The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-17

fail e>n laughed the old lady, in high feather
at the success of her story
"No, Move mean the horse shouted
Geoff. while the others roared at the mistake.
Yes, they did. Poor old Buck saved US at
the cost of his own life. His troubles were
over, but mine were not; for when / came to
| saw Mr. Beaman. and my first thought and
word was Joe?'
".Too late-they'd got him, so we turned
back to tell you, said that stupid man.
. gave one cry and was going off again,
when his wife shook me, and says, laughing:
90 You little goose. He means the folks
from the Majors lot came along and found
joe and took him home, and soon's ever you're
fit Wen send you along, too
I'm ready now says /, jumping up IN
hurry. But i had TO sit down again, for my
feet were all cut and bleeding, and my slippers
just rags. They fixed me up and Oft | went,
to find mother in a sad taking. But Joe was
all right; he hadn't broken his leg, but only
sprained it badly, and being the wounded one
he was laid up longer than I. We both got
well, however, and the first time Joe went out
be hobbled over to our house. | was spinning
again then, and thought | might need my we'd
ding outfit after all. On the whole, guess
We'll end the story here; young folks wouldn't
care for that part"
As grandma paused, the girls cried out with
one voice: Yes, we do we like it best You
I.
all'
'Well, we'll, it isn't much Joe came and
sat by me, and, as we talked over our adven-
ture, lie cut that true lovers knot between the
letters. / didn't seem to mind, and spun away
till he pointed to it. saying with the look that
always made me meek as lamb May it
stand So my little Betsey?'
I" j said Yes, joe and then-well, never
mind that bit we were married in June, and
spun and wove my wedding things afterward.
Dreadful slack, my mother thought, but l
didn't care My wedding gown was white
lutestring, full trimmed with old lace. Hair
over cushion with white roses, and the pearl
necklace, just as you see up there Joe wore
| his uniform, and | tied up his hair with a
white satin ribbon. He looked beautiful, and
so did II
At this artless bit of vanity, the girls smiled,
but all agreed that grandma was right, as they
looked at the portraits with fresh interest.
call that a pretty good story" said Walt,
with an air of an accomplished critic
Specially the wolf part. | wanted that
longer" added Geotf.
1t was quite long enough for me- my dear,
and l didn't hear the last of it for years Why,
one of my wedding presents was four hams
done up elegantly in white paper, with posies
on 'em, from the Major. He loved joke, and
never forgot how well we fought with the pigs
legs that night. Joe gave me new sleigh, the
next Christmas, with two wolf-skin robes for
| it. Shot the beasts himself, and / kept those
rugs till the moths ate the last bit He kept
the leavings Of my slippers, and / have them
still. Fetch EN- Minnieyou know where
they are'
Grandma pointed to the tall secretary that
stood in corner and Minnie quickly took a
box from one Of the many drawers. All the
heads clustered around grandma, and the
faded, ragged shoes went from hand to hand
! while questions rained upon the story-telleI
till she babe them go to bed.
Nothing but the promise of more tales would
appease them: then with thanks and kisses
the young folks trooped away, leaving the old
/ lady to put the little wheel to rights and sit
thinking over her girihood, in the fre-light.-
ST. Nicholas.