Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-20
creeter | ever seed"

creeter | ever seed"
The girl came back. laughing an
apology for the mischief which she had
wrought. and the woman was scolding
her, though with lessening harshness.
when the mirthful apology and the
reprimand were put TO an end by the
sudden appearance of nan, who,
lazily turning bend in the path that
ran round a corner Of the house. came
slouching toward the woman. He held
up piece of paper, futtered it, and
drawlingly said:
Got this here fer Miss Nell
For me?" the girl cried. running to-
ward him. She snatched the piece of
paper, ran away a short distance,
halted, and read the following:
Now that have found out you aate me and
don't want to te kissed all the time, am goin'
away to be poet. and when l am one know
you will love me some and will let me kiss YOU
part Of the time at least. If | don't become
O poet | never will come back again. for bein' a
poet is the only way can win your love. for
that is the only way l can learn to tell You how
much love you. and when have done that
you can't help lovin' me, for then you will see
my soul all blaZin for you. l don't reckon 1
can get to be a poet before Christmas but I
sure l will by then. so you may look for me
Christmas: and if by any strange possibility I
don't get to be poet in time to reach home by
Christians. you just keep on a despisin' me as
much IS you please. but YOU must keep on a
waltz. and don't let anybody else grab you up
like the bass done the pearch. for rs tell YOU
III lie back
Yours. SAM"
A change came with the reading of
the note. The noon in her eyes So
bcred into a twilight. For the first
time in her life she was serious. She
turned to her mother and said:
Il am awful sorry / turned over that
churn.'
The woman was surprised. whats
the matter, dear? Never mind about
the churn. What's in the note Nellie?"
'Nothin'; only Sam has gone away
and won't come back tell he's poet
and I'm afraid he won't be one before
Christmas and | want him now"
But maybe he can git the job before
then. It's good while TIL Christmas,
and good many things mout turn up
'twiXt now and then. Don't fret none. :"
But she did fret. She frettcd for
weeks at time; at morning when she
saw the dew on the trumpet vine. at
noon when she stood, gazing into the
blue pool, at evening when the whip
pOorwill sang his sad song. The season
ripened, the grain was reaped, the
leaves had fallen-Christmas was APP
preaching. coming slowly down, it
seemed, from the browning hills.
Christmas Eve, Christmas night. The
girl stood in the door, listening. No
sounds except the faint hack. hack.
hack of an evenings woodchoppcr, far
away, and the lowing of cold and des-
ola tie cow in the ravine He did not
come.
The grass was green again, the
leaves came out, the blackberry briars
were in bloom, the water pouring over
the shelf of slate struck sweeter, sad
der note. The season drew a long
breath aud another change came.
1t was Christmas night. and the girl
stood in the door The bclatcd wood
choppers hack, hack, hack was heard,
and the same cold cow was lowing in
the ravine.
GOOD evening"
''Gracious alive, is thisyo Sam?"
Yes" he said, still standing back
from her. The freight falling upon
him showed that he was we'll dressed.
wont you come in, Sam?''
mo, for you'll still have to despise
me-"
'Why?"
Because I'm not a poet"
what are you, Sam?"
II am an agent for patent churn
dashcr."
She sprang forward and threw her
arms about him. "Oh, am so glad"
she cried. And you may kiss me all
the time"