The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-02-21
written for the Free Trader.
LOCUST VALLEY;
OR,
MONEY Is POWER.
CHAPTER VI.
BY DIR. sTEINWAl.


- sad reauiem above her lonely grave
Oncu IN my more mature years have VISIT
ed the quiet spot, and as the BIRDS t"lI'eIeo
above my head and the winds went signing
by. | thought of the virtues OF the departed
one. and vowed in the ears OF hlgh heaven
that would strive to initiate them no"
moor have kent those earnest VOWS VIII De
uniolded in these pages.
Two lonely years we spent at our oiu nome
Nv sister became dearer to me than ever.
When we could not visit the old oak tree, we
remained indoors. built famous coach Oh
chairs filled with pillows, placed my sister
within. and mounting the box took my long
whip and we dashed over mountain ana moor
at breakncck speed Again, this reminds
me of my first fragrant act OF dlsobediehce'
We resided near the village of llillsboro, IA
little town situated in the most romantic part OF
Washington county, Pa. Here was the village
school, perched upon high hill halt ME
west Of town; near the National turnpike
was the old brick school house where We went
TO school-my brothers and |. My sister was
too Young to 90 to school, and noticed after
| lett her that she plned daily, and in just IA
wear from my mothers DEATH my dear little
sister said to me one day;
"Oh, Ned, | am too tired to play" She
went to father hid her face in his bosom and
wept herself to sleep 1t was the LAST play We
ever had together. But must tell you Of my
escapade.
One lovely, sunshiney day as | sat upon a
great ovcrhanging rock at the hour Of noon
the stage coaches from Washington came in.
The other scholars were playing on the green,
but sat and had melancholy pleasure in
seeing the well.flled coaches passing by. AS
they numbered along some Of the passengers
gave glance at the barctooted, peakcdtaccd
boy seated upon the lonely rock. But rs the
last coach came numbering by, sweet little
girl of about seven summers was leaning from
the coach with her fiat III her hand cnCrclcd
with Il broad, blue ribbon. Seeing my lorlorn
yet carious looks, in the innocence OF her glecI
she waved her hat towards me. | waved my
hand and bowed to her, which seemed to-
please her very much. An elderly lady drew
her laughingly inside the window, and the old
coach numbered along and soon the entire cav.
acade or string Of coaches drove up to the
old stone tavern where the gushing fountain
threw out It's wealth OF sparkling waters, for
change Of horses and for dinner,
There were yet three quarters of an hour be-
fore school call, and slowly | took my way
down to the village, and after taking look at
the horses at the stables | went to the fountain,
and seating myself upon one end of the great
trough waited impatiently for the gay little
girl TO make her appearance on the front porch
and in the front yard, for 1t was most en-
chanting place, and | knew the little girl
would want a romp ere she was again packed
inside the overcrowdcd coach was quite
right, for IN IA quarter of an hour out came the
little miss with the dearest little white poodle
with long, white wool and little sharp, black
eyes She played for awhile on the broad
porch and at length came out INTO the yard
and gambolled about on the green grass and
graveIed walks. Atlength she vcnturcd to the
great trough, rs if lured by the sound of the
flowing waters. She gazed delighted into its
made as though she would drop 1t INTO
the water; but her father, handsome, we'll,
dressed man, called to her that the water was
too cold, and not to do 1t. She instantly obey
ed. | called 10 the little dog, but it did not
regard me at all. AT length said:
"Wlll your puppy allow me to take HIM
up"
"'rry him" she said, as she dropped him on
the ground. | put put my hand on him and
called him, but he gave a.quick, sharp, angry
bark and showed two rows Of tiny, white
teeth, while the little eyes emitted sparks of
fire. Nothing daunted, | said to her:
"Do you place him in my lap, and know
he viii not bite me" She playfully did So,
yet the pugnacious little fellow would not al
low me to touch him. The whole perform.
ance seemed to please her very much for she
laughed in high glee
At last she said resolutely, II will make him
let you pet him." and softly grasping my hand
she spoke sharply to him and brushed my
hand a few times over his downy fur, then,
with one finger raised threatenlngly before the
puppy hosc' eilc salu, NOW 40 you stroke
him" lie still gave II low, uneasy growl and
as his mistress sped away over the yard he
struggled to be free. | Immediately released
him, and away he went After rambling
about for quite while she returned TO mt |
Tlth fine glow upon her face, and the little
dog painting Justify. "Will you not take upI
Fido again."
No said |; you place him in my
arms, and ! will soon make friends with
him" She did SO, and soon the little fellow
became reconciled. If, he thought, his mis-.
tress had confidence in me, why not he also
and when She took another romp the dog, first
from my arms and then from my shoulder,
looked cOmplaccnty on.
NTH litil. !.