Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-12

I l.
got some put by IN paper bag.
took it one day. When they grow
will pick them I'll build house
big enough for us out OF boards, and
we'll never come back here again
FEVER"
Never O. dear!" and Jane began
10 cry. After awhile she said softly.
"Of course, shall bring the childY
Oh, yes" said Tom, and all of
your clothes,
Then they decided how they were
TO escape, where they were to meet,
how Jane was 10 make bold to ask for
an extra "piece" that day, pretending
the dog had stolen hers, and how Tom
was to hide half his dinucr in his
cap.
Then, as some summoning bell
rang they parted-Tom, bright and
! brisk with his new ambition, poor lit
( tie Jane, limp with fear and rcmorse,
( but determined to follow Tom whats
ever his fortunes might be.
At 10 that night Jane, with a tear
swollen face, little bundle OF colicO,
| frock and red flannel petticoat under
her arm. and "the child" clasped to
her heart met Tom at the big tree out~
side the poorhouse fence. There was
nothing 10 steal in the establishment;
so, as no one ever wanted to get 10, IL
was not very hard to get out.
Besides the child and the frock,
Jane had her bread ia a Bit of news
paper and Tom had made quite a buns
die Of possessions, lie had his little
bag of corn 3nd beans, a fire shovel,
| a shirt. his old shoes and a long stick
with a hook at the end, once the.h
die of an umbrella On this he slung
an their JOINT property, except the
1 doll and addressed Jane as follows;
Remember now, you are my wife,
and must do exactly as / say-thats
/ the law; and / must be good so you
and do all the hardest work; but you
must cook and mend for rae, and |
4 think you'd better begin 10 call me
husband right awav."
yes" sobbed Jane Goa. isn't it
dmkl'
No. said Tom; besides, if il is,
all the better Wen get into the
woods before they catch us. We shall
be out of town by daylight. "
Then they walked ol-DoOr Jane
stumbling often, but Tom held
i her hand and did not LET her tall AL
/ length the last little white house was
! passed; shen came the church with its
/ lall sppe, and then long palng fences
about bits of meadowlaud. They
we're in the country, but not yet ia the
woods, and both children We're grow
ing very sleepy and very Nred--so
very tired thai finally there was moth
ing for il but TO sit down on the gr8st
under a hay stack, with Toms mead
on James knee, and go fast asleep,
Sunrise awakened them. They ate
the bread and batter, started ON again
, aud ia q few hours the woods were AL
around them.
Were safe at last, cried Tom
Nobody can ever find us here. III
| build a house and plant my corr
right away. Do you know how long
Takes corn to grove And beans}
No" yeutured Jane, doubtiugly-
mot long, | guess. "
Il guess not, echoed Tom; "but
wish we had some more bread auC
butter"
BY and by the two explorers CAME
TO nice little spot in the woods clost
to q pretty brook II was very damp
but there was a clearing which was
easy TO plant Tom dug it over with
his fire shovel, and put in his beans
and corn in straightrows. Then viii
q knife that was his greatest treasure
ne cut underbrush and low branches
/ enough to make a queer Kind Of leafy
hut big enough for both to creep into
I'VE can eat outdoors. We shat
only want home at nights aud " her
| it rains, said Tom.
But Jane felt doubtful. Her little
flesh was black and blue already, anC
yet the grass was long in the bayfield,
here it was sparce and dry, Besides
she wanted her warm milk and waite
aud her slice of bread and butter. Ton
found some huckleberries near by
but that did not help the empt,
stomachs much, and even at sunse
the corn hadnot begun to grow nelthe
I'D the beans show their heads abov
tine earth Suddenly an awful though
struck Jane
when it grows, Tom" she cried
Eve haven't any saucepan to cook
in"
"More we haven't, said Tom. Thel
hope dawned upon him. eve coul(
, roast the corn, said he, and l be
there's an apple tree somewhere
They wandered about looking 70
the tree, or for more berries of som
/ sort, The tree did not appear but a
last they found some berries-just on
or two at tme-and the poor child
. rem had nothing else to eat. Hungr
Tom could have devoured his owl
shoes Meek Jane, before she la
down on the hard yet damp groung
e asked Just one question;
, DO yol think the beans will groy
, to>nlght Tom"
Il told you to say husband. sal
Tom; then added, graciously: yes
Ma, l suppose they wiz
< Then Jane put the child close /
e her cheek and slept the sleep Of tn
weary.
Good FARMER Morton and his nll,u1