Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-11-14


Lizzy9" asked Nathan Salton.
stI used to have good luck making
cheese when I was agirl at home" said
Mrs. Salton, ''I would like to make a
cheese"
This was finally decided upon. But
they had no press ;Yso Nathan contrived
one with part ,of hogshead, with
heavy rocks for pressure. 1t took a
good deal of time and trouble, but the
cheese seemed to be success. 1t
worked very nice,. and was immensely
large.
.'It will bring,a good price if I have
any kind of good luck" said Nathan,
''and will go long way toward paying
off the mortgage"
All the family stood around and ad-
mired tit was so big, and promised so
much. Sophy led the baby, who was
learning to walk, around it several
times. The two boys wanted it cut !;
but their mother told them nothing
would be so nice as to sell it, and to pay
for their house, so that nobody could
take their home away. They went to
bed then, and .one and all dreamed of the
big cheese.
The next morning the children's father
said:
az am going to town."
And his wife said: 81 will go with
you, and get little stuff to make jackets
for the boys"
"Will you take the baby?"
'sNo, I will leave him with Sophy.
He is very good with her."
They were delayed little by two old
farmers coming in to look at the big
cheese, but at length they got off. Lizzy
started off with an unusual sense of COM
fort and security.
"Sophy is very good girl" she said.
"I only wish she were brighter and bet
ter favored. / don't like girl to be so
plain ard quiet"
"Oh, handsome is asahandsome does, "
replied Nathan.
Yes, Sophy seemed little dull, and,
with her pale hair, pale eyes, and her
pale cheeks, was not at all pretty; but
she washed the dishes, and coaxed the
baby into being contented, and made
hasty pudding for the boys dinner very
faithfully. She was rs sober aud steady
as little old woman. But she smiled
on the baby, and nursed the ailing
chicks, and always looked out that the
cat was fed. She seemed to have a fell
low feeling for all dependent creatures !;
so one could see her quietness was not
MOI oseness.
Nothing went wrong in the little house
until afternoon. Then u shaky old wagon
drove into the yard, and two dark, ILL
kempt men got out. Sophy went to the
door, and they begged for something to
eat. While she hesitated, listening to
the whisper of little Hiram behind her,
"them's gypsies, Sophy," one of the men
thrust his elbow against the door.
.'Let's see what vou have in here, "'he
said.
Both of the men pushed in, and the
children were forced to yield.
The former looked about them. The
kitchen Yves neat and cool. One began
looking from the various windows; the
other went into the buttery, where he
found dried apple pie, which he COM
menced to eat. Then the man at the
windows looked at the children, and
they looked gravely back at him.
II say,' said he; and his listeners GER
tainly gave him all needed attention.
"Where'p tn big cheese9"
"Hold on minute, Jim," called the
big black fellow in the buttery. "Sure
all's cleara"
eyes. There's nothing in sight"
.'There's no hurry, then. I'm hun
gry."
"Oh, dash the eatin'l" returned the
other. But, he too, went into the but
terry to have look about. For an in
slant the three children standing wide
eyed, in the centre of the big kitchen,
were unobserved.
$50 out tn side door-still now"
whispered Sophy to Hiram. "Creep
through the bushes up to Mr.. Arthurson's
don't let 'em see you-an' bring some
one quick!"
AS the boy disappeared, the men came
out of the buttery.
'Look here, girl! Where's the big
cheese2"
Sophy did not speak. The men began
to frown.
"None O. that! You'll have to tell.
ye know, said one.
Little Sammy began to cry.
''Let tn young ones alone," said the
other man. 'It is in the house, of course.
Where does this door go to? Whore
does that one go9"
"The baby's there" said Sophy
quickly. "He's asleep--don't disturb
him."
The men pushed their way into she'd
room. Sophy turned instantly, and
pulled Sammy into the other, which was
bare, shaded, and almost empty. But
there was the baby, asleep upon an old
settee, and there, upon the floor, was the
big cheesel There was little else. Mrs.
Salton had been in the habit, during the
summer, of placing the child here, away