Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-01-15
VOLUME VIII.

AOoih' va utO tdUlo dU uer blue lay u
novel, and every once in awhile the
little woman, with sigh, turned
longing glance at it's worn blue cover.
After finishing the scarlet sock she had
been at work upon she hustled to the
door which looked out on the road
winding through the valley from
Pilarcitos canyon in the north to the
coast" stage road in the south
II declare, Tumas," she exclaimed,
adjusting her spectacles as she spoke,
u do blieve the fires comm right
over the range The smokes pourin'
down thick from the canyon, an it
pears like the brush is burnin' up at
the lake. Lor me, what'll we do if it
comes this way? Like as not well
jest roast live"
Her husband, an old man lying in an
dnvaltds chair, on being thus adj
dressed made feeble gesture with his
right arm. He was hopeless para
lytic, lest waitin' for the las stroke, T"
as his wife was won't to tell to Miss
Anna, the parsons sister, who brought
her jellies and novels now and then.
Johns been gone this half hour"
she exclaimed, divining her husbands
meaning, but he promised to be back
this afternoon fore dark, so it won't
do no good ter fret an worry. He
didn't think the fire was half way dan
gerous, an alters put big store by
what John says"
After thus declaring her implicit con-
fidence in her sons opinion, she
wheeled her husband out upon the
porch, which extended half way
around the low, rambling cottage.
Here she left him and went out to the
small stable, usually occupied by the
sorre) pony which John had driven to
San Mateo that morning.
John McGregor, their only child,
was u likely young man. He had pro-
cured work upon the dam, then in
process of construction at the southern
end of the valley, and In consequence
he was obliged to leave his parents
alone the greater part of the time. In
the hunting season his mother was
able to board sportsmen, thus making
q little money to lay by for a rainy
day."
In the dry season these mountain
fires are of frequent occurrence, ant
are generally attributed to the care
lessness of hunters, and, although they
often spread many niles, there is rare
ly any difficulty in extinguishing them
once they encroach upon cultivated
land.
Mrs. McGregor bus-ed herself mex
about the garden, which everywhere
showed signs of true New England
thrift Her head was protected from
the sun by a brown bingham sun
bonnet as she picked the green seeds
of the nasturtiums for pickles, or tieC
up the sweet pea vines, which the chick
ems persisted in scratching down.
In the afternoon, as she washed VI
after the noon meal, she looked anx
iously out of the window now ant
then.
VI do hope John II hurry" she muir
injured, as she hung the last dishclotl
on the rail of the sunny back steps
HE did say it was onsartin if he'C
come back tonight, but guess whel
he sees the smoke over here, he'll jes
come a-fyin'. l don't 'xactly like tn,
looks on it myself"
Then, after peeping in upon he
snoring husband in tho sitting groom
she shut the front door to keep out tn,
flies, and seated herself in the fraye,
hammock, which on warm afternoon
was her special delight.
81 declare" she exclaimed as sh
leaned back and prepared to enjoy t
its fullest extent the novel in her hand
''it's right good O Miss Anna to fetc
me these novels, do have sech hank
erin arter 'em. Ma alters did say