San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-01-03
wHYEAR
NUMBER L.

Boring brook, that babGled along among
alders and dwarf willows. Hard by the
farmhouse was vast barn, that might
have served for q church, every window
and crevice of which seemed bursting
forth with the treasures Of the farm; tho
fail was busily rcsounding within 1t
morning to night; swallows and martins
SKINNED twittering about the caves, and
rows Of pigeons, some with one. eye
turned up as II watching the weather,
or buried In their bosoms, and others,
swelling, and cooling and bowling
about their danes, were enjoying the
sunshine on the roof. Sleek. un-
wicldy porkers were grinting In
the rcpose and abundance Of their
pens, from whence sailed forth. now
and then, troops Of sucking pigs, as II TO
snuff the air. A stately squadron OF
snowy geese were riding in an adjoining
pond, conveying whole fleets Of ducks;
regiments Of turkeys were gobbling
through the farm yard and guinea fowls
fretting about II like i'll tempered house,
wives, with their peevish, discontented
cry. Before the barn door strutted the
gallant cock, that pattern Of husband,
q warrior and a fine gentleman, clapping
his FURNISHED wings and Growing In the
pride and gladness Of his heart-some-
times tearing up tho earth with his feet,
and then generously calling his ever
hungry family Of wives and children to
enjoy the rich morsel which he had dis
covered.
The pedagogue's mouth wotercd, as he
looked upon this sumptuous promise OF
luxurious winter fare. In his devouring
minds eye he pictured to himself every
roasting pig running SJout, with q pud-.
ding in its belly and an applcin its mouthi
the pigeons were snugly put to bed in o
comfortable pie, and tucked in with
coverlet of crust; the geese were swim
ming In their own gravy, and the ducks
pairing costly In dishes. like snug mar
ried couples, with decent competency
of onion sauce. In tho porkers he saw
carved out the future sleek side Of bacon
and juicy rclisling ham; not turkey,
but he beheld daintily trussed up, with
its gizzard under its wing, and, perad-
venture, necklace of savory satisages;
and even bright chnnticleer himself lay
sprawling on his back In n side dish,
with uplifted claws, as II craving that
quarter which his chivalrous spirit dis
dained to ask while living.
AS the enraptured lchabod fancied oil
this, and as he rolled his great green
eyes over the fat meadow lnnds, the rich
fields Of wheat, of rye, Of buckwheat
and Indian corn, and the orchards bur-
thened with ruddy fruit, which sur
rounded the warm tenement of Van Tas-
sci, his heart yearned after tho damscl
who WINS to inherit these domains, and
his imagination expanded with tho idea,
how they might be readily turned into
cash and the money invested In immense
tracts of wild land and shingle palaces
In the Wilderness. Nay, his busy fancy
already realized his hopes, and presented
to him the blooming Katrina, with a
whole family of children, mounted on
the top Of wagon loaded with house
hold trumpery, with pots and kettles
dangling beneath; and he beheld himself
bestriding pacing mare, with colt ut
her heels, setting out for Kentucky, Ten
nessee-or tho Lord knows wherel
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