The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1882-01-13

hair is most woody enough And sf
shook back her tangled curls
How would you like TO go back [
Boston with me, and take lessons j
singingY asked Mrs. Hayward. Mill
opened her eyes with wide astonisl
ment.
why, Auntie, don't need to lear
to sing. L always knew how. l Though
you had heard me-
You see how she is,' said Edit
When she makes up her mind to any
thing, there is no changing her. Sh
never storms or acts naughty, like 9th
er children. but she will say. with tn
air of sage: No, Edith, can't
ought not tor or, Yes, Edith, must
! ought tor and there she will stay
Papa says she is made of the same met
al as heroes and martyrs, and dom
know but he is right
Mrs. Hayward remained in he
brothers home from early June unit
August, and every day Milly grew
more and more into her heart, Till tn,
childless womaN felt that she mus
have the little Western flower to bright
en- her city homo. But Milly was firm
in her refusal. EaE
Il cannot leave papa she would say
He has the first claim on me-
One day in the summer, she had gone
some distance from home, to pick ber'
ries, when there arose one of those ter
rible storms so common in some parts
of the west; lightning and .,ain, &c.
companied by furious wind. While
the family were i'm great distress over
Milly's absence, she came gallOping
home on pet COW. When questioned,
she answered.:
Il heard Brindle's bell just before the
storm came on, and l knew the COWS
were all going down to the Fork, to
drink, and their path leads right
through the berry-path. So | waited
II minute or two, till they came fling
along. and then jumped right on Brin.
dies back. knew by the clouds that
we were going to have blow, and l
thought she was so big the wind
couldn't carry her off, andI meant to
hug her tight and lie low, so wouldn't
blow away. And you see succeeded.
My berries are all right, though she
added gayly. Il hid them in an old
hollow cottonwood tree, and III go and
get them after the storm is over
Were you not frightenedP p asked
Edith, as she helped Mlliy change the
drenched clothing.
Yes, Edie, l wac" she answered. sob
erly, and | prayed little prayer;
but didn't forget to cling tight
AT length the time came for the BOs-
ton aunt to 60 home. 1t was arranged
that Edith should accompany her
father. as he drove with his sister thir-
ty miles, where she was to take the
eastern bound train. They were to
remain day in town, for the purpose
Of shopping, returning on the third.
AS Mr.. Morgan kissed his pet daugh-
ter goodbye. he said, play fully: Now,
Pussy, you must take good care Of
things while Papa is gone. Everything
is very dry and there have been fires
west of us; but Patrick and Hannah
are faithful and youDare worth half
dozen any day. j
Don't worry, Papa said Milly, gayly.
Just go and have good time. We
shall be all right
The morning of the third day was
clear and pleasant. a breezeIfrom the
opposite directiou during the night
had blown away the smoke, and with
it went the fear from the heart of the
poor old black woman. Pat, too, was
in good spirit, though, in his way, he
had been as lugubrious as Hannah. So
they al went to work with good will.
Pat was reshingling barn; Hannah
was baking, for She declared she must
do heaps o cookin' before Mars Nor
gan and Miss Edith should come; and
Milly was acting as little maid Of all
TO the sable cook. She washed dishes,
buttered pie-plates and cake-tins, ac-
casionally leaving her work to dart in
to the sitting-rOom, to assure herself
that everything was in order for the
homecoming of her loved ones.
"Gwine to ride up In do chariot
sooner in de mornin'" " '
she sang. But harkl What was that ?
A cry of terror or distress. She flew
to the door. followed by Hannah.
They saw Patrick crawling toward the
house on his hands and knees.
The prairie is on firep he shouted,
adding, Immediately: 'Howly Mother,
be merciful! for It's helpless l. am in
tirely.'
The prairie was indeed on fire,though
at some distance. Pat, from his perch
on the barn, had spied it. aud, in his
haste to get down and give the alarm
had slipped to the ground, severely
spraining an ankle.
'Ye must BURN a sthreak, Miss Mil
ly, and jist as quick as ever We can, toi
the fire is a.coomin' like an express
tbrain.'
Milly understood-she had Otter
heard of it and already the matches
aud some bits Of paper were in hel
hand.
Where, Pat ? she called.
Out forninst yon wire fnce. III
dhraw wather, and Hannah must car
ry it to shprinkle the ground this sid,
yer dre.' And Patrick dragged him
self painfully to the well.
Milly did as she was told and every
thing succeeded bravely. The frigh
had wonderful effect on Hannah'
rheumatic limbs. and she carried wa
ter on the double quick. On came tn
great fire. nearer, and nearer. Mill,
could hear the roaring and kissing o
the flame, the trampling and snortin,
of horses. and the believing of cattle
az tlleyeraced for life. At the righ
and left of her fire they passed, but tn
child scarcely noticed them. She dim
| ly saw, through the smoke. severa
gaunt prairie wolves dash by; but |
seemed perfectly natural and she ha
no thought of fear. She was savln
her home
With wet blankets she whipped bac
| the fire. when IL Threatened to com