Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-11-08

red and white and blue-which, a.
there combined and proportioned,
meant 50 much to that hot, dusty,
waiting crowd-fell over the little
white dress and bare feet, with a
corner covering the small head and
bobbing yellow curls, and it's fringes
barely escaping pair Of astonished
black eyes, and bit OF mouth whose
corners didn't know whether to turn
up and laugh, or down and cry, a big
roar went up: 'Rah fer young
Americal Send him up to the win
der, an let him git his papers
signed"
PUT your papers in his hand,
ma'am, quick, an let 'em pass him
up while they're in the notion, +"
whispered shrewd-looking old fell
low to Myra. The papers were held
In front of him, the wandering little
hands clutched them, and amid
cheers and laughter he travelled from
hand to hand over the heads OF men
who would have hours yet to wait.
Any objections were silenced with
cries of "Rah fer young America
It's fer the wilder and the orin !"
and like expressions. What toll
hardened or crime-soiled palms lifted
the baby on his way, whether he went
mostly head or heels foremost, right
or wrong side up, whether he saluted
heaven with bowls or smiled up to
it's smile on that memorable journey,
are things that cannot be found out,
Nothing but murmuring of laugh
ter, goodwill and cheering marked
his progress, and he came back to
Myra's arms laughing, kicking his
white legs from the gay folds Of the
flag, and Growing over the paper duly
signed and sealed.
Myra's venture was great success.
Her genius for cooking and home
making under unfavorable conditions
was phenomenal, and it could not
have been taken to better market.
1t was the luckiest Of happenings
that took Hubbard cherished quar-
ter section out of her reach and gave
her town lot and business at
which she could excel instead.
Many better equipped than she
failed at farming. Dave and his
partner had hard work to make 60
of it; but, whoever succeeded or
failed, Myra, through the darkest,
the gloomiest and bloodiest times in
Guthrie, prospered, and, as the boys
put it, made money hand over fist.
On the night of November 10th,
| CD IT, -,
store had it's regular circle of lung
ers around it. The approach Of
Thanksgiving stirred old memories
of home, and raised doubts as to
whether this game of hardship, diff
Guilty and danger were really worth
the candle of hope consumed in play
ing it.
II presume, gentlemen" said Fer
guson, one Of Myra's earliest board
ers, known to be hopefessly smitten
by her charms-as, indeed, were
most of the others-and only re-
strained by constitutional bashful-
ness from declaring himself, that
all here are invited to the little Wild
der's Thanksgivin' dinner-and how
many of you know what the surprise
is she promised us after it?''
A man from Connecticut looked
exceedingly knowing, but nobody
answered. so Mr.. Ferguson was COM
PEELED to explode his sensation with
out delay.
"Well," he said, "she's a-goin' to
leave; that's it, and it's our fault If
we let her."
II don't see how you make it our
fault" said fat man; we've done
the best we knowed. l hate to lose
the wilder as bad as any boarder
she's got. At least" with q humor-
Gus look at Ferguson's blushing, ell
derby face-'I'd hate it as much as
most but / think we've done our
best to content her. When she
lowed she could cook better in a
house than in tent, the night after
the big blow, we all turned out and
put her up the shack, by lantern
light, between two days. That fell
Ter, Dave Anderson. does fer her like
a hired man. Shucked out, when she
got lonesome for the kids, and piled
over to Arkansas City and brought
back Peach and Honey, you know"
ut amt kids an shacks keeps a
woman like her contented," opined
Ferguson, scornfully. 'It's sassiety
she pines fer, an admiration, an
an'-courtin'-a husband I"
"Well," said the Connecticut man,
with humorous twinkle in his eye,
"''s far as / en- hear there no need
fer her to pine fer anything O. that
sort. II you think she's really lone
some, say we 60 up an call-mebby
we'll find out what her surprise is,
an where she's a-goin' to when she
leaves u.s."
Ferguson was only too glad to have
a supporter for his bushes, and ac-
coded readily. AS they came in sight
of the little shack its gayly fire-and-
lamplit windows looked very invit-
ing; but the Connecticut man know
ingly insisted that it would be best
to reconnoitre before rapping. They
slipped quietly across the bare little
yard and looked through the window.
Inside, glorified by freight, lamp
light, and that magical beautifier
and spring of perpetual youth, hap
piness, they saw Myra-Myra, the
children tucked away in bed, sitting
by her own fireside-but not alone.
Dave Anderson's arm was around