The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-12-06
A DAUGHTER OF THE GODS.

never saw her but twlce-there was no
thing visible but a slat sun-bonnet anC
pair of red angular elbows keepins
time to monotonoGs chant:
Mary and Marthy served tina Lawd,
Mary and Marthy served tha Lawd,
Mary and Marthy served tina Lawd
And l kin serve Him tew."
This was followed by a vigorous rub.
bing, the slat sun-bonnet tapping and
the elbows flying on home made rick.
ETY. pine wash board-for she was
washing, standing on bench and lean
ing over so far into the hot steaming
water that there was danger of hel
losing her balance and drowning. The
sound of the rubbing and splashing and
her own voice had prevented her hear
ing my approach, and she jumped like q
frightened partridge and looked at me
with frightened stare when addressed
her.
"Don't be alarmed, little one," /
said, 4 have only lost my way, and
stopped TO ask you where the hotel is. +"
She Wrung the water out of her. lean,
red hands, pushed back her sun-bonnet,
aud stepped off the bench
Dew you live at the tavern?" she
asked, putting her brown head over on
one shoulder like a bird, and looking a.
me with bright, inquisitive eyes.
Yes! What shame to let such a
child as you wash, you ought to be
playing With dolls," l remarked indig-
nantly.
She looked at me covertly from under
the lashes of her soft, shy eyes as if
wondering if I would do her harm,
drew her small form up proudly and
pointed to the mountain.
Keep rite on up; tha's your place
go whar the road turns, and yew'll site
the tavern.
She buried her head in the tub and
resumed her chanting:
Mary and Marthy served tha Lawd."
When l was half way up 4he noun
tain side | turned and saw her standing
bareheaded in the sun, looking after me,
but she was gone like a squirrel when
she saw me watching her.
The next time | saw her was when /
was looking for particular species of
beetle-I am fond of bugs and worms
and. being caught in a storm, sought
shelter in the first cabin, which was
hers! She did not open the door until
l had knocked and pushed number of
times.
''An' it's yew," was her laconic greet
ing, as she swung the old boards that
served for door and reluctantly admit
ted me. lE
There was fire on stone hearth
there was a very old man asleep on a
chair, and great brindled cat, with
green eyes, arched itself at his side.
The room was a clean, bright, warm
place, that was more picturesque than
had seen in the dreary place
called the Pocket country, which lies
between Kentucky and Virginia, and
where fate had cast me for few lonely |
weeks | looked every moment for
some woman to make her appearance
yet it would be hard to tell where she |
would come from, unless she had been
in the loft above. There was a curtain
hung across a small division of the
room, but it concealed nothing.
tDo you keep house here alone
With feythur and gran'feyther,"
said the child, -an'-Kedsie."
oh, your brother }"
She nodded her answer; sat on the /
bench and dried myself in the freight;
The old man reused himself and looked
at me with red, ferret-like
eyes, that had no lashes to their weak
ids; the little girl whispered to him
md he went to sleep again.
g How old are you?" I asked, when
We had talked little, and she was not
10 much afraid of me.
" What do you think ?" she asked,
n her quaint way.
looked at her small childish figure,
md guessed, "10?"
She laughed little and shook her
mall head.
l remarked the sharp curved chin
md ventured !" 15?"
" Try agen."
She threw back her sunburned hair
md looked full into mine with her
bright, restless eye.
(" Seventeen ?"--for l caught the
aim pS6 u WOLndu HdluIG III IHClA !
lear depths.
Yoh are all out" She sighed as
he spoke.
81 believe you are Sc" 1 said sharply,
here was such change in each move
nent of the little woman.
''Y lime 20" she replied in her childish
Toice.
/ think if she had said 100 I would
lot have been surprised, she was so
veirdly quaint and old. As we were
itting silent, she watching every move
nent I made, there was a great clat-
ering at the door, and she few, with
hat swift motion of hers. to open it.
There was loud, angry voice, which
he at once answered in her soft tones,
nd then a man stumbled into the room
nd without noticing me threw himself
n the low little bed and snored instant
y-an ugly, unkempt drunken man,
habbily garbed and forbidding looking.
It's feyther, she sighed, she's
Ooken agen; it's the mountain agoo
e's got, an it takes hslt rite sharp, SOS
e cannot do stroke Of work. Poh
syther."
And the old mani" / queried,
ointing to the slumbering figure in the
hair.
Gran'feyther. Hes. o. comfort toh
Ie mostly he hasn't the agoo, yoh !
e.
Do you take care Of theseg-these :
readful people had nearly said, but
heeked myself-.syour father and grand
lther?"
q Yes, an Kedsie. Wait till yoh
.e Kedsie.s
The first happy look had seen came P
ito her eyes. She was listening
ep was at the door; which open y
/, and 4 young, fresh, fairlooking e
an came safely in. He was rather
satIY dressed, but one look at his long,
nooth chin and open mouth, told the 2
orr He vas wisEiess.
But the girls face frightened into = G
InnY snlile she reached On tiptoe to d
IS the paIe. habby cheek Of her broth 81