Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-02
RESULT OF A SLEIGH RIDE.

ssnow storm" said Jonas Ayres. coming
in from out of doors and brushing the
flakes from his coat and cap and stamp
ing them from his boots.
''ThatI be master nice for the young
folks, replied his wife, who was always
looking for the brightest side of every
picture, sand our Susie has been just
dying for ride"
"Well, she and the rest of them, bless
their blight eyes and rosy cheeks, shall
have one. IL get the big farm sleigh
ready and be sartin there is plenty Of
robes and bells. Nothin like like iing-
ling OF them to make a young heart
bound. Remember how it was with
US, don't you?" and he took his wife in
his strong arms and kissed her as gal
lantly as If their counting days had not
been passed fve-and-twenty years be-
fore.
SEQ long with your nonsense, Jonas,
she exclaimed, laughing. ''If you are
have it, and what is more, bring a great
raft of folks to supper, for you appear to
think that young folk want as much stuff
ing as your stock"
well SO they do-never knew them
to be otherwise than hungry. You at
tend 20 the inside and I will to the out
side-of the house / mean" he added
quickly, as he saw signs of coming lee
ture.
ssJonasl Jonas!' she exclaimed, ''you
ought to have more regard for the pro-
prieties and specially when you have a
daughter growing up"
:'Yes, yes, you ought 'er, " was echoed
IN laughing chorus, and Susie Ayres
came dancing into the room, shaking her
curls very much after the fashion colt
tosses its name when turned loose after
long confinement.
s'There, JONAS" continued the good
dame, reprovingly, ''see what an example
you are setting and how your child is
growing up.
"Well"-it was a constitutional habit
with him to commence his sentences
after this fashion," well, / guess she'll
be able to hoe her own row." and after
teasing his wife little more he departed
to look to his share of the projected fun.
He was right. Susie Ayres was capa-
Die of hoeing her own row. She was as
independent and pretty piece of mis-
chief as could be found In the township.
Her mother said she "was strung on
wires like a jumping jack" SO volatile
was she. Happy as the day was long (if
there is anything particularly forcible
III the smiie), singing. dancing, laugh
Ing and turning everything into jest,
though down deep within her heart was
a well of pity that furnished an abund-
ance of tears when required. But she
knew little of care and sorrow, save in
the abstract. and impressions made by
them do not long remain.
Her figure and face were in keeping
with her character. She was blue-eyed
and golden-curled, with cheeks like
blush-roses and lips as pouting and
crimson as freshly blown carnation; of
1.-the, petite form, with little hands and
feet, and just the witch of thing to
create havoc with all the hearts of the
beaux who came within the range of her
blandishments-and she permitted none
TO escape.
'fI'Il be just as good as anything" she
said to her mother, "snd help you ever
SO much, and
'Oh graciousr' exclaimed her father,
suddenly re-entering, throwing himself
INTO a chair, wringing his hands and
rolling up his eyes as one In the greatest
agony.
Merciful Providence!'' exclaims his
wife. "He's got a fit or shake OF
something! Run and get the camfre,
quick, Susie. Oil if I should be left a
widow!' and great, honest tears rolled
down her cheeks.
"Have you got the toothache, or a
spasm, or the stomach ache, or-or-
something p gasped Susie
The sincere alarm manifested by wife
and daughter was too much for Jonas
Ayres, and pushing them aside with a
great explosion of laughter, and moving
his head in time to keep the food OF
% ca1nfre from pouring into his eyes,
and spluttering and half strangled from
the amount he had swallowed, he ex-
planned:
Well, Just as I had lated on having
a good time, here comes news that youl
cousin Mayhem. Susie, is coming to
spend few days, and whew! that kicks
over our kettle of fish completely"
'sHe is young divinity student, isn't
he, pap" questioned the girl with uncom.
mon interest.
"Wen, yes, of course, and you'll have
to be propriety, and-why couldn't he
have chosen some other time, | wonder.
''And will wear standing collar and {
tail hat, and have his hair parted in the
middle and slicked behind his ears, and
wear glasses. Oh, that viii be jolly,'
and Susie executed pirouette that re
vealed the dalntiest pair of ankles mag
Unable, and caused her mother to nearly
faint on account OF the proprieties.
''Susie, you ought to be ashamed O
YOURSELF Jonas, YOU came very neal
being the death of me-" and she snuffet
at the camphor with tremendous vigol
and looking about as unlike a dyins
woman as possible.
Even her father looked at Susie in as