The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-03-30
LOOKING TWO WAYS.

swung himself to the front platform Of
slowly-moving Third avenue horse
car. pulled up his ulster collar, pulled
down his scalskin cap and faced the
storm with tho enjoyment known only
tired and cold and cross.
Fine snow Storm repeated the fat
man cheerfully. Regular Old-fashion-
ed snow storm. Makes one think OF
old times"
you may call it fine. call il all
fired unpleasant" said the driver. yank-
ing AZ the reius as the near horse slipped
on the snowy cobble-sioncs. "Finc fur
them rs likes il. an hain't got nuthin
I do but { enjoy it. S'pOse v ask them
bosses their opinion NV yer fine storm.
They seem t be- enjoyin' NV it. don't
thcy?"
1T is hard on the animals. that's a
fact said the fat man, his cheerful
face lenSthening triilc as he watched
the stcaming horses strain at the load.
"A was thinking of the country Such
a snow storm in the country is Il fine
thing, now. isn't it,"
you amt no hay seed said the
driver, looking ut the fat man.
but used TO be-. Happicst time of
my life" and the cheerful face beamed
again.
GLOW wc boys did enjoy such storm.
hanging low all day. and then after
noon the big flakes beginning to come
slowly down. We could zee them
through the schoolhousc windows. and
how uneasy the sight made us feol."
Not half s'uneasy ~ yer school NON
made We feel. I'll bet"
''And then whom school WAS out"
continued the fat man, not needing the
interruption. show We dashed through
the storm on our way home, with shouts
Of happy merriment, tossing the fluffy
wilderness into the air, throwing our
selves full length into tho fleccy. downy
drifts, getting"
''Gettin' Yer face all-iired we'll wash
cd by the big boys. an bellerin' like n
sick steer when We got plugged in the
car 18th q SNOWFALL 18th stun into it."
land then what pleasant excitement
and unusual hurrying there was on the
farm. 1t grew dark early. The cows
were driven into the warm stables and
stood cOntentedly in their stanchiOns,
calmly chewing their csds; and"
''An' when yc went to milk 'cm by
the light NV n taller candle stuck into
an ole tin lantern punched full o. holes,
the one-eyed brindle jest natcherly kick
cd the pint an half o strippins in yer
pail galley west"
m. co. u,a,, 1;l ,,rs oaar, o., k.ol IL,
Interruptions. Perhaps they supple
mented his own happy thoughts so COM
pletely that he thought they were his
own thoughts.
"Yes." he said. looking over the
horses ears into the past "Yes. The
barn is retiolent with the smell of hay
and the sweet breath Of the cattle The
horses stand in their stalls munching
their oats"
(Which the same they is tailins what
yer old man couldn't sell. they bein'
light weight.
..ln the yard the children shout in
their innocent glee US the snow comes
down. Even the staid old house dog
seems to rejoice with them. and jumps
and banks and snaps playfully at the
big feathery flakes rs they fall softly in
the twilight, only ceasing-'
"Only ceasin' to chaw playfully on
the leg of q tramp as is sneakin' softly
into the barn in the bootiful twilight"
Within the farmhouse the lamps
are burning brightly. The aged grand
father draws his armchair closer to the
ample fireplace, and"
AN swares that the storm amt u
circumstance TO tn big snow that cum
hundud an 'leven.
The farmers buxom daughters cheer
fully prepare the abundant evening
meal
"Cold pork an pertaters and pie"
1.-The farmer and his boys gather
round the grooming board. their
"Thcir butes smellin' considabul hos
sy."
"And talk OF the storm and of the
work for the morrow. 1t will be just
the day to 60 to the wood lot, says the
farmer; and they must not forget to
take load of wood to the poor widow
in the valley, and"
AN send the parson cord o. crook
ed tops, that won't sell. to offset the
pew rent, and so keep solid with tn Al
mighty"
''And after supper he goes out to the
stable and gives his pet bay colt some
extra bedding, and
IAN cusses constable irwin to git
the las fall burdocks outer his tail
1.-The girls go To the window and
watch the falling flakes, and talk of
cuttings and candy pulls and straw
rides"
"Now yer shoutin'," said the driver.
"i've struck yer gait"
"And SO the night closes in upon the
happy household. The supper dishes
are cleared away; the farmer smokes
his pipe by the fire; the good mother sits
knitting by his side"
"Blue-striped mittens fur the boys"
1.-The children steal of sleepily to bed
to dream of the pleasures of the NOR
row. Without the snow falls steadily.
Little drifts gather at the windows, and
larger ones around the horseback and
One by one the members of
the family 60 to their peaceful beds.
The farmer last of all. He covers the
fire in the fire place, winds the clock.
and
Turns out the dorg an looks at the
weather."
"And then. he. too, seeks the repose
that follows honest labor. And then all
is quiet, save the low murmur of the
wind through the leafess trees, the soft
pelting Of the snow on the windows, and
~
"An' the hired man in the kitchen
chamber q snorin' fit to raise the ruff"
DRIVER" said the fat man as he got
out at Ninth street, ''you appear to
have seen something of the country
yourself Ehp"
"Mep Do I look like q grangerp
Nav, SURGE! I'm a dock In disguise,
am. G'long thar. Baby; steady, Jim"
-Neso YORK. Sun.
Plantation Philosophy.
dc chile what yer fakcs de mOa' carf,