Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-07-29


my own adventures great deal better
than any one can tell them for me.
That stands to nature. I'm not n
practiced writer, and don't know how
to produce what the fashionable au-
thors call "grand pen Effects" but
l believe 1 can make you understand
how it was, and that is all that is
necessary.
Leeman had spraincd his ankle
that is my brothcr-and he could not
go to town with the load of russet
apples that was already piled into
the barrels. and stood waiting under
the big red shed.
't It's too bad!" said he. "Thosc
russct apples are worth deal at this
time of year-and we shall miss the
market day!"
:" Can't you ask neighbor Hutton
to take thcm?'' said my mother.
/" Ncighbor Hutton is deal too
sharp a practitioner for me-" said
Leeman. q It's hard thing to say
about a neighbor, but can't trust
his honesty"
&c Mr.. Hall?"
g Hall would be casting it up in my
face for the next six months that I
had asked favor of him. said Lee
man. {; No, I'd rather lose the APP
pies than lose my Independence
But it's too provoking that L must
need have slipped on that piece of
orange peel, now of all times in the
world. l have been saving up these
apples all the winter with special
eye to this particular market day"
g Leeman, said I, ''I'II go.''
q Nonsense!' said Lceman.
/" But why not?' said I. Old
Pomp is as gentle as kitten, and 1
know every inch of the way perfect
ly."
g But there are the Red Swamp
Woods-the desolate stretch of three
miles, with never house on either
side Of the way, except that deserted
cabin where the old negro hanged
himself twenty years ago." argued
my mother.
I" Who cares for the Red Swamp
Woods" F" said I, valiantly. "Inever
was afraid OF frogs and whip-poor-
wills, and I'm not going to begin now.
Lii, will you 60 out and help me har-
ness, early in the morning, and
'sOh, 1 wish I was going too!
Can't 1 go, Kate?" cried lii, my
hoydcn young sister, with her blue
eyes glittering with delight at the
idea of anything unusual
''Stuff!" cried I, imperiously.-
"Of course you can't. Hasn't Pomp
heavy load enough without ninety
pounds of mischief loaded on? Be-
sides, you must stay at home and
take care Of mother and Leeman, and
finish the chintz curtain for the big
west chamber; for Colonel Hay may
come home at any time"
Colonel Hay was our city boarder
"a gentleman who had been recon-
mendcd by his physician to try the
fresh, pine c-scentcd breezcs of the
Shawaugconta Mountains, and whom
our Rector had recommended to the
Icy Spring Farm.
We were not rich, although mother
and Lecman had managed the farm
economically and we'll since fathers
death, and the weekly addition to our
income would be something worth
considering.
The idea of city boarder was
very pleasant, too, and Icy Spring
Farm was avery lovely spot, although
we seldom allowed ourselves to think
of that.
So, after little, I coaxed my
mother and Leeman to consent, and
the next morning Lii and I were up
long before daybreak, harnessing old
Pomp, and getting ready for the days
journey.
BY the time the red, level of the
rising sun touched old Pomp's gray
name with radiance, I was driving
through the Red Swamp, where the
maple-trees, from which it took its
name, we're all aglow with crimson
blossoms, and the thrushes and robins
called to one another with flute-likt
notes.
Well, I managed splendidIy.
knew where 1 was going to when
started. I sold the six barrels o1
russets to the man who kept the Par
ker Hotel for four dollars apiece, anc
that was more than Leeman himsel1
anticipated.
BE careful you don't get robbed
now," said the man, as he watched
me put the bills into my little Leather