The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-07

"You're sure you won't be lone- some, Jennie2"
 Farmer John Harmon stood in the glow of the broad fireplace, wrapped in his great coat and muffier, his fur cap pulled down about his ears, and his whip in his hand, while the paw ing hoofs of his impatient horses crunched the snow outside. He stopped as he spoke, and lifted his little daugh- ter's chin till the clear, brown eyes looked up, with the frank smile which always warmed his heart.
 ''No, indeed, father! How could 1 be lonesome with such little chatter box as Tony? Hark! do believe he's waking now, the darling''
 'lPm sorry that Mandy Lawson couldn't have come to stay with you, but, of course, if Jacks sick, it stands to reason that she can't leave him. But Steve and I'll be back before dark, never fear. Hullo! you were right, Jennie. Here comes the little gen. eral!"
 A chubby boy of three years old ap- peared in his night-gown from the adjoining room, with cheeks rosy, and yellow curls tangled from his morn- ing nap. The father caught him in his strong arms, and held him, shriek- ing with laughter, above his head.
 "Father's little man! Walked up to say goodbye. He'll take good care of sister, won't he?"
 The child leapsd into the young orirHc ct nha1 nd hid hia face upon her shoulder.
 "Well, goodbye, Jennie!" He paused moment, wistful look creeping over his strong, sun- Drowned face. "You're liker your mother every day, my girl"
 "Father! father!" called cheery voice outside.
 "Coming, Stevew
 The door opened and let in great wave of frosty air, and, as it closed behind him, the sturdy farmer clam bered to a seat beside his son, and, with crack of whip and jingle of bells, the laden sleigh slipped cheerily away.
 Jennie stood at the window, still holding the child. She was just four teen, although her slight, childish figure made her seem younger than that by two or three years. The death or her mother when Tony was but a helpless babe had thrown premature burdens upon her young shoulders, burdens which she had borne with a patient, unselfish courage far beyond her years.
 Jennie was quite used to being left alone with her little charge, while her father and brother were away at work, so it was with no especial sense of lone- Illness that she watched the moving sleigh until it was lost at a sharp turn of the forest -bordered roadway. As the nearest neighbor lived a mile distant, she could scarcely expect wis., itors on such day.
 She turned away at last, and taking her place on low seat before the fire, proceeded to dress the child, making merry game of the task, as she told over and over on his toes the story of the Give little pigs"
 Then, when she had given him his breakfast ofbread and milk, and placed on the floor box of well-worn play things, she went briskly about her own household tasks. The market town, to which her father and brother had gone, was fully fifteen miles away, and, once there, they must wait for the grinding of their load of grain.
 "We shall have a long day to our selves, Tony dear," said Jennie, more to herself than to the child; "but there'll be plenty to do, for sister must bake the bread and cakes for Sunday and father and Steve will be wanting good, hot supper tonight"
 "Tony help sister" lisped the boy
 "Yes, Tony shall help sister, and sister will fry him doughnut man.
 Clipping his chubby hands, the child drew his little cricket to the table, where, by climbing upon it, he could overlook his sisters operations at her moulding board; and thus with frolic and cheer, the short win ter day wore on.
 But the sky, which had been bright at early morning, grew gradually overcast with clouds, and Jennie saw from the window a heavy mist filling the air.
 A few feathery flakes came floating down as she spoke, and these proved to be but the forerunners of mighty host, as the storm settled over the hndscape. Hour after hour passed There were no longer any tracks to be discerned along the narrow roadway