News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-02-09
SAVED BY A WIRE.
BY CLARA G. DoLLIvER.

This morning I saw the sun rise;
there were broad stripes of violet and car
mine across the eastern sky, which fad
ed into a golden haze that reached to the
zenith; but while all about me exclaimed
upon its beauty, was silent, for [ felt
a thrill of anguish, sent by that myste-
rious chain which links our present to
our past.
1 have forgotten a thousand happy
hours, but the suns and storms of more
than twenty years have failed to dim
those sensations of despair with which
[ once saw the sky painted in brilliant
colors by the rising sun.
1 was about seventeen at the time, a
romantic, visionary boy, with only one
very marked taste, and that was decid-
ed dislike for hard work. In fact, when
remember myself, I am unable to Judge
any lad harshly, however preposterous
in his ideas, OF foolish in his conduct.
When my father died he left me, a
penniless, friendless orphan, to the care
of his brother, my uncle Jabez, whose
great ranch in California had been for
some time one of my ''brags" among my
school-fellows.
1 had had lonely, cheerless child
hood, so monotonous that greeted with
lively delight the prospect of journey
by sea-no "Overlands" in those
days-with its promise of tropical
scenery and fruit, perhaps of romance
and adventure. With still more rapture
[ looked forward to meeting my cousin
Tyler, who was about my own age, and
with whom I was quite ready to swear
eternal friendship; indeed, unable to re-
strain my ardor, sent him a long let
ter, which / considered extremely ele-
giant, having composed it with the great
est care; it was signed: "YOur-brother-
in-arms," after knightly fashions; it was
hardly appropriate, for at the time 1 did
not know rifle from a shotgun; pis-
tOl had never seen until L purchased
0pe in New York as preparation for
my journey, and then [ never dared to
load it for fear it would go off in my
pocket.
All my golden dreams of adventurous
journey and knightly brotherhood
were destined to fade to very dull tints.
1 was desperately seasick and mortally
afraid of the great rats with which the
vessel swarmed and which disputed with
me the possession of my cabin; no pirate
no storms blew; cared moth
ing for pineapples, and I was glad
enough to stand on firm earth again
As for my cousin Tyler, he did not
come up to my expectations by long
way. He was a short, muscular fellow,
uneducated, his face burned by the sun
to the color of brick; and his manners
were extremely uncouth, not to say re-
pulsive. His only idea of civility was a
broad grin, but when he meant incivility
he had wide variety of accomplish
ments.
/ well remember the shock of our first
though somewhat repelled by
his grinnig face, was determined to
like him, and advanced with my hand
out, saying cordially: cousin
Tyler, believe"
Without noticing my proffered grasp,
he said in voice about as mellifuous as
that of buzz saw:
eyer biggern [ thawt yer was.
"Why z" [ asked, dropping my hand,
considerably abashed.
Coos yer said'n yer letter yer WAS in
arms, he replied, with a loud gufaw,
that brought the blood to my face with
a rush.
His laugh was echoed by another al
most as harsh, but in a somewhat higher
key, and glancing up [ saw before me a
counterpart of Tyler, only smaller and
younger, who was at once introduced to
me as "COusin Tibby, l believe"
Her sunburned face was crowned with
an abundance of red hair which was
partly hidden under mans hat-a
huge sombrero; she wore a canvas hunt
ing coat, which was anything but spot
less, and in her hand she carried shot
gun.
''Hullo /" she said. ''You've got along
have her? I'm a-going down to the
marsh after rail. Want to see me
mount 2"
And without waiting for an answer
she ran into the barn, reappearing in a
moment mounted astride on the back of
a brindle COW.
With her free hand she grasped one
horn, with her heels she dug hard into
the animals sides, yelling hoarsely,
"Get up, Josie Get along! Show
Boston yOur paoes -
The sight was so grotesque as the
strange steed gallope1 awlwardIy out of
the yard, the great hat tapping and tie
shotgun swinging, that my breath was
fairly taken away with astonishment,
and I did not realize until some time
after that libby, III a moment of inspi-
ration, had nicknamed me Boston. To
this day the name clings to me in the
family, as nicknames are apt to cling
when they hit the mark; no doubt my
prlm manners and formal speech, my
soft hands and city-made clothes, made
'tBoston" seem peculiarly appropriate.
[ watched libby out of sight, and
ment, as much at loss what to say or
do as if had been suddenly landed in
the midst of savages; at this juncture |
was thankful to hear my uncle's voice
calling to me from the door of the
kitchen to come and have something to
eat.
Aunt Jane greeted me with some
show of kindness, which seemed like
after Tyler's reception, and
won my lonely and homeslck
heart.
This affection was afterward modified,
though not destroyed, by the discovery
which 1 made, that, being Missouri
woman, my aunt clipped that is,
rubbed snuff on her teeth with tooth
brush; her expression at such times
was so idiotic that I always fed from the
room, fearing that disgust would destroy
the only link that bound me to my new
home
With such surroundings it may be be-
lieved that was anything but happy; I
who considered myself SO superior,
became a mark for the uncouth wit of
the family, the butt of rude jokes, the
laughing g.stock of the Mexican shee2-
hpr1prS