Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-31


much work.
1t was late the next morning when we
awoke.
"My tooth aches said Fan. "My
head aches said Helen. my eye
aches" said l.
We ate breakfast silently. We wan
dered out upon the piazza.
"How hot ~ How muggy How
horrid -
We famed away the forenoon.
"Lets go straight home" said decis-
i've Fan.
We went-three miles, then we nea rly
went-to destruction. Suddenly with
out word, Fan jumped out over the
wheel, and caught at the tug. "That
whiffletry," she gasped. Surely, 1t
was broken. There we were, three OF
US, alone in the woods, three miles from
any house, and the whiffletree broken.
We looked at each other, then at the
broken whiffletree, then at Susan. We
had never thought we should praise Su-
san for the only merit she possessed
that of standing still. But had 1t not
been for that merit, we must have come
to injury, as we were going up moder-
ate hill when the accident happened.
Helen finally volunteered to go in search
of some one. There is new barn
some distance back" she said, land
saw two teams in the woods" She went
back into the woods. She found the
teams, she penetrated quarter OF mile
into the thick growth, calling OCCASION
ally. But no one appeared, then she
came out into the highway, and went
back farther. Behind the barn in the
rank meadow grass, stood man now
ing.
"R.r-r.rr.r-r-r," trilled Helen through
her hand. The man raised his head.
"supper ready he called.
"No," answered Helen. "But we
have broken our carriage, and won't you
please come and help us :"
The man stared minute, then ne
shouted eyes," and started. And the
two came back together. He shook his
head when he saw the iron and the band
that had been placed about it by the car
penter, he asked where that was mended.
We told him.
"Not in South Paris, was sure OF
that, they do better work there. The
man that sent you off that way ought to
be shot. Horse skittish -: No, | calki-
late not by the looks. Travelling fur
Awful hot. Going to school" And
80 on /: all of which questions, we ans
wered with becoming urbanity. Then
he fastened that whiffietry" with the
halter, and, after producing piece OF
Irvine from his overalls pocket and
tying up the neck-gear, he pronoun-
ced us safe. "Yer'll get home all right
if yer do look ruther green" he said grim
ming. We thanked him rather shame
facedly.
We reached home. If you will be-
lieye me, it took Susan an hour and
half to do the three miles. But then Il
was "a hot day, and she perspired freely
When we came into our little hamlet
the summer boarder next door, put he
handkerchief into her mouth, and retired
precipitately. "What is the matter ?
asked Fan courageously enough unde
the circumstances. Then Susan stopped
at our door, and we looked at her and a
each other. She was black and whit
and gray and brown and yellow, that Is
she was spotted with all these color'
The perspiration was running in httl
streams dow her legs, and her ding
name lay fat and rough over her neck
Her head threatened to hit her fore legs
and it is my private opinion that sh
dozed. while we dozed, those last thre
miles. The old harness was ludicrousl
yariepated with the Irvine, and halte
which made a clumsy bunch on tt
/" whiffietry." We sat disconsolate an
heated, Helen, on a little stool, in front
holding tight the reins, l cannot 50
driving shs had let fall her two massl'
brsids which hung gipsywise over h
shoulder, and her head was uncovered
Altogether she looked least bad of II
three. Fans nose dropped detected
ordinarily she holds it high in the
I her hair fell in "scolding locks ov
r the handkerchief that had been so viii
> two days before. The whip she he
o listlessly, occasionally jerking it throut
n air. She had turned her shoulders
Z me. who had also turned my back to K
j and we sat looking at the landscape tn
g fell to our respective sides. ..,..
70 "Isn't it funny" said Helen fainf
/. pointing to Susan and laughing feeb
..xuall and have we been three d.