The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-12-29

been made up.
Two boys on the end Of the piazza
were discussing proposed excursion,
while the sister of one, slight, bright
eyed girl of II, stood listening to their
plans.
ave can go and take our luncheon
with US just as well as not, said Tom,
the elder of the two.
"But it will be an awful climb, and
you don't know the PATH" replied
Stanton. Beside, Cassie can't go so
far"
Leave her at home, then; girls are
no good anyway" said Tom, rudely;
then, remembering himself, he added,
Il beg your pardon, Miss Cassie, /
didn't mean exactly that, but you know
girls always give out on an expedition
of this sort"
"Just you try me- said Cassie, not in
the least put out, for she was accus-
toned to boys.
"Well," said Tom, reluctantly, II
suppose we must. But you will be
tagged out in less than no time, and
then you'll want one of us to go home
with you"
"If do I'll promise not to go again
all summer. What are you looking for,
Stanton?'
MY AK, to blaze the trees; you don't
want to be lost, do you?"
"No, of course / don't. Then you
will take me? Good. I'll go after the
basket and my pressing-book for ferns.
Shall get anything to read?"
r. 70 IN, ha
woods? There's always lots to do"
Cassie thought differently, and
slipped little thin volume beside the
bread and cake and fruit which the
housekeeper gave her.
The boys meanwhile had whitfield
three fresh sticks, and attached their
knives and drinking cups. Their object
was to explore certain fastness of the
woods which had no road through it,
and to reach mountain-top, the crags
of which had seemed to look with scorn
upon them all summer.
Tom was very much vexed that Cassie
had heard their desire and shared it,
and he was not disposed to be at all
gallant. Stanton, being fond of his
sister, was more concerned lest she
should be, as lie phrased it, tagged
ont" So for a while their walk was a
silent one.
Cassie did not care. She was not one
of the pouting sort who shrug their
shoulders and get huffy. She knew she
was strong, and she hadn't time to waste
on little mors and moods, and then
she had so much to do. There was her
collection of butterflies, her pressed
flowers and ferns, her acorn work and
her pine cones, frames to make for her
sketches, and, beside all this, she was
crocheting Tam O'Shanters" for the
boys.
Their path first led them through
pasture land and stubble, over fences
and stone walls. Then they plunged
into the thicket which was dense and
brambly, and very rough every way.
And now Stanton's AK became of use
For you know we will want to get
home again" he said, as he gave Wig
orous cut here and there on each prom
inent tree and this il the way hunters
always do"
AS he spoke he struck what APP
peared to be decayed trunk, when in
stantly out few swarm of angry bees.
A ringing laugh from his companions
was soon followed by an ominous ST.
lence, for all found themselves sur
rounded by the disturbed insects. Cas-
sic, thinking discretion the better part
of valor, hurried away with her dress
over her head, but the boys had q hard
fight to get OFF; as it was, both were
stung, and had to apply mud poultices.
This did not increase their good nature,
and the sun was now adding to their
! discomfort.
Cassie began little song, but tho
way was so steep and the rocks so pre-
options and slippery with pine needles
and moss that her notes died away for
want of breath. She was getting very
tired, when Stanton complained OF
hunger, and Tom espied brook, so
! they all concluded to make O halt and
refresh themselves. After the rest and
luncheon, with many draught Of the
delicious spring water, on they again
! toiled and now they seemed to have
overcome the worst troubles of the way.
The underground which had been so
dense decreased; broad patches of
huckleberry bushes offered their fruit ;
velvety MOSES and nodding ferns made
the way beautiful; and here and there
through the trees came glimpses of the
mountains stretching away in the blue
distance. On the top OF the crags
which lay before them was an old leaf
less tree which had been scathed by
lightning. Up this the boys proposed
TO climb, and fasten a little flag they
had with them; so, hurrying on, they
left Cassie to more slowly overtake
them.
The spot was so pretty that Cassie
fingered, picking leaf here and there,
and listening to the soft whisper Of the
breeze. Suddenly crash, rs Of fall
ing bough, arrested her attention; then
cry of alarm, succeeded by as sudden
silence. Hurrying forward, she
found Tom bending over Stanton,
who was lying all in heap at the foot
OF the tree.
"What is ia fall9 Il be dead p
she cried.