Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-11-12
THE OLD SLEIGH.
"Lizabeth!"

Tile OLD SLElGH.
"Lizabeth!'' -
Coming" 1s,...
'There, mother, old Speckle has re-
burned thanks at last" holding up a
plump white egg that would do credit to
any queen Of the poultry yard.
"Well, I alters said that hen was
thankful for past mercies, though your
ather would laugh every time said
80. Liddy Stephens has just been
here; she wanted to see you, but you
was gone solong that l thought you
must be down to Mis- Pencils"
"Yes, 7 met her as she came though
the yard"
"she didn't tell you the news, did
shewt
"she told me Win Marston had re-
turned from California"
1T does beat all bout that boy
seems jest like the piece O. poetry you
read sometimes about the teller that
went off and stayed so many years
and then come back and took his
mother out O. the poor-house-only
It's the father this time. The very
worst OF the deacon's Six it called him,
and that's jest what Will was then.
never believed he had anything to
do with that scrape down to the vii
lage. Liddy says he's terrible rich,
and is going to take care OF his father;
the deacon must be glad, for l guess
he's stayed with Caleb most as long
as he can comfortably. They say he's
going to marry Sam Miller's darter
Ruth. You see, when Bob Miller went
out there for his health Will found
him out and done little kindncsses for
him, and, when he was too sick to
write home Will wrote for him. Part
o. the time Sam was sick hisself, so
Ruth answered the letters, and he fell
in love with her in that way. There
didn't anybody but the deacon and
the Millers know he was coming.
Sam drove down to the depot and
carried him up to Caleb's. Guess
they was some surprised to see him. ="
There IS no knowing how long Mrs.
Allen would have gone on, her tong.,.
keeping time to the busy click-clack of
her needles, had not Mr.. Allen step
sounded on the walk.
Elizabeth never talked r.."n, and
the mother did not mind ~ silence
tonight. A slight CULVER about the
sensitive mouth alone told how keen
ay the words we're felt, and the sigh OF
relief which escaped at the welcome
sound of her fathers voice was lost in
the noise made as he entered, stamp
ing the snow from his boots.
"Why, father, does it snow? T ben
50 busy talking I hain't thought to
look out OF the window for some
time"
Eyes, it's begun to come down right
smart; shouldn't wonder ifit was good
sleighing by tomorrow"
"You don't think it's going to be a
long storm?"
Mrs. Aliens face had All anxious OK
preston as she asked the question, for
a long storm meant days OF exile: for
her
mo, l sh'll be surprised if it don't
clear up by tomorrow noon, go Liza
beth and | can take ride to the vii
lage; that'll be a. treat. won't it, dar-
terri" And the smile that lighted Up
his daughters face pleased him better
than any answer could have done.
"Guess I'll get the old sleigh out.
Ben Smart's ben down to the city and
he says he saw LOIS jest like it. It's
five years since | sent Jim to the vii
lage for the new one, and it's never
ben out since. I'm glad it's comeinto
fashion again, for never enjoyed my
self complete in the new one-always
felt a little above my station" And
Farmer Aliens laugh rang through the
old sitting-room at the fitness Of his
remark. A.. ls.s f3a
"Well, Elizabeth, you get supper on
the table, and I'll tell father the news
while he warns his feet. He's ben
down to the wood-lot all the after.
noon and hain't heard nothing Of the
strange things that has ben happening
up here ''3}p5 4 54s. s, ssr5x ,..S, :. .#~
. Having arranged things to her salts
faction, the stocking Mrs. Allen had
dropped on the entrance Of her hus-
band continued to grow under her
deft fingers, while the news lost none
OF it's interest with repetition.
That night, after Elizabeth had
taken her candle and said good night,
Mr.. Allen sat for some time ooking at
the fire. then sud- denly broke out: ".
Mother, dom you think 'Lizabet
looks kind o. peaked u tely7? Then.
she don't seem. to- eat as much as U.S.
ual. ss 5s# s5t5 &
s There, father, you're always fret
ting bout that girl. ] don't know
what you'd q done if you'd had six,
like your brother Jonathan. z
i didn't know but the news about
Will might effect her some. You'll know
they used TO think 30 much 81 eachi
other IS
81 assy. atherl that was years and
years ago, when they were children.
,IizAh beth too sensible 8 sirls to let =
feller Ike VIII Marston disturb her
Vixen heist pped writing to her she.
rave him Horkod hard to-
Day and. god nisi q $ = Hill bring
med not hil more III IS.
il li1alt a1fd process i