St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-28

the quiet little hgurc standing Dy, tu11
she laughed aloud with delight A
blackbird balancing itself on > tall cider
Dush, whistied blitiely to her rs she
passed. and farther on she stopped and
picked up tiny hop-toad that crossed
her path. The old cow was lost
to sight now, but the bell told her
that she was not far Off. and Jennie
FASTENED on aud soon came up to her
But she did not look 20 interesting as
she had at first, and Jennie thought
that she had better 90 home. But
which way should she turn! There was
no path. not even footprint to show
her which way she had come. and all
around aud above her lowered the tall
trees, and the thick bushes shut her in
on every side. She was lost! What
should she do?
She sat down on a log and thought
about it. She dropped the little toad
by her side. and reaching far into the
depths OF the big sunbonnet, she wiped
the tears out of her eyes with her dirty
little hand. What forlorn little
maiden she was. away of in the woods
with no one to talk t.. no one to take
care Of her, What could she do? Why.
follow the COW. Of course. She always
found her way home somehow. and she
was the only living thing near that she
knew; and although she was not very
sociable. she had sort of friendly way
Of switching her tail. and even Il she
did look inqniringly at the big pink
sunbonnet. she never questioned ITS
right to be there. She moved calmly
along. cropping the leaves and grass IS
she went. with apparent disregard OF
the little figure that followed her 50
wearily. She turned into swamp
where the wet. spongy ground gave
way to her feet with sucking sound.
Jennie knew no way but to 60. too. and
the little shoes were soon soaked and
the-dlress soiled and torn: the sunl'on-
net hung hopelessly around her neck
by the strings. but she always kept the
COW in sight, although her little limbs
ached and her lips would quiver some
times.
She thought Of the Indian children
playing in the meadow; OF the boys
and girls in the schoolr00m learning
their lessons. and Of her gentle mother
moving about among them. She
wondered Il tomorrow had come. she
had been away 80 long. But the sun
had been shining all the time. 80 that
could not 10, and she suppressed sob
as she thought Of the dark night in
those lonely woods.
But what is that sound so far away
that she can scarcely hear it? II she
did not see Brindle near and hear her
bell Is she tosses her head. she would
think that she was lost to even the old
cow, for it surely is . bell ringing
through the woods. She listens, and
as it becomes palmer she feels sure that
she has heard it before. Nearer it
comes. aud to her joy she recognizes
the dear old dinner-bell, and then she
thinks, for the first time, how hungry
she really is. Perhaps it is evening.
and Brindle has found her way home
IS usual, and she hears the bell ringing
for supper! But the COW seems in NO
hurry = she leisurely brushes OF the
flies with her long tail. Jennie stands
still to listen. and tho bell continues to
ring, sounding louder every moment.
And then she remembers how. last
winter, when some Of the men were lost
in the deep snow. the rest had gone out
to hunt them and rung the big bell t.
guide them home; and she knows they
must be looking for her.
Papa, here amr' she cries. in he'
thin little voice, and echo answers,
Here I am"
| Nearer they come. and she takes of
the big sunbonnet and lets the breeze
toss back the tangled curls from hel
hot forehead, rs she almost holds hel
breath to listen. When her father. fol.
lowed BY several tall Indians. who al
love the little pale-faced girl. makes his
way through the bushes. this is what he
sees: A little girl, with tangled curl:
and tear-stained cheeks. standing up r
her waist in the tall ferns. In one
hand she holds the string 1T the big
suubonnet, which lies on the ground q
her side, and tho other clasps tightly
the ugly little toad. which she had
picked up again - friend. not to bs
parted from out in those lonely woods
where friends were 50 scarce. But
now, as she sees their tall forms press
ing through the trees. she stretches out
both hands. and with glad cry springs
into her fathers arms.
"Papa, have you had dinnere" shs
asked. wishing to settle the most i'm
portant question first. IS he lifted he'
and turned to retrace his steps.
%, no, darling" said papa. smiling,
1t is not near dinner-time yet"
Not near dinner-time. and she hat
been gone so long!
I'm 50 glad" replied Jennie. As she
nestled in her fathers arms. '''caust
I'm drefal hungry"
Then the little head drooped and sh,
was sound asleep. and knew no NOR
until she felt her mamma's kisses Of
; her cheek. And she never found on
where the COW got the milk--Ne!1i
Helss, is Isseviov.
] During August there were 400
} freight cars required to carry Californi'
shipments to the East. The amour
! carried. in pounds. was 10000. 000. AM
7 Of that enormous quantity over one