Barbour County index., 1884-01-25
S0PHY'S FRIGHT.

1t was March in the wild Maine for
eSts, but it might rs well have been mid
winter for all the appearance of spring
that there was in those desolate re-
gions. The pines and sprl,ces were all
bowed down with their weight of snow.
the "Sllent Lake" was frozen until it
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. it was very
lonesome, but the children Jumped and
danced about in the snow, and declared
! it was ''lovelv."
Aunt HepSv Smith lived there. and
took winter care of the little tavern
for hotel it could scarcely be called
while her son John, 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 Il time.
Mr.. Fay, who was Aunt Hepsy's
nephew, ha gone into partnership with
John in the numbering business, and
| had taken feet 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 until his return.
But never thought il was right out
in the wilderness" said she, or
wouldn't have come.
For Mrs. Fay had lived all her life in
! q city, and the frozen solitudes of the
country were a new experience TO her
'Oh. you'll get used to it, said
Aunt Hepsy ITS pretty gay in sum-
mer-time, when the city folks ali come
out here. La! you ought to see the
boats on the lake and little steamer
once a week.
Where are the boats now. Aunt Hep
sy?' asked Sissy, a plump little lass of
four years old.
"All locked up in the lighthouses,
half a mile off," Aunt Hepsy answered
''Are there any Indians in these
woods" 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 Hepsv.
''Once in a 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 a pint
of whisky. TH:re isn't nobody here
now but lum4rmen and trappers, and
that sort of people"
What do they set traps for?" said
Sissy mice?'
''Furred creatures. explained Aunt
Hepsy; martens and sables and minks,
and all them vermin-"
But in a few DAYS Mrs. Fay began to
be reconciled to the snow and the soli-
tude They kept great blazing fires in
the sitting-room, and Aunt Hepsy had
plenty of books i'm homemade book
ease, aud there came story papers everv
week from New York and Boston, for
John was a great reader when he was
at home. Aud 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 he had already marked for his
own.
wen 90 after the honey one of
these days" said he. ado you like
biscuits and honey?'
..Oh, don't | thought" cried Sophy,
,lapping her hands.
One day =. neighbor came to ask
Aunt Hepsy 10 90 half across the island
on his rude board sledge, to see his lit
tie daughter, who was very i'll with
iiphtheria.
''Of course I'll CO." said Aunt Hepsy,
'.but don't know much about the dis
ease"
Mrs. Fay did, however. Sophy had
once. been very i'll with it, and so she
volunteered to 60 also, and give what
aid she could.
Cant we go, too, mother?" 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
bow he had seen painter" in the
woods as he came down.
"A reg lar roarer.'' said he. THE
size of calf, most
s'What is painter?" said Sissy. 'Is
il tree?"
mo. it's panther. y said Mr.. Mutt
al. "a monster wild cat They're
dreadful fierce creatures, but you don't