Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-11

AT recess the girls paired of two By
two, hut no one spoke to her.
"Dear. dear" thought the child; "no-
body isn't nobody here unless they are a
couple and | amt
When the afternoon session broke up
that day a hayCart, with two big work
horses, stood drawn up before the fash
ionable establishment The bottom OF
the cart was strewn thickly with fragrant
hay. while old Farmer Miller, in his
shirtsleeyeS. held the reins. Cynthia
Adams was one of the last TO leave the
sch0OlroOm. Who can describe her as
tonishment when, upon gaining the yard,
she bchcld Wild Becky standing upon q
horse block and actually inviting those
city girls to hitch on" Most of the
scholars looked as Mortified as Cynthia eX-
peCtrd, but Mile King and four or five
other Jolly souls tumbled in for the fun
of it.
Farmer Miller shouted to Miss Peters
that he'd bring EN- home safe and
sound afore bedtime, and, cracking his
whip. they were soon rattling down the
hill, Jhs>girls getting such a shake up as
they had never had before; but they held
ON to the poles like monkeys, filling the
way with their merry shouts and laugh
ter. and by the time they had reached the
long winding road through the pine
woods they were thoroughly enchanted
with their novel mode of riding.
Such a queer. homely house as 1t was
before which they stopped. Becky didn't
try to hide any part Of it, but made them
welcome 10 tho whole, and to the great
barn. too, with its numberless hiding
places, initiating them at one into the
most approved way Of sliding down hay
mOws and riding on the barn doors. She
took them across the meadows to the
stream, with the little grove beside ii,
and there they fished for trout; not that
thcy caught enough to boast Of for only
The most VentureSOme of fishes would
bite in that uprnar of voices. When they
got tired of that sport they chased the
colts to the orchard and hunted out the
squirrels. with whom Becky carried on
such droll make-bclieve conversation
that the girls, rs they said, "almOst died
Of laughing
The sun was getting low and the grass
was all purple with shadows when she
brought out a table and said that they
would have their supper under the
snade of great butternut tree.
This is the time they'll laugh, -
thought Becky; but let EN-. l couldn't
get up genteel tea 10 save my life, and
| shau't try
And sure enough the girls did laugh
To see such great platters of smoking
hot sweet corn, such huge pitchers OF
CrCamy milk. such stacks of freshly
picked berries, was enough TO make any
hungry girl laugh, and in way very
pleasant TO hear.
..1 I .l,l- . L.,
smooth floor of the barn, accomplished
by the aid Of Farmer Miller, who whis-
tied the tune of over the Hills and Far
Away" from the corn bin.
II wasn't until the young moon shone
ont clear and Silvery that the young girls
found themselves in the haycart riding
Griskly forward 20 the school.
Il believe | never had such a good
time in my life before" cried Millie as
she saw. with regret, the outline of the
building through the Trees.
Nor |, nor |, nor !, - was heard in an
swer.
Farmer Miller recognized one of the
voices. and blessed it in his heart. 1t
was Wild Becky's. As the others left
them she crawled over to her grand
fathers side and laid her hand, warm
iA'liA 'il' SAtAhStuA bAeAoP VA ZIG oSAOOA
girls, on his arm.
This started a better state of things
with Becky. She began to truly like the
girls, then she loved one or two dearly,
in true schoolgirl fashion; and to be
worthy of their love she tried TO improve
her manners. Next came ambition in
her studies. and, as under it all lay a
deep affection for the good grandfather,
she came out at the end of the year one of
the brightest, happiest girls in the school
There were outbreaks of mischief now
and then. As the old man roared to the
teacher one day, ''She couldn't be tanned
all at once" but this little girl had at
last found the golden key. And so, in
frightening the lives of the unhappy, and
in making sunshine for all, Becky be
came in time a lady in every sense of
that misused term Chicago Tribune.