The Republican journal., 1881-11-24


better sudden, as she has before We'll
have cause for thanksgivin', and I'll give
Ton a dinner you wont forget in hurry"
said Mrs. Bassett, as she tied on her
brown silk pumpkins hood, with sob for
the good old mother who had made it for
her.
Not a child complained after that, but
ran about helpfully, bringing moccasins,
heating the footstone, and getting ready
for long drive, because Gran'ma lived
twenty miles away, and there were no
railroads in those part, to whisk people
to and fro like magic. BY the time the
old yellow sleigh was at the door, the bread
was in the oven, and Mrs. Bassett was
waiting, with her camlet cloak on, and
the baby done up like small bale Of
blankets
Nov, Eph, You must look after the
cattle like man, and keep up the fires,
for there's a storm breWin, and neither
the children nor dumb critters must suf-
fer" said Mr.. Bassett as he turned up
the collar OF his rough coat and put on
his blue mittens while the old mare shook
her bells as if she preferred trip to
keene to hauling wood all day.
"1illy, put eXtry comtortables on the
beds tonight, the wind is so searchin' up
chamber. Have the baked beans and
jun-puddin for dinner, and whatever
you do, don't let the boys git at the
mince-pies, or you'll have them down
sick. | shall come back the minute | can
leave Mother. Pa will come to-morrer
depend on YOU. my darter; use your
"a 4 1o+ ho
while mothers away"
''Ies'm, yes'm-g0od- bye, good d-bye"
called the children, as Mrs. Bassett was
packed into the sleigh and driven away,
leaving a stream Of directions behind her.
Eph, the sixteen -year-old boy, immedi-
ately put on his biggest boots, assumed
sober, responsible manner, and survey
ed his little responsibilities with pater-
nal air, drolly like his fathers. Tilly tied
Oh her mothers bunch of keys. rolled up
the sleeves of her hOmespun gown, and
began to order about the younger girls.
They soon forgot poor Granny, and found
it great fun to keep house all alone, for
Mother seldom left home, but ruled her
family in the good old-tashiOned way.
There were no servants, for the little
daughters were Mrs. BasSett's only maids.
while the stout boys helped their father,
all vorkinq hapnilv toocthrr with no
WAGES but love ltarnina in the best man
ner the usc of the heads and hands with
which they were to make their own vay
in the world
The few fakes that caused the farmer
to predict bad weather soon increased to
4 regular snow storm, with gusts of wind.
for M among the hills winter came early
and linoorpa lone Rut file children were
busy. gay. ana warm indoors and never
minded the rising Gale nor the whirling
white storm outside
Jillv cot them 4 rood dinner. and
when ii was over the two elder Girls went
to their spinning. for in the kitchen stood
the bic and little wheels. and baskets of
wool rolls, ready to be twisted into warn
for the winters knitting. and each day
brought its stint of work to the daugh
ters, who hoped to be us thrifty as their
mother.
Eph kept up d glorious fire and super
intended the small BOYS. who popped corn
and whitfield boats On the hearth, while
Roxy and Rhody dressed corn-cob dolls
in the settle corner and Bose, the brin-
died mastit1' lay on the braided mat,
luNuriously warming his old legs. Thus
employed, they made a pretty picture,
those rosy bows and girls in their home
spun suits. with the rustic TOYS or tasks
which most children NOWADAYS would find
verv poor or tiresome.
TilIy and Prue sang, as they stepped
to and fro drawing out the smoothly
twisted threads tothe musical hum of the
great spinning wheels. The little girls
Chartered like magpies over their dolls
ana the new bed-spread they were plan
ming to make, all white dimitv stars on a
blue calico ground, as Il Christmas pres
ent to Ma. The boys roared at Ephs
jokes, and had rough and tumble games
over Bose. who didn't mind them in the
least: and 50 the afternoon wore pleas
antlv away.
At sunset the boys went out to feed the
cattle. bring in heaps of wood. and lock
up for the night. as the lonely farmhouse
seldom had visitors after dark. The
girls cot the simple supper of brown
bread and milk. baked apples, and q
doughnut all round as a treat. Then
thew sat before the fire. the sisters knit
TING. the brothers with books or games,
for Eph loved reading and Sol and Seth
never tailed to play a lew games OF Nor
ris with barley corns, on the little board
they had made themselves at one corne.
of the dresser.
"Read out a piece" said Tilly from
Mothers chair, where she sat in state
finishing oft the sixth wooden sock she
had knit that month.
.'Its the old history book, but here's a
bit YOU may like, since it's about our
folks, answered Eph, turning the yell
low page to look at picture of two
quantity dressed children in some ancient
castle
"les, read that | always like to hear
about the Lady Matildy was named for
and Lord Bassett. PAS great great
great grandpa Hes only farmer now,
but it's nice to know you were somebody
two or three hundred years ago said
Tillv hrillintr and t0ccinU hpr ct,rl,. haad