The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-03-27

tdltt; oli'l ~ 40 OliOhS'
when you cum out here plese bring me
a prezent of sum collars for two puppy
dogs"
He did no say a word about being hap
Ply or unhappy, but Mamma was so clev-
er that she said she was quite satisfied
about it all, and she was never heard to
worry again about the extra blanket at
night. When the second letter came it
was another postal card, which read thus:
DEAR PAPA:-I've bawt a horse. He is
a Good Horse. | pade thirty dollars for
him. | havn't bawt him to ride, but to
speculate. You no you sed you would by
me a horse, and Idle like to sell you this
one for me to ride. You can hav him for
fifty dollars. Uncle Flip sez fifty dollars
is cheap for horses. He SEE you will find
it a bargain. And I GOOD keep the horse
I like and make twenty dollars on him.
Uncle Flip SEE it isn't often that a bargain
is a bargain for both sides. Let me no if
you want to by him on these condishuns.
Your affekshionet on,
WILLIAM G. LESLIE.
Two months later, the entire family
started to join Willie at the ranch. The
first days journey was very lovely; on the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad, through
the Susquellanna valley and among the
Allegheny mountains.
But don't see any 'chinery, Papa"
complained little Nora, after gazing stead
lily out of the window.
They could not imagine at first what
Nora meant; but they discovered at last
that, having heard them talk a great deal
about the beautiful scenery that they
were to see from the cars. she had suppos-
ed them to mean "beautiful machinery"
such as Papa had shown her once at the
American Institute exhibition.
Behind them in the cars sat a gentleman,
who, Mamma whispered, was Mark Twain.
But he hasn't said a single funny thing
all the way" complained Lillian on the
second morning. :for I've been listening
all the time"
''Of course he hasn't" explained Fred.
HE keeps his funny things for his books"
"And perhaps" suggested Lillian, she is
waiting to hear as say something funny, to
put that i'll his book. But | certainly
shan't;'' and Lillian closed her lips with
unusual emphasis, lest a witticism should
escape unawares.
"WiH he put us in his book, do you think,
Papa asked Nora, anxiously."
"Well, it is just possible he may say
something about a little girl who couldn't
find any machinery in the mountains, said
Papa, slyly.
Late in the afternoon of the third day
they stepped from the cars at last, to find
Uncle Philip waiting with the carriage, a
big team for the luggage, and Willie pranc-
ing about on the horse he had 'bawt."
Mamma" said he, solemnly, Its all
true,''
"What is true, my SOM
Everything that Uncle Philip said!'
And away he cantered or ''loped, as
they call it in Kansas. Tie visitors ex-
claimed at the beauty of the prairie; for,
although it was very early in the season,
and the trees had been still ~leafless when
they left New York, the prairie wild flow
ers were already in blossom, and as far as
the eye could see, the grass was studded
with brilliant portulacea.
'It must be Gods flower garden, Man,
ma. whispered Nora; 'for | don't think
any one else could plant so many"
What is that village in the distance,
PHILIPPE asked Mrs. Leslie, whenthey had
49,. v;;ao oJo,+ ta,, minutes
"Willie, called his un lie. ''your mother
wishes to know what that village is in the
d~istance?n
Willie almost rolled from his horse in his
amusement.
1T isn't a village, Mary" explained Mr..
Leslie. Its a fort, l can see the main
building of stone, and the American flag
floating from the top. Fort Harker. | pre-
sumo. Isn't it Fort Harker, Philip?'
willie" again called his uncle your
father says it isn't a village but a fort. He
thinks it must be Fort Harker."
This time they were quite sure Willie
would fall from his horse in the ecstacy of
his amusement.
''Why Papa, that is the ranch, and the
flag is our fag'"
Il bought that flag in New York, ex-
planned Uncle Philip. ''the day Lillian told
me that the young ladies in her school. who
expected to correspond with her this sum-
mer. wanted to know what the postage to
Kansas was. / can't have my nephews and
nieces think that in coming to see me they
are expat~iating themselves from the land
of the free and home of the brave"
The many buildings on the ranch-the
stables. eorrals. s~heep-sheds, hen houses,
t~ool-houses, piggery, water-tower, wind
mill. cook-house, and so on-did, indeed,
give the appearance of a thriving little vii
lage: and as Mamma entered the comforta-
BILE Westinghouse, she laughed to remem
Der her fears about Willie's ''roughing it
and having, perhaps, no extra blanket OF
cold nights. Next to her room was :
CHEEKY little room for Nora; but as the lit
tie girl had never slept quite alone, before
they were not surprised to hear a littl'
voice in the night calling:
mamma, are you there9'
Mamma answered in person, and as sh'
smoothed the pillow, said: