Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-12-08

so that Polar ''savants" win their way
10 frozen glory.
Let those who love, though they abide
Ear from US now, come to our side
Happy and well at Christnlastide
And we will bless thee
AN ARDENT LOVER.
His name was Jacob. It had been b
fathers before him, and his father
fathers. The Storms were hard-worl
ing, money-getting race. Jacob Storm
the father OF our hero, constantly sal
that she couldn't see why unde
the shinin' sun man needed any a
education; t any rate, more'n 'noug t.
reckon his crops aud cattle. Jacob th
Younger had once expressed desire t.
attend school out of town, but Storm
senior, killed his ambition in that respec
with few words:
1.-The old red school house was goot
enough for your father and your grand
father, and when you get all you car
there, III find plenty OF work for you
1t shan't be said that one of the ole
Storm blood ever hired out to strangers. ,
The inhabitants of Putneyville were
not ali conservatives Of the Storm order
Sons of rich farmers were in college
daughters of Woodworking fathers anC
mothers we're away at school, and Put
ue,yvllle felt their influence when they
came home for vacation.
One OF the gayest, brightest, prettiest
girls III town was Sallie Ri-ers. Her
father had a poorer farm and fewer bonds
than his neighbor, Jacob Storm, but.the
Rivers family worshipped another Idol.
FROM the mother down, every one valued
good education. The father had been
denied it, as he was the eldest of a large
family, and compelled to aid in support
ing the rest. He was man of excellent
natural ability, and extravagantly fond
of reading. When his boys ana girls
grew around him they heard important
topics discussed at the table; they knew
all about congress and our relations with
foreign powers, and once Mr.. Rivers had
been called upon to represent his town
III the Legislature of the state.
The boys Of the family were compelled
TO work their way through college, and
Sullie the iovial was determined to follow
their example.
No wonder Jacob Storm, Jr., adored
Sallle. He had lived near her for years,
had carried her dinner-pail back and
forth for her, had purposely misspelled
words to let her pass above him, and in
all her maddest pranks he had rejoiced
while others blamed. Sallie's brothers
were fond OF her, and never for one mo-
ment thought it either unladyike or stu
iul for her to share all their sports.
When one of the neighbors gave party.
the verbal invitation was generally.
"SaLlle and the rest of the boys
Sallie liked it; she was full of bound
ing Lie; she hated silly airs; and as her
brothers were, with one exception, older
than herself, surely it was quite proper
for her to do as they did. When Tom
wrote home from college that his dear
little sister 'Emust not go out in the hot
sun or she might spoil her complexion"
Sallie wrote back, 'Don't bother, YOU
dear old maid. I care more for good
sound health than anything else; and
those whe really love me won't mind a
few freckles.' Sallie went on in her
own way; she few from one end to the
other Of the large farm house, now sing
ing scrap of some familiar song, now
chanting, in full clear tones some grand
Old anthem. Jacob Storm had once
called her "Will-o'-the-wisp," and the
name fitted her so well, the boys took it
mp. The widest colt on the farm would
obey Sallie; she feared nothing, went
and came as she pleased, and accom-
Pushed IN one morning more work than
her mother and Huldah the maid could
possibly do together.
Naturally, this warm-hearted. active.
cheerful girl was the light Of her fathers
eyes. He could not send her away from
home like the boys, not even for the cov-
eted education. For three years in her
teens, she bore the restraint as meekly
as posslble; but the fourth year could
not be borne. How much the girl SUI
Tered in secret no one knew. FEATHER"
she said one day, as she sprang from her
saddle, my mind is made up. I shall
go into the mill and earn money enough
to attend school,"
"But mother can't spare you, daugh-
ter"
Mother is willing" said saIlie; ':she
always wanted to study herself
"Well, we seem to need you here,
somehow" said the old gentleman,
stroking the colts neck to hide his feel
ings."
eyes, father, and you shall have me.
can work hard, and come home to spend
every vacation; and won't you be glad to
zee me?"
MIR. Rivers led the colt away and did
not answer.
"Why not?" he said to himself: "why
shouldn't she havea fair chance? sup
pose I might sell off the meadow to old
Storm, and send my only girl away in
good shape; but it will spoil the farm,
and hate to-"
He could not think Of the house with
out her; he dreaded the long winter even
ings, and the warm summer days, with
out his darling; and at last ne sat down
in one corner Of the barn on an old grind
stone, which Sallie had often turned for
him. He sat there long time trying to
overcome his selfshness; and at last. as
he heard the girls ringing voice calling
him tosupper, he rose up, saying, "She's
my only girl, and she shall have chance,
come what WILL
The boys were delighted. They were
proud of Sallie, and quite sure she would
do herself and the family credit. To be
sure, TOMS pride was hurt when he
heard she was to work in the mill at
Glenmore; but the new house which Tom
had urged his father to build had cost
more than they expected, and every year
some new machinery must be purchased.
It was twenty miles to Glenmore, twenty
miles from home-love, care, and comfort;
but Sallie did not falter. To be sure,
it was a trial to leave them all, hard
thing to select from her little store of
girls belongings; and small room in a
clearinghouse would never afford the
delight that her own large sunny cham
Der did. Sallie felt thousand tears,
but did not shed one, although her
mother and Huldah wept profusely as
the carriage drove away, with Sa1lie's
father on the back seat with her, and
yacob Storm in front with Sallie's brother
Dixie. :: :
Dixie was younger than his sister, and
III deem grief at her loaa II III nj