The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-07-31
ALfTTLE MAVERICK,


cloud Of eusi in The esst liksa ooiaul
OF smoke. NJ breath Of cir stirred Il. 90
did IL seep 10 sdvssee s,srd. The IL,
~ss deep blue. the air qaivered like ID
white beat from . csaidroa Of mol,ol
metal 10 the crisp ard dry buffalo grss
myfisd insect life gave to the simmerinI
sif dresmy. mopoionops sound like ID,
bumming Of far srsy hees
The afternoon passed. dsrtaess gather
eJ snd With The rising moon: came coo
siod from on The snov crested peaks Tb,
elonl sf dust snbsiied aud revealed . linz
OF moving. white covered wagons
As tie caravan drew near eusnt prsiri,
wolf rose suddenly out OF the erass, gave |
long. dolorous howl aud fed across ib'
plata. After him. ~ " they bad risen from
the esith by mseic. went rony snd rideI
. bronzed. grixzled old man - eusnt snd
evidently breeding the new coT.D ~
much - ihe volt,
The caravan. numbering Thirty wagons,
vent into camp 10 the form ofa hollov
square. the people and animals inside the
barrier OF vsgons. The sound Of voices,
the smell Of cooking. the laughter OF chill
dreu aud the red glow Of the camp fires
made bit OF welcome life 10 the solemn
land, breskipg the soundless moDotoby oi
cent uries
| Later when the fires we're low and when
the only noises we're the ebamping OF the
animals snd the tread Of the sentry op
vsioh, . stAsuge. elhsh figure ran ont Of
the siocksde aud began TO dance 10 tie
mooplight-a girl Of IL or theresbouts,
With bir, sparkling eyes and short, black
curls flying over her pretty brow. A
bearded face was thrust out under q wagon
cover snd gruf but not unkindly voice
called.
Come in, you Maverick. Want ,injuns
10 git ye?
The child laughed mockingly and con
tinued TO dance After the third call the
big man jumped down out Of the wagon
and ran after her. When she could run
no longer she dropped like log. remain
ing stiff and still, while be carried her to
the wagon.
Gritty, amt she, marm? he said.
The lady addressed was tall thin per
son with wfinkled face, sharp black eyes
behind spectsles, corkscrew curle, and
habit OF wearing little shoulder cspes 10
the hottest weather. She was New Eog.
land school teacher going west to better
herself
Gritty is western, l presume. Mr.. Chase
said the lady, Miss Mary Ann Reed. What
ou earth do you call her Maverick for?
Miss Reed clicked her needless vlciously.
She knitted al day, jolting 10 corner Of
the wagon. 3 picture Of msrtyrdoln.
In my kentry, Texas, said Chase, they
calls them stray cattle that don't Git
branded Mavericks; they don't belong to
no herd, an them ,hst finds gifts EN-.
She's got folks in Denver, said Miss
Reed.
Idunuo, whispered the man, with an
anxious look toward the sleeping child. A
feller that met me two days ago on the
east bound wagon train told me her pc
and ma had died suddenly. m the child.
dren had scattered, an he'd never heered
O. Janet st all. Her gran marin he'd KEEP
her from : baby, an the old lady dyin'
Jenet's uncle jest shipped her off to Den
yer, where her folks wsslivin'' Don't seem
nobody to take her.
Why didn't you send her back with
those folks? asked Miss Reed.
Cause they was only harf way. an
was short Of grub: they wouldn't take
her.
Yet the Maverick was great pet on the
Journey. Every one liked her and well
somed be bright presence to the wagons.
Aroubd the camp fires even the men gath.
red TO hear her sing the quaint old hymns
her grandmother had taught her. She
held tired babies till her little arms arms
we're numb, she told stories to wary
children and was 9 ministering augel at
'very wagon at the last one 10 the tram
most OF all
This wagon had joined the train 10 Mis-
,ui and belonged TO 40 unfortunate fam
ly that Chase called pixies The father.
sullep. sickly man. drove the four lean
ken; the mother, half dead frem mslsris,
,eldom lifted her head from her bed; and
be pipe children. practically orphans,
ook care OF themselves and OF . little
noiberless girl. sent out with this family
o her father in Denver.
This bsby Rose. Vas m,rry little crea.
ure OF !. beautiful aud winning aud mnch
liked. But the days were toilsome ou.s,
nj an the Browns bad cbsrg. OF her 40
ne intcrfsrred. tbousb msuy Of the party
who could have trusted her with
hem.
Tie tao youngest Browns, homely. fad
a liitls souls. were faithful guardians uy,r
er The other children we're nuruly and
ude, but these two seemed like some good
ID folks Who hsd lived out we'll rounded
ves and been translated back to esrth to
eein owe, sssic.
To these children Jane,'s presence ~ss
be one happiness Of their dsy, nor could
he tell stories enough to satisfy them.
nee Janet coming nnobseryed. heard the
ounges, Pike telling baby Rose. Who Vas
-oss Que Of her own stories.
Y.u sorrrrful little lhioes. cried Janet.
nj you mske IN up yourssives Of your
sn. n
For . seek st uisht the srn'ry u the
och sde ss~ fer oa. black. moving specks :,
, the boriz u. aud weary ara sniiou.
ere the hours of dsrkuess. tsriy the stsri !,