The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-10-05
SAVED BY A SONG.


air of decision that would have don
credit to general of armed forces.
Bella, the eldest Of her three marriage
able daughters, and the dark-eye
beauty OF the family, sank back in he
seat in elegant resignation, Will
Marcha the second child, RENAME,
nervously beating the bowl Of her spool
upon the delicate China cotlee-cup.
She was remarkable for nothing bu
ilrtatlons and fine figure, and had in
sisted upon spending the summer a
Saratoga, while Bella had pleaded for {
cottage at Long Branch or Cape May.
Fannie, tho younger and fairest, til,
ylolot-eycd, sunny haired idol of hel
father, had talked of the hills and the
cool, green country.
The discussion had waxed warm, anC
would have doubtless become tomid but
for the timely decision of madam, whc
said
"If ] can find a place among the hills
OF Pennsylvania, where the feet of city
pilgrims never trod, or where tourists
never penetrate, there will /, metaphor
ically, pitch my tent
ooh the hills of Pennsylvania -
gasped NIarcha.
And the horrid farm-honses, with
their rag carpets, family groups Of pho
tographs and Wheeling mclodcom, ="
snecred Bella.
To say nothing of their home talent
pictures and butter-crock pottery, "
sneerod Marcia.
And all the green woods and sweet
scented meadows exclaimed the de-
lighted Fannie, springing up and hug
ging her papa, who had dropped his
eyeglasses and newspaper and was
laughing at the discomforted Bella and
Marcia.
"You have the best of 'em, eh kitton,
as You always do?' said he.
81 wish you would all reserve your
comments until | have concluded the
programme for the SUMNER interposed
Mrs. GrovenCr. Gas ! was saving, we
will go to the country during June and
portion of July. The remainder Of
Ilt llhlt We Will tuNlut btlNttn INUp
Branch and Saratoga SO make your
preparations accordingly, and let me
hear no more about It," and she arose
md left the room.
Consequently, in due time, and to the
infinite delight OF Fannie, she awoko one
lovely crystalline morning in June in
quaint old farm house. The sloping
roof Of their chamber mattercd nothing
to her, or the dismal croaking of her
sisters, who declared over and over
again that they should certainly die in
such wild with confusion of the brain,
MS they were constantly forgetting that
ii was impossible to assume an upright
position i'll their bedroom save in its
center.
For Fanuic there was worl! of space
and wilderness Of bloom ont Of doors
and only six weeks to explore the whole,
and so the dear child of nature was nl-
ways mp with the lark md out in the
tangled, dew-laden grass.
One morning her mother and sisters
came down to II late breakfast to find, as
usual, that Fannie was out and off, hav-
ing broken her fast with farmer Hobbs
aud his wife.
"Shc's gone a-iishing, and wanted NO
to tell you she wouldn't be back to din
ner," returned their landlady to an i'll
quiry of the family.
cts dreadful, mamma" yawnen
Bella. 81 do believe she will be de.
yourod, or something terrible happen
her"
"Nerer fear, miss replied Mrs.
Hobbs "sheIl be back all right. She
hos only gone mp the creek, and there
haint no place il it deep enough TO
drown her except the Devils Churn, and
that's three mile and better away, and
nobody would ever think Of going there,
it, so wild and tangled like"
81 hope she'll get enough Of the
country, with its wet grass, snakes and
lizards" said Marcia, helping herself
10 liberal portion of the sweet golden
butter.
"Ncvcr !" asserted Mrs. Hobbs, com
ing out upon the broad vcrinda where
they usually brcakfastcd, with an arm
ful Of bright milk-pans, which she
placed in row by the bcc-hiycs in the
sun. "Ncycr! Shc is one of them us
is natural-bOrn artists, and she cant no
more live without nature than hum
ming bird without posies.'
Meanwhile Fannie, clan in a pretty,
dark flannel suit, neatly braided with n
palcr shade, iaunty sailor hat, stout
shoes. an alpcnstock, which by an in
gcnious device could be turned INTO
fishing rod, little tourists basket con
tanning lunch and tackle aud fastened
hy n strap across her shoulders, had
PASSED the garden paths, up tie lane
and over the fields into the woods, until
she came to little brook that went
dancing over its pcbbly channel, and by
moss.fringed and fern-edgcd banks, now
rlancing and singing through sunny
gladcs or whispering and signing be-
meath thickly matted foliage and dark
some shades. Il
Flushed with exercise, the young girl
pauscd to now and then make little stores
OF gathered treasures, to be taken up on
her return. There we're matted leaves.
trailing vines, feathery MOSES, a branch
of the shell-like blooming laurel, with
bunch of delicate ferns and she had
whispered to herself: ,,,
II suppose | shall have an awful time
10 get there, but mean to explore those
tangled depths Mr.. Hobbs was telling
about. wherein lies that wonderful pool
called by the elegant and expressive
name of the Devils Churn. ,"
After lunching in a grape vine arhor
and irving her little white hands Mt fish
ing she gathered mp her possessions
and entered the widest and darkest
mart of the glen and began a climbing
ascent over brambles and huge boulders
and through interlaced branches that at
times almost defed her strength. But
She scrambled on into damp, gloomy
labyrinths. where rarely ray OF sun
Ijabt penetrlted even at noon. Pres