Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-05-13
lOriginal

coffee. Twill taste good after hard
forenoon's work." and John Ovel
glanced across the table at his wife
who was just turning out his last cup
of steaming coffee.
"Well, if you think it's safe, John.
Maud's rather young yet to go SO far
alone; though, as you say, don't s'pose
nothin'll harm her an can send long
some hot biscuits an you can have al
most as good an warm q meal as
though it came right off tn hot stove,
replied Mrs. Ovel, as she handed her
husband the coffee.
John Ovel and his wife had now been
living in the pines of northern Wisconsin
for over two years They had one
child, little six-year-old, and II was to
her the father referred as Maud
Mr.. Ovel finished eating his break
cap down over his shaggy hair, shoul-
dered his Tx and strode away toward
the scene of his days labor.
Mrs. Ovel, softly humming tune she
had learned in her eastern home, busted
herself about her household duties
The Ovel family were industrious peo-
pie and the hands Of the father or moth
er were never idle. With swift deft-
ness she put away the breakfast dishes,
tidied up little and had just placed a
great chuuls of dough upon a broad
pine board preparatory to Lneading it,
when the bedroom door swung softly
open and little white-robed figure
stood on the threshold calling "Ma,
ma, want to be dressed!"
"All right, pet. Wait It'll ma washes
her hands," and Mrs. Ovel turned to
basin of water and carefully removed
the adhering flour and dough before
dressing the child.
''Did you know, Maud" she said, a
few moments later, as she seated the
little girl at the table before generous
bowl of wholesome bread and milk,
that you are to take your pa his dim
ner to-day? He's chopin in tn south
clearin' an wants his Maud to bring him
. nice warm diuner. You'll go, won't
you, pet?"
Eyes, LII go, If you'll let me take
Sarah Ann with me. She never seed
my pa chop wood" replied Maud, as she
glanced with a look Of maternal fond
1ess toward the rude lounge where Sa-
rah Ann, very much dilapidated rub
Der doll, was reposing
Mrs. Ovel smiled, ana promised her
that Sarah Ann should 60 Maud could
hardly wait to finish her breakfast, SO
eager was she to tell Sarah Ann all
about their expected journey and the
wonderful sights she would then see.
At half past eleven Mrs. Ovel filed
The dinner basket, not forgetting to put
in the hot biscuits and the little jug of
hot coffee, and then, tying a sunbonnet
over Maud's sunny hair, kissed the
roses on her checks, and giving her the
basket, bade her to be sure to go Straight
10 papa, and not to stop moment on
the way.
Maud felt very important, as with the
doll on one arm and the well-loaded
basket on the other. she returned her
mothers kisses and set ont down the
path which led to the south clearin'."
About half way from the house to the
clearing the path ran by a great oak
tree. When Maud reached this place
the arm which carried the basket was
very tired; SO she put the basket down
at the foot of the tree and seated herself
In its s'."ae to rest.
"Don't s'pose you ever dreamed trees
growed SO big, Sarah Ann, did your
she inquired, holding the doll up SO
that its rubber eyes might have an un-
obstructed view of the scene. Mauds
own bright, blue eyes, at the same time,
ont Iatx
arms and saw, Just at this moment, a
large, black bear walk slowly into
sight and come down the path toward
her, lazily swinging his head from side
to side.
''Oh, Sarah Ann, did you ever see
such great, big, black doggie?" she
cried out joyfully the moment she
caught sight of the bear.
At the sound of her voice bruin
stopped and looked at the little girl
| curiously. He could not remember OF
ever having seen or heard just such an
animal as that before. He wondered II
| Il would taste good and determined to
find out at once, 50 he put himself again
IN motion and slowly trotted up toward
the girl.
Maud, who was very fond Of dogs and
not one bit afraid Of them, was over
joyed when she saw the bear approach
ing; for she did not dream that the
great animal was anything but very
large dog. "Oh, doggie, you'll let my
Sarah Ann ride on your back, won't
your An we'll sprise my pa" she
cried, jumping to her feet and tightly
hugging Sarah Ann to her bosom In an
ecstacy Of delight.
The bear. which by this time was
! only a3eY t0Attron Maud stopped aud