Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-19
POLLY TO MAMMA.
HOPES FORT.

The Bounty That Was Laid Up for Her
Wedding Dover.
''Be careful, Hope, and don't sing,
dear; it is a dangerful road, whereon
you might draw evil notice"
Yes, mother, I'll keep my mouth
Just so," and the little maid pressed
her lips firmly together.
'Give yourself breathing space"
said the mother, smiling; and. looking
into her darling's bag, to see if her
luncheon was all right, she kissed her
again, and watched her trip down the
road. AS Hope turned out of the lane
she looked back. kissing her hand in
farewell, and Mrs. Raymond went
slowly into the house. 81 don't know
why it is" she murmured, ''but my
heart misgives me sadly. am sore
tempted to call Hope back. But fool
ish, sinful woman" she added, reso-
lutely, you have had better training
than to mistrust the Lords provi-
dence."
She set about her work, for in the
early colonial days the farmers wife
afforded a very good illustration of
perpetual motion. This was especially
true of New-London, or Pequett. where
the rocky, sterile soil demanded the
constant care of husbands and wives.
The farm of Oliver Raymond was
four miles from town, but it was not
uncommon for the children TO come
even farther than this to get the benefit
of the school which the colonists of
Pequett had succeeded in establishing
Hope Raymond ran along in strict
obedience to her mothers injunction,
then she paused to listen to a bird s
song. or gather flower. The road,
which was newly opened, ran through
the heart of the forest, and wound
out into long stretch, bordered on
each side by perpendicular cliffs and
dense growth of bushes, and halfway
between the town and farm was a
great mass of granite, fully fifty feet
high.
1t was beautiful September morn
ing. the trees. through their thick.
green garb, showed here and there a
faint dash of golden-scarlet; the chip
munk and squirrel darted up and
down the gray trunks. or swung from
branch to branch; the sober brown
cedars tried to look bright with dingy
red touches; the wild grape vines
trailed along the ground, weighted
with luscious fruit; the stately golden
rod bent it's head in the gentle breeze.
A wiser head than our eleven-year-old
Hope might have yielded to Nature s
enticing charm. She paused to pick
ripening grape. or add to her little
bouquet. And as she did, her voice
rang ont in some childish ditty so clear
and sweet that the feathered warblers
stopped to listen to their new rival.
But something else heard the child,
and crept cautiously through the un-
dergrowth.
Just another, and what a pretty
nosegay I'll have for the teacher" said
Hope, as she bent over a flower. She
had gained the curve in the road now,
and Welding to sudden impulse,
turned and looked back. For a mo-
ment she stood paralyzed with fear;
for down the road. gaining upon her
with every lope of its long, gaunt body,
was one of the terrible gray wolves OF
Pequett. Hope thought of every tale
told of their ferocity, and with terri
fed scream darted forward, but there
was no tree, no refuge at hand. Oh,
! if she could only reach the great
rock! The little feet barely touched the
ground. But the wolf gained at every
bound!
Hope was almost at the rock; she
gained it, and with trembling fingers.
tried to climb up the notches. but,
frightened and exhausted, slipped back.
For a second she lay motionless; hel
pursuer was not fifty yards distant,
and at every bound gave sharp cry
which was answered by yells from the
forest. Again Hope essayed to climt
up the ledge. The notches had been
made by the hunters of the colony, who
often left signals for one another upon
the fiat surface of the rock. but they
had been made for men, and as, the
child tried to reach them. she slipped
again and again, and almost fell to the
ground. But at last she gained a foot
hold; up, up, oh, she was at the very
edge-another effort and she was safe
ON the summit!
just in time. Four or five wolves
were gathered below, and. snarline
and swapping, endeavored to leap up
Hopes heart almost stopped beating
and for moment every thing seemed
to go round and round, as she watched
with bated breath the infnriated beast
below. But Hope Raymond came of
sturdy Puritan stock, and something
of stern courage filled the childisl
heart. ..Now, take that!" she said
exerting all her strength to roll a hug
fragment Of rock upon them. Itstrucl
and stunned one, and without givin
It a chance to rise. its famished com
panions sprang upon 1t, rending
u