Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-05-21

coffee. Twill taste good after a 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 rs good an warm a 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, a little six-year-old, and it was to
her the father referred as Maud
Mr.. Ovel finished eating his break
fast, and then, pulling his coon-skin
cap down over his shaggy hair, Shout
dered his AK and strobe away toward
the scene of his days labor.
Mrs. Ovel. softly humming a 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 chunk OF dough upon broad
pine board preparatory to kneading 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 til 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 yon know, Maud" she said, a
few moments later, as she seated the
little girl at the table before a generous
bowl of wholesome bread and milk,
"that you are to take your pa his din
ner to-day? He's chopin in TIL south
clearin' an wants his Maud to bring him
q nice warm dinner. You'll go, won't
you, pet?"
Eyes, I'll go, if you'll let me take
Sarah Ann with me. She never seed
my pa chop wood, replied Maud. as she
glanced with look of maternal fond
ness toward the rude lounge where Sa-
rah Ann, very much dilapidated rub
Der doll, was reposing.
Mrs. Ovel smiled, and promised her
that Sarah Ann should go. 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 filled
the dinner basket, not forgetting to put
in the hot biscuits and the little jug of
hot coffee, and then, tying q sunbonnet
over Maud's sunny hair, kissed the
roses on her cheeks, and giving her the
basket babe her to be sure to 20 straight
to papa, and not to stop a 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 out down the
path which led to the south clearin'. IS
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
ut the foot of the tree and seated herself
in it's shade to rest.
Don't sPose you ever dreamed trees
growed so big, Sarah Ann, did your
she inquired, holding the doll up so
shat its rubber eyes might have an un.
obstructed view OF the scene. Maud's
own bright, blue eyes, at the same time.
looked eui froa setwssa her uprais>a