The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-11-04

and met oil my proposals with
"Simplify simplify! Nan. remem;
Der Thoreau p until our outfit ct The
last was limited enough to suit even our
oracle. The bedstead was of ancient
device, and was to be graced by most
amazing patchwork quilt of the pattern
yclept by our grandmothers, the ":rising
sun, -" wherein that luminary is seen dis
played in the most gorgeous reds and
yellows. This Jessie had unearthed
from an old chest, saying:
"This will brighten the room up, as
| we'll as being more primitive.
Then there were the two "rockers''-
q Windsor one, with ragged patchwork
cushions, and o somewhat treacherous
"cane seat, " which two were respective
ly christened for "solitude and friend
ship" while the third, q relentlessly
straight backed affair, was unanimously
dedicated to "society." But the tri-
umph of our "setting out" was to he
found in 'tthe three-legged table, I"
which we persuaded ourselves to be IN
exact counterpart of the one possessed
by our prototype at the other, and more
famous, Walden" and pJized accord
ingly.
It was somewhat late hour that at
ternoon that found us en- route for our
new home. Before us, down the shaded
path, went faithful John, driving the
wagon, loaded high with our household
possessions, while Jessie and followed
after, heavily laden with the numerous
books of reference that we proposed
consulting during our retirement.
"Truly, JESSIE" quoth I, with my
eyes fastened upon the shabby outfit
before us, "Thoreau was right when he
said, THE more man has of such
things, the poorer he isl
10 which Jessie assented as we'll as
might be consistent with the united en-
deavor she was bravely making to carry
the numerous volumes wherewith she
was laden, and ut the same time keep
those sunny, wind-tossed crimps from
quite binding her.
But our journey was soon ended, and
all our possessions heaped upon the
grass, "like the contents Of a gypsy;s
pack" Nor was it long before order
was brought out of chaos, and the faith
full John departed, leaving we two girls
alone in the forest-shadowed dell, with
the echo Of his lusty singing floating
pleasantly back to us in the low after
noon lights that flooded the spot.
Very cozy the little room looked with
its plain, dark curtains at either win
dow, for we were not quite up to "Wal-
den" usage yet; its table and chairs,
and the neatly-made bed, with its
brilliant covering, and very we'll con-
tent were we as we drew forward that
self-same table and proceeded to spread
upon half newspaper the daintiest Of
lunches, and with quickened appetites
to discuss the same
"Make the most Of this, Man,"
laughed Jessie, "for tomorrow we bid
farewell to the 'tiesh-pots of Egypt,
and return to life pure and simple"
1t was growing late, and two very
tired girls resolved to defer all senti-
mentalizing in the moonlight until some
future occasion, as they locked the door
and fastened the windows, thereby dis
obeying one Of the first tenets of oval
den law, but obeying Aunt Kate, who,
utterly obllvious to our reiterated asslr-
ances of ample courage, saw to it with
her own eyes that locks and "catches :"
Of modern continuance rendered our little
domicile safe, and retired for the night.
Weary as We were, however, We were
long in wooing slumber to our eyelids,
for, the sounds of the night were about
us, all, from the chance cracking of
dry twig to the ripping of the little
stream, sounding strange to our unac-
customed ears. We were aroused next
morning by full flood of sunlight strik-
ing across our closed eyelids and awoke
at once to the fact that We were too late
for spectators of the regal advent of the
king Of day-that one scene of our lit
tie theater had been played to the music
OF bird songs while we slept. Regrets
were unayailing, SO we made hasty
toilet, and Jessie, standing in the open
door, cried impulsively:
"Oh, Nan this is delightful ; come
on!" and the little rogue, killing still
shorter her short gray skirts, sprung
down the messy bank to dip her fingers
in the sparkling waters of Clear brook.
was not long in following her example,
and, rs we wandered up the smooth
green slope again hand in hand, Jessie
said:
"No wonder Thoreau came out in the
woods to find what life had to teach
Nowhere else, I am sure, can one front
the Essential facts of life.'"
Essential facts!'" quoth I dis
painfully, "'essential facts!' What
fact do you suppose life holds for most
| OF the girls of our acquaintance more
essential than the adjusting of their
crimps, or the snaring of some knight in
their artful tolls. Essential facts in
deed!"
To MI Of which did Jessie assent. her
own yellow tresses meanwhile ripping
| and waving IN manner to distract less
fortunate girls, and her own pansv-
purple eyes maze where many heart
had been lost oil unrecked of by their
owner.
Arrived at our little domicile, how
ever, We were confronted by the very
Essential fact" that breakfast must be
prepared by our own hands, and not
only that, but the foundations of the re-
past must be laid from the very begin
ming.
There was our gypsy fireplace. John
had arranged it the nj ght before two
forked sticks with third one laid across
in these natural angles, upon which a
kettle swung suggestiyely over the cool,
green sod as yet unscarred by any flame.
We had refused, disdainfully, that same
functionary's offer Of gathering ga bit
OF brush to start it wild, num-" refused
it in the light Of long, delightful rambles
in that same woodland which now lay
white and dewy before us, rambles
wherein we would collect dry twigs and
lchen-covered bark. wherewith to build
our morning fire. But now? Well,
distance lent enchantmentt to the view"
in this as we'll as many other cases; but
there was no time for dallying, for al
yondtheir wont, and Jessie, gathering her
skirts about her, cried:
Fill the kettle, Nan, and go after the
roasting ears. III get the wood and
build the fire, adding, as she vanished
in the dewy depths, g You'd better get
some potatoes, too, while you are about
it; they'll roast with the corn"