Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-06-07
MY TRAMP OF THE CYPRUS SWAMP

MY TRAMP OF THE CNPEOS SNAMP.
! am Kate.
OF course can tell my own adven-
lures a deal better than any one can tell
them for me. That stands to reason.
am not a practical writer, and l don't
know how to produce what the fashion
able authors call grand pen effects,
but believe [ can make you under
stand how it was, and that is all that is
necessary.
Leeman had sprained his ankle, that's
nv brother, and he could not go to
town with the load of russet apples that
was piled into barrels and stood wait
ing under the big red shed.
Its too bad said he. Those apples
are worth deal at this time of the year,
and we shall miss the market to-day
Can't you ask neighbor Hinton to
take them ?" asked my mother.
'Neighbor Hinton is deal too sharp
a practitioner for me, said Leeman. It's
hard thing to say about u neighbor,
hut can't trust his honesty.
Mr.. Hall9'
Hall would be casting it up III my
face for the next six months that / had
asked favor of him, said Leeman.
'.No, I'd rather lose the apples than
my independence; but it's too provo
king that must needs have slipped on
that piece of orange peel, now of all
times in the world. | have been saving
up those apples with special eye to
this particular market day
'Leeman, said 1, I'll CO.
Nonsense, said he.
But why not?' said l. old Pomp
is as gentle as kitten, and know every
inch of the way
sBut there are the Red Swamp woods,
that desolate stretch of three miles,
with never a house on either side of the
wav, except the deserted cabin where
the old negro hung himself twenty years
ago. argued my mother.
Who cares for the Red Swamp
woods Z? said valiantly. L never was
afraid Of frogs and whippoorwills. and
am not going to begin now. LII, vii
you go out and help me harness early
in the morning and
sOh. Iwish was going too Can't
60. Kate 2 cried my hoyden young sis
ter, with her blue eyes gl1stening witt
delight at the idea of anything unusual
Stuff cried /, impetnously. y
course YOU can't Hasn't Pomp a heav.
load enough without your nlnty pound
ofmischief loaded ON q? Besides you mus
stay at home and take care of mothe
and Leeman and finish the chintz cur
tain for the big west chamber, for Colo
mel Hay may come at any time now.
Colonel Hay was our city boarder-s
gentleman who had been recommends
by his physicians to try the fresh, pin
breezes of the Shauwaugeenta noun
tains, and whom our rector had recon
mended to the ley Spring farm.
We were not rich, although mothe
and Leeman lad managed the farr
economically since fathers death
and the weekly addition to our incom
would be somtehing worth consider
ing.
The idea of city boarder was yer
pleasant too, and icy Spring farm was
very lonely spot, although we seidol
allowed ourselves to think OF that.
So. aftor little, 1 coaxed motht
and Leeman to consent, and the ne'
morning Lii and 1 were up long befol
dav-break, harnessing old Pomp an
getting ready for the days journey.
Bv the time the Red, level light
the rising sun touched old Pomp's grs
name with radiance, 1 was dnvir
through the Red Swamp, where Il
mamie trees. from which Ut took j
name. were all agIow with crimson bio
SONS. and the thrushes and robI
called ON one another with fute-ill
notes.
Well, | managed splendidly. kns
where was going when l started.
cold the russets TO the man who Ike
the Park Hotel, for 81 barrel, a
that WAS more than I. eman himself
ticipated.
BE careful you doa't get robbie
now said the man, as he watched
put the bills into my little portmonha
Robbed said 1 with laugh WI
who should rob mel?
oh, [ don't know, said the landio
There's always tramps and purSi
around. They're crop that dom
long to any particular season 9i
year -,
AsI turned away-I did not notice
at the time. but it came back 10
afterwari, as things do cone oack
sudden f1ash across the dark shield
memory man lounaing on the SIT
looked hard at me.
Il colored little and though1 W
self. He Will know me next tune
secs me- and then forgot all alb
II for had mothers black bomazine
match and Lis spring hat to buy
some dinner china to select, and the q
tors prescription for Leeman to MI
at the druggists, SO it was well on
seven when L turned old Pomps u
A. s-,barhs of the to