The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
SAVED BY A SONG.

breakfast table with an air OF decls-
ion that would have done credit to
a general of armed forces.
Bella, the eldest of the three mar
riageable daughters, and the dark
eyed beauty of the family, sank
back in her seat in elegant resigna-
ton, while Marcia, the second child,
remained nervously beating the
bowl of her spoon upon the delicate
China coffee cup.
She was remarkable for nothing
but flirtations and a fine figure, and
had insisted upon spending the sum-
mer at Saratoga, while Bella had
plead for cottage at Long Branch
or Cape May.
Fannie, the youngest and fairest,
the violet-eyed, sunny-haired idol of
her father, had talked of the hills
and the cool, green country.
The discussion had waxed warm,
and would have doubtless become
torrid but for the timely decision of
madame, who said:
'If can find a place among the
hills OF Pennsylvania where the foot
of city pilgrims never trod, or where
tourists never penetrate, there will
/, metaphorically, pitch my tent"
'0h ! the hills of Pennsylvania !"
gaspcd Marcia.
And the horrid farmhouses, with
their rag carpets, family groups of
photographs and wheeling melode-
on, " sneered Bella.
ITO say nothing of their home
talent pictures and butter-crock pot
terry" sneered Marcia.
"And all the green woods and
: yeet-scented meadows" exclaimed
the delighted Fannie, springing up
and hugging her papa who had
dropped his eyeglasses and newspa-
per and was laughing at the discom-
fitted Bella and Marcia.
"You have the best of EN-, eh,
kitten, as you always do ?" said he.
II wish YOU would all reserve
your comments until | have con-
cluded the programme for the sum-
mer," interrupted Mrs. Grovenor.
"As | was saying, we will 90 TO the
country during June and a portion
of July. The remainder of the time
we will divide between Long Branch
and Saratoga. So make your prepa-
rations accordingly, and let me hear
no more about il" and she arose
and left the room.
Consequently, in due time, and to
the infinite delight of Fannie, she
awoke one lovely. crystalline morn
ing in June in a quaint old farm
house. The sloping roof of her
chamber mattered nothing to her, or
the dismal croaking sisters, who de- |
clared over and over again that they
should certainly die in such wild
with confusion of the brain, as they |
were constantly forgetting that it was |
impossible to assume an upright po-
sition in their bedroom save in its !
centre.
For Fannie there was a world Of
space and a wilderness of bloom
out of doors, and only six weeks to
explore the whole, and so the dear /
child of nature was always up with /
the lark and out in the tangled dew
laden grass.
One morning her mother and sis |
tiers came down to a late breakfast to |
find, as usual, that Fannie was out |
and off. after having broken her
fast with Farmer Hobbs and his
wife.
She's gone a-fshing. and wanted |
me to tell you that she wouldn't be |
back to dinner" returned their
landlady to an inquiry of the fam
lily.
'It's dreadful, mamma" yawned |
Bella. Il do believe she will be de-
voured, or something terrible hap. |
pen to her"
"Never fear, miss" replied Mrs. |
Hobbs shell be back all right
Has only gone up the creek, and 1
there hain't no place in it deep |
enough IN drown her, except the |
Devils Churn, and that's three mile I
and better away. and nobody would 1
ever think of going there, it's so wild 4
and tangled-like"
II hope she'll get enough of the !
country, with its wet grass, snakes
and lizards" said Marcia, helping |
herself to a liberal portion of the
sweet golden butter.
"Never ~ asserted Mrs. Hobbs,
coming out upon the broad veranda |
where she usually breakfasted, with |
an armful of bright milk pans,
which she placed in row by the
beehives in the sun. Never she is |
one of them as is natural-born ar
fists, and she can't no more live
without nature than a humming
bird without posies."
Meanwhile Fannie, clad in a pref
tv. dark flannel suit, neatly braided
in a paler shade, jaunty sailor hat,
stout shoes, an alpenstock. which |
by an ingenious device could be
turned into fishing rod, q little
tourists basket containing lunch |
and tackle, and fastened by a strap
across her shoulders, had passed the
garden paths, up the lane and over
the fields into the woods, until she
came to little brook that went |
dancing over its pebbly channel and
by moss-fringed and fern-edged
banks, now glancing and singing
through sunny glades or whisper
ing and sighing beneath thickly
matted foliage and darksome shades.
Flushed with exercise, the young
girl paused to now and then make
little stores of gathered treasures,
to be taken up on her return. There
were matted leaves, trailing vines,
feathery MOSES, a branch of the de-
icate shell-like blooming laurel, with
a bunch of delicate ferns and she
whispered TO herself:
Il suppose / shall have an awful
time to get there, but / mean to ex-
plore those tangled depths Mr..
Hobbs was telling about, wherein
lies that wonderful pool called by
the elegant and expressive name of
the Devils Churn."