The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-13
Our Young Readers.
SOPHY,S FRIGHT.

'gions. The pines and spruoes were all
bowed down with their weight of snow,
the "Silent Laken was frozen until II
shone like a sheet Of blue steel, and the
sloping roof of the '.Sportsman's Re-
treat" was covered WITH pearly masses
of whiteness. To Mrs. Fay, who had
come from a crowded city, 1t was very
lonesome, but the children jumped and
danced about in the snow, and declared
lit was "lovely.n .,...,-.,,. 80 ~.
took winter care of the little, tavern
for hotel it could scarcely be called
while her son John, o sturdy giant Of
two-and-twenty, was cutting down trees
on the mountain-side, and sometimes
did not come home for two or three days
at a time, > '''' D. 90 '' ''
Mr.. Fay, who was Aunt -Hepsy's
nephew, had gone into partnership with
John in the numbering business, and
had takenFa fleet of RATS down the
river, while his, wife had come TO this
solitary spot, with her two little girls,
Sophy and Sissy. to stay with good
Aunt Hepsy mtil his return. ~ -
"But never thought it was right out
in the Wilderness" said she, or
wouldn't have come. ''s.a.-a..f-
For Mrs. Fay had lived all her life in
city, and the frozen solitudes of the
country were new experience to her.
''0h. you'll get used to it,n said
Aunt Hepsy. "It's pretty gay in sum-
mer-time, when the city folks all come
out here. La! you ought to see the
boats on the lake, and q little steamer
once week"
"Where are the boats now, Aunt Hep
syP" asked Sissy, a aplump little lass Of
four years old.
"All locked up in the boat-houses,
half a mile off, Aunt Hepsy answered.
"Are there any Indians in, these
woodsP" said Sophy, who had just been
reading "The Last of the Mohicans," "
and whose little head was full of "Un-
cas-" and "Chingachgook." .
la, no, childr' said Aunt Hepsy.
"Once in while the squaws come
through, selling baskets, in the sum-
mer-time, and old Pia, who begs cold
victuals, was here once-a regular old
rascal, who would sell his soul for pint
of whisky. There isn't nobody here
now but lumbermen and trappers, and
that sort Of people"
"What do they set traps forP" said
Sissy" "miceP" 44l.,. .l..- a.f
"Furred creatures explained Aunt
Hepsy; ''martens and sables and minks,
and all them vermin."
But in few days Mrs. Fay began to
be reconciled 10 the snow and the soli-
tude. They kept great blazing fires in
the sitting-room, and Aunt Hepsy had
plenty Of books in a home made book
case, and there came story papers every
week from New York and Boston, for
John was great reader when he was
at home. And John promised to make
Sissy little ermine tippet the very next
ermine that he caught in his traps, and
described to Sophy fine bee-tree,
which ho had already marked for his
own. r"'
"We'll 90 after the honey one Of
these days" said he. "Do you like
biscuits and honeyp"
"0h, don't l thought" cried Sophy,
clapping her hands. .....-
One day neighbor came to ask
Aunt Hepsy to go half across the island
on his rude board sledge, to see his lit
tie daughter, who was very i'll with
D.. diphtheria.
"0f course I'll CO." said Aunt Hepsy,
'but l don't know much about the dis
case"
Mrs. Fay did, however. Sophy had
once been very i'll with 1t, and so she
volunteered to go also, and give what
aid she could.
Cant we go, too, motherP" said So
ply.
Certainly not" said Mrs. Fay. "Do
you want to catch the diphtheria
again"
So while the two women got ready
for the long, cold ride, Mr.. Nuttall-
which was the neighbours name
amused the little girls by telling them
how he had seen "painter" in the
woods as he came down.
"a reg'lar roarer!" said he. ''The
size Of calf, 'mostr'
"What is apainterP" said Sissy. sis
it a treeP"
"No, it's panther" said Mr.. Mutt
all. "a monster wild cat! They're
dreadful fierce creatures; but you don't
often see 'em this way unless they're
starved out Of the wilderness where
they prowl."
II should like to see painter" said
Sophy.
"Well, guess you wouldn't want to
SOC 1t the second time" said Mr.. Mutt
all. .. ..... .r...
Just then the women came in, all
bundled up like Arctic explorers.
"Be sure you take good care Of Sissy,
Sophy," said Mrs. Fay. "The supper
is all ready on the stove, and you
can choose which ever kind Of jam you
like, out Of the cupboard. John will
be home tonight. and he will look after
you until we get back tomorrow morn
ing" ,r t..
Sophy promised faithfully, and the
little girls kissed their mother and
Aunt Hepsy, and stood smiling at the
window until tho sledge had driven
away.
There was no doors locked or bolts
drawn; in these solitary wilds there are
no tramps nor burglars TO fear. Sissy
got out her paper dolls and began to
play with them, and Sophy curled her
self up near the FIRE TO read delicious
-story-book called "Alonzo and Melissa" !"