The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-02-09

Dick was to be at the turnstile with
fast team, and 'Gatha was to be un-
bagged and given into his care at that
point.
Six o'clock came. 'Gatha had been
up for two hours, and had breakfasted,
and betaken herself presumably to the
barn, but was in reality in the upper
hall, attired in a neat, gray travelling
dress, with most bewitching bonnet,
on the side of which dropped two
dainty pink roses.
"There comes Mr. Tidle Betsy,' said
the old lady, from the kitchen window
You 90 to let him in, and be sure he
takes the right weight of them balls,
and don't break the balustrade bring
ing the bag down. III stand at the
window and see it safe in the wagon.
There's no telling where these men
folk will bring up to-
"All right um," said Betsy, her
heart in her mouth, for fear the old lady
would take it into her head to come up
stairs Coming down, not an hour ago,
she had pounded and felt every ball in
the bag, and 'GatEa thanked fortune
she was not in it.
Betsy went up stairs, and let Mr..
Tidle in. The bag was quickly emptied.
The balls were thrown heller 'skelter
into Betsy's room, and 'Gatha, smiling,
trembling and blushing, was sent swift
ly and deftly in to take their place, gray
dress, pink roses, and all"
"La sakes !" exclaimed Betsy, "she
don't no way fill the thing up. Hold
the top, Mr.. Tidle, while l get ball
or two to give it lumpy look"
Three or four balls were placed about
'Gatha.
"That's enuf," said Betsy, the bun
net'll look like another, and soon
'Gatha, shaking with suppressed laugh
ter, was born down stairs by the faith
full Betsy and Mr. Tidle. On the way
out to the wagon, Grandma's voice
from the raised kitchen window called
out;
"Mr. Tidle"
"Well, nam p
| w dlI d IuOlutnt. Whhe w wi
you about the weaving"
".All right, 'um, "soon's / get this
pesky bag inter the waggin."
'Gathas heart beat again, as she felt
herself lifted from Mr.. Tides shoulder
and laid safely on her back in the bot
tom of the wagon. Mr.. Tidle took hi.
} penknife and cut small breathing
place and then hurried back. His
conversation lasted ten minutes, anG
then he was off at a steady trot dowr
the road. his precious burden safe.
"Betsy," said old Mrs. Forsythe, re
turning to the kitchen, sure's you live
l heard rats jumping about overhead
: while you were up stairs. Don't forget
to let the cat in tonight"
. "No, 'um," answered Betsy. Rat
, is a great trouble, an the cat'll soor
clear them out
Late that night Betsy gathered VI
r the poor offending balls, whose rolling
| about as they were quickly throwI
into the room that morning, had caused
l the old lady to think them rats, and
putting them into sheet, placed then
: into the hand of Mr.. Tidle who wa
waiting at the turnstile for them.
"Pesky business thatpesky business
!. Miss Betsy" he said. "But, la sakcs
v didn't they get off nice. She came ou
8 O that bag as sphinx an span as sh
went in, and would you believe it, tn
8 pink roses in her bunnet weren't crush
: ed al all. / guess they're merried b
this tlme l WONDER softly, "if we
have such a time, Miss Betsy, if "
r lined hands? And what do you thin
o Il saw a bunnet like Miss 'Gatha
# down to Jake Prall's, an I'll git it ft
r, you if you'll agree
Betsy agreed, got the "bunnet,' an
s was happy ever after.
e Old Mrs. Forsyth never could fiji
], out how 'Gatha got away. In time 81
d partly forgave her, but for years 81
10 would not design to notice he
Is 'Gatha was very happy, and never h'
=, cause to rue the day she substitute
's herself for bag of rags.-Democrat