Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-07-13
MY TRAMP OF THE CYPRUS
SWAMI.

lures gooU deal better than any on
can tell them for me. TT at stands b
reason. ! ain not a practical writer
and don't know how TO produce wha
the fashionable authors call grand pei
effects" but | b5lieve l can make yol
u .derstand how 1t was, and that is al
mat is nee, ssary.
Leemau Lai sprained his ankle
that's my brother, aud he could not g
to town with the load of rus ,et ample
that were piled into barrels and stooC
waiting under the big red shed.
cts too bad" said he. "These ap
pies are worth deal of money at thi
time Of the year and wo shall miss tn
market to-day"
"Car' You ask neighbor Hinton tx
talk M ?" asked my mother.
Ishbur Hinton is deal too sharI
a ..,'tc ltioner for me-" said Leeman
CTS hard thing to say about neigh
Dor, bui can't trust his honesty"
"Mr. Hale"
"Hall would be casting it up in my
f ce for the next six months that haC
asked a favor of him." said Leeman.
"No, I'd rather lose the apples thar
my independence; but it's TOO provok
ing that must needs have slipped on
that piece of orange peel, now of all
times in the world. have been say.
ing up those apples with special eye
to this Particular market day."
"Leeman," said l, "I'll CO."
"Nonsense.
"But why not?" said l. "Old Pomp
is as gentle as kitten, and l know
every inch of the way"
"But there are the Red Swamp
woods ?" that desolate stretch of three
miles, with never a house on either
side of the way, except the deserted
cabin where the old negro hung him
self twenty years ago." argued my
mother
"Wbo cares for the Red Swamp
woods" said l valiantly. 81 never
was afraid of frogs aud whippoorwills,
and am not going to begin now. Lii,
will you go and help me harness early
IL the morning and"
son, l wish was going too! Can't
l go, Kate?" cried my hoyden young
sister, with her blue eyes glistening
with delight at the idea of anything
unusual.
"Stuff!" cried 1, impetuously. "Of
course, you can't. Hasn't Pomp a
heavy load enough without your ninety
pounds of mischief loaded on? Besides
you must stay at home and take care of
mother and Leeman, and finish the
chintz curtain for the big west cham.
Der, for Colonel Hay may come at any
time now"
Colonel Hay was our city boarder--a
gentleman who had been recommended
by his physician to try the fresh, pine
breezes If the Shauwaugeenta noun
tains, and whom our rector had recon.
meuded TO the Icy Spring farm.
We were not rich, although mother
and Leenan had managed the farm
economically since fathers death, and
the weekly addition to our income
would be something worth considering.
The idea of city DOarder was very
pleasant too, and Icy Spring farm was
a very lonely spot, although we seldom
ourselves to think of that.
So, after a little, 1 coaxed mother
and Leeman to consent, and the next
Lii and 1 were up long before
day-break, Harvesting old Pomp and
getting ready for the days journey.
BY the time the red, level light of
the rising sun touched old Pomp's gray
name with radiance, 1 was driving
through the Red Swamp where the
maple trees, from which it took its
name, we're all aglow with crimson
blossoms, and the thrushes and robins
called on one another with tlute.like
notes.
Well, managed splendidly. knew
where l was going when started. /
sold the russets to the man who kept
the Park Hotel, for 81 a barrel, and
that was more than Leeman antici.
pated.
"Be careful you don't get robbed,
now," said the man, as he watched me
put the bills into my little portmonnaie.
"Robbed," said with laugh. "Why,
who should rob me?"
"Oh, l don't know" said the land
ord. "There's always tramps and bur-
glars around. They're a crop that don't
belong to any particular season Of the
year"
AS 1 turned away-I did not notice it
It the time, but it came pack to me
Ifterward, as things do come back like
! sudden flash across.the dark shield OF
nemory-a man lounRing on the steps |
ooked hard at me.
SCI cOtored a little and thought to my
elf, he will know me next time he
ees:. me, and then forgot all about 1t,
or had mothers black bombazine to
match and LIPS spring hat to buy, and
ONE dinner china to select, and the
octor's prescription for Leeman to fill
ut at the druggist 5, oit was we'll on to
even when l turned old Pomp's head
omeward in the surburbs of the town,
With q feeling of citation which was
ute pardonable, when one considers
1y experience lin the marketing line
nd my exceptionally good success.
The sunshine was warm, and still on
be high road, and l was rather glad
t first when we came to the cool shad
WIS of the Red Swamp, where the
irds were all silent in the noon heats
nd the sweetest odors came floating up
rom the tangled recesses of fern and
owslips.
At once old Pomp SHE'D sideways,
is ancient idea of shying, and then |
aw a man, pale, dusty. and tired.
,oking, sitting on q fallen log, juet
utside of the road. felt sorry for
i'm; was like mother, who never
'ould let the shabbiest or meanest
)Okinp vapah0nd pO mast Our house i