as
a son so many years, and felt sure of his
making good husband--'
can old poke twice my age,' pouted
Rosie. .....
i "Oh, no, not quite so old as that. But
wait until you have seen him. Never
cross a bridge till you come to it, Rosie.
Ben won't be here for week yet. When
he Is here, and you have seen him, if you
really dislike him I dare say he'll not
compel you to become his wife
"But I promised poor papa on his
death-bed, too, and promise to the
dying is sacred.''
Pretty Rosie was no kith or kin to
Aunt Eunice, only an adopted child,
cherished and loved for her dead fathers
sake, and Ben was Aunt Eunice's only
sor, Calcutta agent, who had not seen
his native land for years, and who had
last parted from his promised bride
when she was little miss in plnafores.
But after his old friend death, and
Rosie's promise to become his wife
whenever he saw fit to come home and
claim her, Ben had sent home a hand,
some ring, and Rosie wore it on he,
pretty finger. And now he was coming
in week.
oDont fret, Rosie. Wait until Ben Is
here and you have seen him." 80
"Seeing him won't make me change
nv mind,'' retorted the willful girl. 81
have him in my minds eye nova poky
old fogy, just like MI. Sykes, the parson
Oh, dear!'
II trust the case will not be quite &c
bad rs that, Rosie. But what are yot
going to do with all those hemp seeds
nv dear-feed the pigeons2"
s'Feed the pigeons, indeed!' CRIED
Rosie, transferring the seeds to he
pocket. "Why, auntie. I'm going dow
tie Hazel Hollow to try my fortune. Al
the girls are doing 1t. Jennie Bur
strewed hemp one dark evenings mont
or so ago, and the handsomest youn.
man came following her, and now She
engaged to him."
Aunt Eunice laughed, and crossing tn
room, drew the girls head to her breas
and kissed her tenderly.
"You're good child, Rosie, only a bi
maynard, and trust you may be YER
happy, dear, whether you ever MARI
Ben or not. There, run along, and stre1
your hemp seeds if you must, and hurr.
back to supper
Rosie threw on her shawl and scarle
hood, and ran away, like the silly chill
she was.
The sun was quite down when sh
reached Hazel Hollow, and the shadow
lay dark and thick in the wild glel
Rosie was not the bravest little woma
in the world, and her heart gave a gres
throb of fear as she walked on under th
whispering willows.
At the edge OF the hollow she felt sort
" tempted to turn round and run bsc
to Aunt Eunice's CHEEKY fireside, but
thought of Jenny Burr's success urge
her on. She drew out handful of IL
magic seed and started across the glen.
Hemp seeds strew, hemp seeds sow;
Let my true love follow me and now"
She repeated the charmed couplet in
little, quavering voice, strewing b
seeds right and and left. She was hs
across the gloomy Hollow before 81
could muster courage to look back.
When she did glance over her shou Id
q sharp cry burst from her lips. Not
behind her came tall, manly figul
with something which looked like W
liable scythe in his hand. Rosie shrieke
stared an instant and then sank down
the damp ground, scattering her precio
seeds as she fell.
She awoke to consciousness some til
after with full moon shining in /
eyes, and pair OF masculine arms 81
porting her head.
ooh, where am I? What has his
pened!" she cried out in dismay, as s
struggled to her feet.
Nothing has happened replied