Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-12-11

AS soon as she could see clearly she
discovered Bonnie upon one foot, hob.
bling about, frantically pushing back
great pieces of burning SCOT which fell
behind the old "fireboard," or dashing
water from the bucket upon the board it.
self, which now and then burst out into
Haze.
A roaring fire in the stove ives keeping
up the conAagration, while the contents
Of a burning kettle Of mohsses added to
the smoke and smell.
Nancy hastily threw aside the stove
covers and tossed handy bowl Of salt
upon the fre-bowl and all. Then set
ting Bonnie down, his foot bleeding
afresh from his exertions, she took from
him the old iron rake dragged out the
burning board from before the old fire.
place, deluged it with water and pushed
back the falling soot to die out upon the
stone hearth
Then when the roaring and cracking
began to cease, she sat down ON the old
board in the midst of SCOT and water, and
cried.
1t was forlorn group that Obed and
bis wife found an hour later when they
entered the smoke begrimed kitchen.
Then came the children7s confession as
to the origin Of the trouble; they had
built a"big molasses- candy fire." Nancy,
too, explained why she was there, and
rose to 60.
You'd better stay-uov you're here"
said Obed's wife, not unkindly.
"There amt no body there" Nancy
answered, in atone of utter hopelessness;
''an' Nep's gone lame an the cows dead.
I've got to CO."
Obed looked at his wife. II guess
III go an see" he said, nodding at her.
Nancy turned toward the back door,
though her brother had started toward
the front door.
"Why, which way did you Gomez" he
asked.
AUNT Nancy Quilted the hedge, she
did," cried Mile.
Cut the hedge!" CALCULATED Obea.
Nancy dropped down on the horse
block and Historically wrung her wet
apron. "An', Obed, go get somebody to
cut it oil downs an put up picket
fence-anything but q hedge tween US,
Obed-l can't stand it any longer!'
People were surprised when the tall
young trees went down. A few DAYS.
work undid the growing trouble Of years.
But people were still more surprised
when Obed calmly dismissed Ike, and
again took charge Of Nancy's place.
Then Nancy, the strain and worry re-
moved, took to her bed, and for ten long
months lay .racked by .inaammatory
rheumatism.
TWAS midsummer again before she
left the west room where she had lain,
and again looked over toward Obed's.
ut seems good to see over there" she
said, putting up her glasses as they
wheeled her to the window. "Why, 1
told you to put up picket fence, an
you've let the old hedge grow up agin!"
There's picket fence enough" said
Obed's wife; and Nancy's eye, following
the direction in which she pointed, roved
down the smoothly clipped green tops Of
the new-grown fence to where neat
gate had been let in; and over it two
young Usage saplings had been twined
in living arch Of foliage.
1--WE might just as well've had it SO
years ago." she went on to say, "only
we didn't start out right to have moth
ing"
"Cept hedge fence added Obea,
loosely.
San it takes just sech starts to get
just sech q hedge fence as we got" Nan
cy significantly replied.
1t was the last reference, either direct
or indirect, to the old trouble. Obed
carried on the farm once more, and peace
reigned between the two houses
Youths Companion.