The Republican journal., 1881-11-24

/
both little girls, flying upstairs to hide
under their mothers bed, as their surest
shelter.
"No danger of that, you little geese.
III shoot him as soon as he comes. Get
out Of the way, boys" and Eph raised the
window to get good aim.
"There he is. Fire away, and don't
miss" cried Seth, hastily following Sol,
who had climbed to the top of the dres-
ser as a good perch from which to view
the approaching fray.
Prue retired to the hearth as if bent on
| dying at her post rather than desert the
| turkey, now "browning beautiful" as she
expressed it. But lilly boldly stood at
the open window, ready to lend hand
if the enemy proved too much for Eph
| All had seen bears, but none had ever
come 50 near before, and even brave Eph
felt that the big brown beast slowly trot-
ting up the door-yard was an unusually
formidable specimen. He was growing
| horribly, and stopped now and then as if
to rest and shake himself.
''Get the axe, Tilly, and if | should
miss, stand ready to keep him off while |
! load again. said Eph, anxions to kill his
| first bear in style and alone girls help
| didn't count
lilly flew for the axe, and was at her
| brothers side by the time the bear was
near enough to be dangerous He stood
on his hind legs, and seemed to sniff with
relish the savory odors that poured out Of
the window.
Fire, Eph !" cried Tilly, firmly.
await till he rears again. IN get
better shot then, answered the boy,
While Prue covered her ears to shut out
from their dusty refuge up among the
pumpkins.
But a very singular thing happened
next, and all who saw it stood amazed,
for suddenly Tilly threw down the axe,
flung open the door, and ran straight into
the arms of the bear, who stood erect to
receive her, While his growing changed
to loud "Haw, haw" !" that startled the
children more than the report Of a gun.
'It's Cad Hopkins, tryin to fool rs ~
cried Eph, much disappointed at the loss
OF his prey, for these hardy boys loved
to hunt and prided themselves On the
number Of wild animals and birds they
| could shoot in year.
'Oh, Cad, how could you scare Us 50 2"
laughed lilly, still held fast in one shag-
gy arm of the bear, while the other drew
a dozen oranges from some deep pocket
in lhe butfalO-skin coat, and fired them
into the kitchen with such good aim that
| Eph ducked, Prue screamed, and Sol and
| Seth came down much quicker than they
went up.
''N al, you see got upset over y0nder,
ana the old horse went home while was
tioundering in a drift, 50 tied on the
hutfaers to tote EN- easy, and come along
till see the children playin' in the holler.
jest meant to give 'em little scare, but
they ran like partrldges, and | KEEP up
the Joke to see how Eph would like this
sort Of company and Cad haW haWed
again.
"Nou'd had warm welcome if We
hadn't found YOU out. Id have put a
bullet through you in 4 itfy, old chap
said Eph, coming out to shake hands with
the young giant who was only year or
two Older than himself.
Come in and set up to dinner with rs.
Pruc and have done it all ourselves, and
Pa will bG along soon, reckon" cried
| Tilll, trying to escape.
"Couldn't, no way My folks will think
I'm dead et don't get along home, sence
the horse and sleigh have gone ahead
empty. I've done my arrant and had my
Joke; now | want my pay, lilly" and
Cad took hearty kiss from the rosy
cheeks of his ''Ittle sweetheart" us he
called her His own cheeks tngled With
the smart slap she gave him as she ran
away, calling ont that She hated bears
and would bring her axe next time.
II aint afeared your sharp eyes found
me out and et you run into bears arms
you must expect hug" answered Cad,
as he pushed back the robe and settled
his fur cap more bccomingy.
''l shOuld have known you IN 4 minute
| if ! hadn't been asleep when the girls
squaled. You did it well, though, and
advise YOU not to try it again in a hurry,
or you'll get shot" said Eph, as they
parted, he rather crest fallen and Cad in
high gIee.
"My sakes alive the turkey is all
/ bunt on one side, and the kettles have
billed over so the pies put to warm are
all ashes 4" scolded Tilly, as the furry sub
sided and she remembered her dinner
"Well, | can't help it. ! couldn't think
Of victuals when expected to be eaten
alive myself could ?" pleaded poor Prue,
who had tumbled into the cradle when
the rain Of oranges began.
lilly laughed, and all the rest Joined
in, 50 good humOr was restored and the
spirits of the younger ones We're restored
! by sucks from the one orange which pass
ed from hand to hand with great rapidity
while the older girls dshed up the dinner.
They We're just struggling to get the
! pudding out OF the cloth when Roxy
called out "Iere's Pa !"
"There's folks with him" added Rhody.
Lots of 'em | see two big seighs
chock full" shouted Seth, peering through
the dusk.
1T looks like a semintary. Guess
Gramma's dead and come up to be buried
here" said Sol, in a solemn tone. This
startling suggestion made lilly, Prue,
and Eph hasten to look out, full Of dis
may at such an ending to the festival.
''If that is a funeral, the mourners are
uncommonly jolly" sAid Eph, dryly, as
merry voices and loud laughter broke the
white silence without.
~ see Aunt Cinthy, and Cousin Hetty
and there's Nose and Amos. | do de
clare, PAS bringin' 'em all home to have
some fun here" cried Prue as she recog-
nized one familiar face after another.
"Oh, my patience, Amt | glad got
dinner, and don't hope it will turn out
good Y exclaimed lilly, while the twins
pranced with delight and the small boys
roarcd
''Hooray for Pa Hooray for Thanks
givin'"
The cheer was answered heartily, and
in came Father, Mother, baby, aunts and
cousins, all in great spirits, and all much
surprised to find such a festive welcome
awaiting them.
"Aint Gran'ma dead at all = asked Sol
in the midst of the kissing and hand
shaking.
"Bless your heart, no. 1t was all a
mistake Of old Mr.. Chadwick's. He's as
deaf as an adder, and when Mrs. Brooks
told him Mother was mendln' fast and