Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-23
LIFE ON A FARM.
IN. Y. Truth. /

To one 10 had seen the crowd of al
most 500 children bound for country
homes and farm houses that left the
foot Of Christopher street as beneficial
ries of the Tribune Fresh Air Fund,
about month ago, and then looked up
on the same youngsters as they tFoOped
over the gang plank from the steamer
Belle Horton, early the other morning,
the conviction that he was actually
awake would have been tempered with
feelings Of doubt. Though, as was
remembesed, on their departure their
faces were clean and every eye sparkled
with pleasant anticipations, all their
countenances had torne that dull, lead
en-, tired-out look that told of life among
dusty tenenents and filthy streets and
alleys.
Il would have been hard to deny that
they were not country lads and iassies.
They had grown fat both in face and
form, Drowned by the genial rays of the
sun, and altogether we're the very pic
lures of ruddy health as they ran giee-
fully to greet the mothers and sisters
who had anxiously waited for them on
the wharf. They were safe again at
home, and the long days of anxiety to
the loving mother, though fieeting mo-
ments of enjoyment to the child, were
end d.
The majority of the little onss we're
girls, and almost all OF them carried
bundles nearly as large as themselves.
obtaining clothing, while Others had
curious little boxes which every on IN
while they would peep into. Not a
few mistOok the little red faced girls
and boys for miniature country dolls,
xUh ha Ay
idently thought he was looking at a lot
of newly arrived emigrants, said with a
laugh:
"Arrah. bat there's rs psriy lpt Of
futhura Americ ms AZ | ever see. By
the powers, they have bsen assisted
correctly"
One little girl, whose livsly nsaners
and rompina mood made her noticeable
among her companions. said:
"Oh, l had Q splendid tim,! What
did I do? Why, had fun. of oourss. |
was in Q big farmhouse where they bad
lots Of horses and cows and pigs and
chickens and--and--"
"What else?" :.
"Oh. lots of things. Aud then had
awful fun running around and soaring
the chickens. Did tell you they had
ohicAensg Well, they had a big lot.
There was one big rooster Who walked
me up every m .rniug-he made such
bic noise. Sometimes We used TO 60 and
meet some of the ether girls. and then
ve'd all 90 out looking for berries. Oh,
Won can get an awful lot of blackberries
M where l was. One day when We wen
mn got most four big cans full. | ate
A whole lot myself when nobody was
| looking, aud the next dsy--oh. ! was 30
awful Sick" and the little one gave her
| features Q nervous tvitoh that spoke
more than words the intensity OF her
| feelings and the vivid rcmem brancc OF
that next day. =.
"Tell him about the snake, Maggie" !"
broke In one Of the party.
"Oh, yea. I saw a mighty big snake
when we we're eerrying one day. was
stopping down TO pick up nice bunch
OF bic ripe ones, when right IN front OF
me saw something that looked lss the
twig wriggiing about Then | thought
] L must be snake. and gave an asful
bio scream. Ny pail was lying right
near me flied with berries. but didn' :
care for that, and ! just took u up ana
and"
KILLED him, I supposes"
1 No. ana buc tseAo tS"4>oe1
a. Tina vav she fooled the scribe. " tie
| iuss turned to one side and vrisgied
svay in the bushes 10 sosne hole that
muss have been uesr there, for looked
All over and con dn't sec him. The nexs
| time I hit a snake after this I'm going
| 10 hit him. and hard.
Many Of the kindly farmers Sers not :
satisfied with taking the few they bad
promised to provide for. bns begged for
more. Hugo picnic parties were gotten
10 for the children. and The air OF me
pleasant groves in the vicinity grew sn,ca
With the busy pr title and cl Utter OF tae
infautile tongues; tiny feet trod upon
the mossv 10 ks past which the giisssrina
waters Of winding BROOKS and rlyuiees
speed, aud the little calico-clAd ngures
raced after the frightsned squirrels and
handsome butterfdie@
/ Biueberryin2 WAS induleei at Fiat
Rock, near ca sxy whore there are io,uuo
acres OF the .uscius fruit
Il NATURAL PAss-Eugineer Sheet,