Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-08-30

! lar, and towering far above the pricked
ears of the proud steeds. These wires
bore q long narrow canopy placed at
right angles to the horses length, and
concealing beneath Il deep fringe Of
bright scarlet worsted the little peal
Of nicely graduated bells. Balls of Ne
same bright worsted studded the root
/ Of the little canopy, and finished the
! gay trappngs OF the sturdy rustics,
who bore these accumulated honors
| with Il sort OF meek rapture.
The wagon these stout fellows drew
needed all their bone and sinew IL
bring 4 up and down the steep, hilly
roads Its hind wheels were as high
as Alma's head; their massive fc!loes
shod with double tires. were A foot
broad; the naves were like moderate
sized casks High over the great
| hind wheels archcd the wagons ledge
/ In II grand sweep, descending with a
| boatlike curve to the smaller front
wheels, whence it rose again, ending
high over the wheeler's launches
| like the Prov of some Old ship over
the sea. A massive thing Of solid
| timber 1t was, with blue wheels and
red body, slightly toned by weather
On the front, in red letters on yellow
ground was painted, Richard Long
Melbourne, 1860"
Two human beings, who interrupted
the fairy music with strange gutturals
and wild CALCULATIONS to the steeds,
mingled with sharp whip-cracks, ac-
companied this imposing equipage.
one was tall, straightlimDed man
In fustian jacket and trousers, coat
Slung hussar-wise from his left Shout
side, with pink chrysanthemum
stuck in It, His sunburned lace was
almost the hue of his yellow brown
curls and short beard; his eyes were
blue; and his strong, labored gait re
sembled that of his horses. The other
was a bcardless lad, his satellite, SINH
larly arrayed, minus the flower. Sparks
flew from the road when the iron
hoofs and heavy iron boots struck an
occasional flint When the great
wagon was fairly landed on the brow
of the hill, the horses were brought to
by means Of sundry strange sounds
and violent gestures on the part of the
men. and. with creakng and grooming
and hnlloolng, the great land7ship
came to anchor, the ellin chimes
dropped into silence, interrupted by
little bursts OF melody ut every move
ment of the horses, and the lad seized
Il great wooden mallet and thrust 1t
beneath the lind wheel The carter
leaned placidly against the ponderous
shaft with his face to Alma, and
struck Il match to. kindle his replen-
ishcd pipe.
Goldfish" he observed, glancing
with surly Indifference toward her.
1T Is cold" returned Alma, drawing
her shawl cozily round her graceful
shoulders, while the wheeler, stimu-
lated into curiosity by his masters
voice, turned round to look at Alma,
and shook out Il little peal of bells,
which reused the emulation of his four
brothers, who each shook out little
chime on his own account; while the
wagner glanced slowly round the
vast horizon, and, after some contem-
platon, said in low, bucolic drawl-
"Gwine to- brain, | lows"
1T looks like it," replied Alma
How is your wife, William"
The wagner again intcrrogated the
horizon for inspiration, and, after
somo thought, answered with jerk
"Ncuce the same"
81 hope she will soon be about
again." said Alma; and the leader EN-
phaSzcd her words by shaking Il
little mIslc from his canopy, and thus
stimulated his brothers to do likewise
You come home lighter than you set
out" she added looking ut the nearly
empty wagon, which she had seen
pass in the morning filled with straw
William turned slowly round and
gazcd inquiringly at the wagon, as II
struck by n new idea. for some mo-
ments; then he said, "Ay." After this
he looked thoughtfully at Alma and
her parcels for some moments, until
his soul again found expression in the
N'ihN, lhNN ~ Itl'' wv h-'N hiN'h
ing OF which was calculated by the
pointing of his whip toward the
wagon.
Alma aSsentcd, and with the
wagoncr's assistance soon found her
self, with all her merchandise, com
furtably Installed In the great wagon,
which was empty save for a few
household and farming necessaries
from Oldport Before mounting Il
feat, by the way, not unworthy of n
gynlnast-She stiOkcd the wheel
horSo's thick sillcn coat admiringly
You do take caro- of your horses
ut Malbourne, William" she said II
heard father say this morning he
never saw better-groomcd and hand.
Somcr team than yours"
William went Oh silently arranging
Alma's seat, and slowing er parcels
for her; but a smile dawned at the
corners of his mouth, and gradually
spread itself over the whole of his
face. and his pleasure at length found
won't, when he reached the ground,