The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-19

dogs "ueed" a coon. One day while old Peter and his wife were away from home, attending . political barbecue, McBrail, in ssrolling through the woods, came upon Sue, who, alone, was amusing herself by swinging on a grape vine. At his approach, she started, leaped from the vine and was about to run away, when he said;
 @Come, Sue, don't leave so abruptly" She stopped and turned her beautiful eyes upon him, and, in her embarrass- ment dropped a book. Eager to see what she had been reading, he advanced quickly, caught it up, and read the title, @Silas Marner.n "What," said he in astonishment, do you read George Eliot ?"
 "Yes," she replied with an air of em- barassment.
 "You need not be ashamed. There never was a nobler writer than George Eliot Her every line is a chain of thought"
 She looked at him with a grateful ex- pression.
 "It is a novel," she said, and most people, though why cannot tell, think that it is a sin to read novels. have noticed, though, that good books, like this one, are mainly condemned by peo- pie who like to read of robberies aud murders. My father is opposed to every class of fiction, but why, am unable to determine, since he has never read anything"
 @Sue, you astonish me, had no idea that you had su uffioent training to appre- ciate literature"
 My little training was stolen in odd hours. Here is my library" and remov- ing stone from the base of hollow tree, she displayed collection of books. "I washed all day for this one," taking up a copy of Milton's works.
 "My goodness, girl, you should not keep such books hidden out here. am sure your father would not object to them."
 "Yes he would, for, not knowing one book from another, he is an enemy to them all. Like hater of mankind, he makes no distinction. have seen noth- ing of the world, and have been taught that books-all except the bible-have been written by bad people Twas grieved when you came among us, for, Icing a preacher, l thought you would keep a close watch of me and deprive me of my only pleasure. tried to make it disa- greeable for you. I caused those boys to fight you" she added with laugh, and l threw the yellow cat on your bed the first night after your arrival"
 |" He did not reply for several moments. Then he said: ", forgive you. do not blame you, for you acted rightly. sup pose that had the appearance oi being stilted.n
 " am ashamed of myself now," she rejoined, 4 for you are so different from what expected. A person who learns language from books, has nc idioms of conversation. I, having learned polite ness from old books, have no idioms of society, so, if do not conduct myself properly, you must forgive me-" and ad- vancing, she gave him her hand.
 No studied form of socie:y could be 70 delightful as this" he replied, taking her hand in both of his. She blushed, gently withdrew it, and said five can now read together. know my narrow mind edness has startled you but"
 "Your wisdom has impressed me"
 "Oh, no," she laughed. "You must not make fun of me. Let me return my book to the library and we will go to the house."
 When the "old folks" returned, she flew to meet them, and springing on her mothers horse rode the animal to the stable. She was no lenger shy, and at the supper table, she took it upon her self to see that the proper attention was shown to McBraiL When she addressed him, she spoke in grammatical terms, but, in speaking to member of the fam- lily, she employed the idioms of the neigh borhood.
 Pap," said Avery, Sue tries to talk like Yankee sometimes, don't she P
 @Les yer vidduls stop yer mouth," the old man replied, and, the old lady, whose perspiring face shone from behind the cofiee-pot, said:
 Why, Avery, ye make Sue blush."
 "Whut's blush ?' asked the youngest boy.
 It's turnin' red, you geese" replied