The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-07-18
A SUGAR CAMP IDYL.
How a Catamount Helped in Win
ming a Bride.

''Sit down here and l will tell you a
story" said Liih Pitkins, moving an
empty nail keg into place before the
blazing fire of pine and beech that
glowed under the sap pans.
It was Fast day morning, and sap
must be boiled on these days as well as
on any other day when sap will run.
The Sunday question is a poser to many
conscientious church goer when the
spring sunshine fills the veins of the
sugar naples.
you wouldn't s'pose we had cata-
mounts here in these woods, would
youF'
mo, l should hope not"
"Are there any eatamounts prowling
around at this season of the yearp" |
asked. And the great trees seemed to
me to bend their leahess twigs in the
breeze as If the very question startled
them. How still they stood in the
lovely air! '.Now, you city feller, you
needn't get your heart in your throat.
'Tain't very often that we see them.
Besides, you are 'spected to spend the
night with me boilin', and you do not
want to get yourself so you can't sleep
on the soft side of a pine board, and
a good buffalo and sheepskin robe by
and by"
"Go on, sit down beside me and let
US have your wild beast tragedy, within
five hours ride of Boston, if you have
got one"
''You probably remember the old red
school-house as you come over the
brow of the hill. Well, it was two
winters ago that one of the sweetest
OF all girls kept school over there.
Her father was a soldier, and major of
one OF our regiments, and my father
and Joe were with him in the war.
de died, and she had to go and keep
school for living. Well, she kept our
school Call her Lizzie Brown, though
that amt her name," and the big fell
low laughed in his sleeve as he spoke
with a sort of cleaning pleasure at
the mere hint of what her real name
might now be. My sensibilities were
700 near frozen, or might have seen
through ladder at that moment, to
have guessed what her name really
Wasi now. Lijh sat pensive for a mo-
ment, then l said:
well, she kept the SCHOOL,"
'Yes, God bless her. 1t was the first
winter l was out. 1 run the farm, fod-
dered and snow-plowed. and helped
iather all that winter he was sick. I
began to feel myself man. l wished
mad farm of my own and was settled
down on it. At any rate, I knew
would have no more schoolin', and
worked hard all that winter"
And you took Miss Brown sleigh
riding frequently, 1 have no doubt,
with that smart colt Of yours, and that
nne Portland sleigh. Perhaps that
was better than sitting on the back
seats over arithmetic with her to help
Fou.n
We'll, now, you hold on; / am tellin'
ms story. As Twas sayin', l was out
y school, " and he marked all around
WIN his big cowhide boots in the saw
iust in front of him thoughtfully a |
moment, and then went on. ut was |
1oout the first of A pril, when the sap |
,egan to run, and that was about the |
me that the folks in our district were
iaVln' a spellin' match with the dees-
Flct tolks over on Knobb's Hill. Miss
brown was very anxious that our school
mould come out ahead and she made
irsas preparations. She kept the boys
,nu girls after hours to train them, and
ney all loved her well enough to stay. |
Soio her to always let me know when
ne was kept late, because I wanted to
ONE over with my mare, that sorrel,
" know, that I showed you standing
! ] 1he further stall, and my new sleigh.
-es, you were right. 1t was a Port
Ana Sleigh, and father said I was a
0ol !. Ior buying it, but didn't think so.
1ton want Jim Southworth to come
round with his colt after her. see?
peaSng OF catamounts, l knew that
.ssn - the worst, for had seen tracks
! :. oeeets In the mountains when we had
.ight sugar snow. No doubt the var
LUIS came over from Canada. Bears
y nothing in these parts. We don't
',,l0 !, !. mem IN the summer, but in spring
5 - aus sort OF critter gets hungry and
- y on sheep or any thing they can
- NOW, you wouldn't believe it so