The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-04
some carvings down my back, and you wouldn't

SONS eA.WlRs GOWN my BACK, and you wouldn't
81 gave him jolly thrashing and made him
eat one OF his own carvings. And the second
time saw you, Lefty, you cried because |
made you SIT In cherry tree aud wouldn't
allow yon to come down until you had eaten
the cherries had picked fpr you"
And my French governess cried also, and
said you had a bad heart"
80 she did. Well, the third time we met
you were grown up and wouldn't speak to me
at all, SO IL was my turn to be in Coventry"
And how about JerryP' ! asked, after Q
pause.
''She is in the sand pit probably. l tried to
upset the trap to save us from worse destruc-
tion. | didn't know exactly what to do,n
added Tom, ingenuously. But the old mare
disapproyed of my plans, aud split US, and
went went on g1 her way rejoicing"
$50 now you must walk home, LEFTY. Or
stay, let us go as far as that white farmhouse.
1t VIII do you good to rest bit, anyhow"
we walked awhile, and then, at turn in the
road, we came upon Jerry, quietly grazing by
the hedge, the broken reins hanging loosely
about her neck, and the old dogcart, scarcely
injured, still at her heels She allowed Tom
to go up TO her and stroke her neck and ey-
anime her hooks aud fetlocks with a learned
hand, and lead her (for she was not in the
least hurt in the direction of the farm.
Then IOm who was a master in such work
embarrassed Jerry and took her round to the
stables, tended her and washed her, and
mended the dogcart with sundry ropes and bits
OF wood, thereby earning the unbounded ad.
mlratlon and respect of half a dozen loutish
laborers, while | sat in the good wife's par
lor drinking tea and endeavoring to ascertain
the exact ages OF her nine children.
IL was late afternoon, almost evening, when
Tom and set out on our homeward drive
The aspect of the landscape had altogether
changed. The sun, though not We. set, was
ind hnp 49, Oh; i.
quiet sea lay like FURNISHED silver in the dis
lance. The g.eenness Of the earth seemed to
have given place to subtle and harmonious
tones of gray, and over our happy spirits had
fallen radiant veil of silent, calm delight
that was somewhat similar. Tom drove slow
"; every now and thea he turned toward me
his joyous, loving eyes, and l stole my hand
gently into his.
1t was dark when we reached home Aunt
Nab was in an agony of kindly solicitude,
anXiously expecting US.
"Wny, Letty-why, my dear, how late you
are!'
40, no, it is not late, Auntie, SURELY"
. But it is. Aud you have had such long
day, you poor dear2 and you have been with
Tom after all. Why, | was positively afraid
omehing had happened Has he been very
rude, my dear, and bothered you very much.n
20, Aunt Nab, Tom is never really rude"
Well, don't know; you said so yourself,
sometimes. But never mind, the longest day
comes to an end, child"
" Dear Aunt Nab, it has been lovely day!
only | am SO sorry it is over"
My aunt stared at me with undisguised
amazement
g Have you lost your senses, child z"
She did at one time,n said Tom. COM
posedly. But she has found them nown
And hen he laughed, a happy and very loud
laugh that somehow did no. jar upon my
nerves in the very least, and then he seized
hold of Aunt Nab by both hands and Rugged
her rapturouslv.
" The truth is, Lefty aud are going to be
married, and SO we mean to spend ever so
many long days together"
" Well" said Aunt Nab, as soon as she had
regained her breath, "peOple do say that it is
well to begin with "a little aversion
" But it was the dogcart," pleaded, inco-
herenty.
"Ah, see," said Aunt Nab, holding her
head
But she did not see, quite. For none but
Tom and | could possibly know how happy we
were at that time, and what is more, none can
know how truly and intensely happy we have
been since then. We never quarrel now,
never; | think we got through our quarreling
beforehand. Some folks get tired of their
love making before 10 e, but we have still
great deal of that in the future, | trust. We
have bought new dogcart and when Tom
and | go cOntentedly driving up and down the
steep Devonshire lanes, Aunt Nab smiles, and
calls us Darby and Joan. And sometimes
when Tom is in a quiet and poetic mood
(Which doesn't happen very often, by the by,
whisper to him softly, as l lean my face
against his broad shoulder:
"Dear Tom, let us pray that we may live
long years together, and then at last ! shall
say to you:
John Anderson, my 10, John.
We clamb the hill thegither;
And mOny a canty day, John,
We've had wi ane anither:
Now we maun tOtter down, John,
But hand in hand well go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson, my Jo."
-TentDJe Bur.