Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-06-14

idfSe IoOHS IhHS WIN merry laughter
when one of the party was unwittinglv
caught beneath the mistletoe boueh. !"
Having wearied of dancing and
games, We gathered in the large, old
fashioned hall another of our time.
honored customs-a then, in front
of the great open fireplace, piled high
with blazing hickory logs, we passed the
last hours of the old year in story-tell-
ing. One of the most remarkable of
these stories was told by my aunt, and
shall endeavor to repeat it as nearly
as possible in her own words:
There is always one story which
comes to me on New Year Eve and
seems peculiarly appropriate to that
time, although it is not a joyful one.
When L was sixteen, my mother
died, and soon after her death nv
father sold our old home, and removed
to a large farm. | had been born in
the city, and until that time had al
ways lived there. [ keenly felt the
change from the gay metropolis to the
solitude of the country, but fortunate
ly l was fond of reading and was also
great lover OF nature. so that in n
measure l vas compensated for the
life which had left. | saw little of
the outside world; therefore the most
trivial things became of interest to
me.
One afternoon in June, when we
had been living ON the farm two years,
was sitting on the porch
reading novel and CRYING
over the sad fate of the heroine,
when suddenly my attention was at
tracted by the sound of wheels. [
looked up quickly from my book and
saw buggy rapidly approaching our
house. My curiosity was at once
arou 5el, and my disappointment and
surprise were great when found that,
instead of n stranger driving behind
the thoroughbred little mare, Lake,
one of our rough farmhands, held the
reins. Presently he drew up beside
the porch, and his errand was made
known in few words. There had
been a runaway about mile from us,
and the gentleman who was driving
had been thrown from his carriage
and seriously injured. Lake saw the
man fall and went Immediately to his
rescue. He managed to get him to a
barn near by and, after capturing the
horse and buggy, both of which were
unharmed, had driven over to see
what could be done 1t would be sew
eral hours before n doctor could be
brought to him, and he was suffering
SO much pain that Lake did not like
to leave him SO long alone.
Just then my father came nm. and
having heard Lakes story, snid thai
the man should be brought at once to
our house, and ordered one of the
men to harness two of the horses ia
the farm wagon. mattress was then
laid on it and off they started, leayi1,o
me at home to put things in readiness
for the injured man.
Our pretty spare room, with its
fresh mating and Swiss curtains, was
the one which | selected for him. It
was on the ground floor, and would
therefore be more convenient than any
other. Our guest, who gave his name
as John Graham, soon arrived and
was carried carefully to his cham ber,
end before very long the doctor came.
Having set the broken limbs, for one
ol his legs and one of his arms were
broken, and applied some cooling
wash 10 the bruises, he LEFT the patient
TO our care.
1t was many weeks before he was
able to move from his bed. bnt be-
tween the doctors skill aud our care
iul nursing he slowly regained his
strength. Remember, my dears, in
those days your white headed old aunt
was young and romantic, and II man
lar less fascinating and handsome than
John Graham under such circum-
stances might have turned my silly
head. ] confess to you that my head
was wholly turned, my heart entirely
given away to this stranger. For
weeks ! WIS hands aud feet to him.
Ncvtr wish was uttered by him that,
were 1t IN my power, ! did not crafty.
lie was very fond of roses, and early
every morning / would gather the