Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-10-02


higher than beanpole; SO l must be
going"
And reaching her calico sun bonnet
from peg, she hustled off, stopping
to kiss Dolly, who was just entering
the front gate.
Dolly accompanied Miss Martha rs
she went into the garden to get lew
radishes for supper. 1t was poorly
cultivated garden, for it was not al-
WAYS possible to get man to work 1t
properly. But there was big cherry
tree on which the fruit was just ripen-
ing, and as they came in sight of this
they saw that the ground beneath was
strewn with torn leaves, while prints
of bare feet led to loose board in the
fence.
"Oh, them boysl' Miss Martha ex
claimed. They've begun, already,
jest as they do every year, and now III
have no rest nor peace until the fruit
oil gone. Last summer l could hardly
save enough to make three jars of pre-
serves"
Cant you do something to keep 'em
away, Aunt Marty" said Dolly, sym
pathizingly.
"No, deary-there's nothing could
keep 'em away but dog, and haven't
got one I'm afraid to keep dog
he might bite me some time"
She hunted up some rusty nails, and
with an axe trie,l to fasten up the
loose board, but it was OF no avail.
She was a small, neat, delic ately-
formed woman of forty, with pleas
ant, comely face, which now became
flushed us she toiled at her unwonted
task.
"The whole fence wants mending,"
she said at length, despairingly, "and
I'd be as likely to knock it all down as
make it whole. Run over to old
Chloe's, Dolly, dear, and see if her
husband can't come and help me. ii
this board amt fastened up at once,
Miss Curry's pigs will get in AMI root
, up the whole garden"
Dolly skipped away as light as {
fairy, but in three minutes was back
again, accompanied, not by the old
colored man, but by Captain Winston,
bearing in his hands a heavy hammer
and box of new nails.
"Aunty, old Uncle Jake wasn't at
home. so 1 brought Cap'n Winston"
"Oh, Dolly
"Be pleased to do anything for you,
) ma'am," said the captain, lifting his
hat politely. "Took the liberty OF
, bringing these things, thinking posi-
bly, you mightn't have 'em handy"
: He handled the heavy boards as il
they had been shingles, and securely
, fastened up half dozen which were
> hanging loosely by their rusted nails,
Dolly looking on admiringly.
"Anything more l can do for yon,
ma am? ?" he inquired, when the last
} heavy blow had been struck.
"Oh, yes!" Dolly cried, eagerly.
eve want a dog to scare away those
bad boys-.a good dog that won't bit,
cause Aunt Marthy's 'fraid of dogs.
Won't you lend us Pilot, capn?"
"Why, Dolly, I'm surprised at you,
demonstrated Miss Martha.
; But the captain laughed.
: CHATS fust- rate idee, Dolly" h
said, patting her curly head. "Pilo
J never bites; he's too good naturel TO
| that. Bat he makes noise enough t,
: scare away band of robbers. SO i
i you're agreeable, ma'am, I'll Just fetcl
. him over at night and anchor him t;
o this tree till mornn', and you may de
e pend he'll do his duty"
G 50 thencoforth every evening until
t the fruit was all ripe anil gathered,
e Pilot was tied at the foot of the cherry
tree, nnl in tao morning unloosened
by Miss Martha and allowed to &c
: home.
The result was that besides having
plenty Of fruit to send around to hei
, neighbors, she made preserves enough
: to fill dozen jars-one of which she
s presented to Dolly to take homo witt
r her as her very own.
t BY this time there was very goo,
t acquaintance established between Mis-
y Martha and her bachelor neighbor, tn
e captain.
!, Whenever he brought over Pilot
, there woull be little chat i'll the gaI
h den; and he more than onco insisted
Y upon doing her some little service
t such as pruning her grape vines an
a mending the back doorstep, to whicl
l Dolly was afraid to intrust her smal
Y weight.
i And once, when the captain was sic
!, anl Dolly reported that he wouldn
- eat the breakfast which Chloe prepared
r Miss Martha sent over dainty tray {
!, her own delicious waifles and broile
If chicken, which the child reported gle
fully the captain ate "every bit, an
t. said twas the very incest cooking h
], ever saw
g 1t was about this time that Dolly bt
,r gan to look refectivoly at her relativ
e. as the latter would sit knitting in he
)" low rocking chair in the entry, an
er one day she surprised her by saying
,e gravely:
es "Aunt Marthy, 7 think you wants
of man to take care o. you."
g "Gool gracious, child What pr
Is such m idea into your head?"
% "Cause," answered Dolly, with III
{ i,,,,,o I -