The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-08-08

oa AVAo
over his books and papers. They
were old books and old papers too,
although so much enjoyed, for, II
was seldom a newspaper penetrated
that wild country, and books were
scarce and read over and over
till their contents we're we'll digested
and consequently afforded good nour-
ishment to the reader. Mr.. Laselle
was IN educated man in the schools
of France, his native country, but the
books he had brought with him into
the wilderness were educating him
far better than his text books to Ali
the noble position he had aspired to,
to belong to the advance guard to
take hold OF a great wilderness alive
only with wild savages and beasts
of prey and wrest IL fof civilization,
Christianity and God. (Books of his
tory, of biography, Pf philosophy
and poetry, filed witfgreat thoughts
and great deeds, wi 1t wonder they
worked into the h1BB of the pioneer
no little of their gyBatness and made
him a worthy staYiArd bearer of the
invinoiblo army that was to follow
him.
MIR. Laselle enjoyed the free life
he wed In this new country. No
sas ss1If|11IGn fliIlss e sssn !;
own reason and Conscience to follow.
Ills daughter, like her father, enjoy
ed the great echoing forest, the
creeks, rivers and prairie, and even
the dangers surrounding them did
not intirlidate her or spoil her en-.
joyment.
When the days work became tire
some to her she caught her pony and
with her loaded gun, started out in
search Of game. AS we see her rid.
ing up the path to the house, her
black curls waving in the breeze, her
cheeks like twin roses, and her dark
eyes sparkling with pleasure there
there could be no fairer picture, and
this her mother thought as she stood
in the door and saw her ride up.
"Why, Annette, what is that you
have In the blanket2" she asked, as
Annette threw a huge bundle on the
stump in front Of the door.
"a deer, mother! 1 shot him my
self, I told you / would kill one,
Seei 1 dressed it, too" She laughed
merrily as she turned the deer out
of the blanket TO-: her mother to see.
Mrs. Laselle was a thin little M
very pale and pinched looking. She
was not as much in love with the
border life as her husband and
daughter. There were 80 many
things to worry the poor lady, how
could she like It. She was not used
to roughing and TOUCHING and living
on barks and roots and herbs. Sas-
safras tea could not fll the place OF
coffee, o could maple sap I'LL the
place of sugar. She sighed for the
Injuries of civilization and the signing
brought irritability and that brought
Ill health, which made matters still
worse; But the bright, happy An.
nettc could always bring the smiles
to her sad countenance.
"What a child you are," she said
laughing to see Annette's pride and
pleasure. 81 am going back mother,
to shoot another" she said, "for
there are two at the lick now and /
almost know l can shoot one." The
lick was a bank of the creek, which
the deer ~frequented to lick the salt,
and the settlers secured great num-
bers in this way. "But Annette"
her mother said, "the sun is most
down and you will not have time, be
sure not to stay long-I am lone
some with you away-you know pa
Ia away off in the woods chopping."
"pll be back in an hour, mother,
whether I kill q deer or not" said
A npatta M ,1.> u1la ~a
''Take care, Annette, and don't get
hurt" Mrs. Laselle called anxiously
as she galloped away down the path
to the creek. 1t was a winters
evening and dried leaves covered
the ground. The frosty air was ex-
hilarating and the clear bright u n
shine 30 cheerful and pleasant to see
straying through the leafless trees.
Squirrels and rabbits scampered out
Of her way as she rode on in a brisk
walk through the forest. Her pony
as black as a row she called Glossy,
for his beautiful sleek appearance.
Her father had captured him from a
wild herd but he was now perfectly
gentle and seemed to know he car
risd . precious burden, so daintily
he picked his way through the for
est. At the stroke Of IN X which
echoed and re-echoed far away,
Glossy would throw up his head and
seem to iissaasz and -asy Fhe leaves
would rattle with the step of some
animal the same cautious watchful.
ness was manifested. He had been
himself q wsnderer in the wilderness
and he knew its dangers, far better
than his unconscious, guileless little
mistress. She was not thinking of
wolves and p%anthers, and their
proximity gave her no uneasiness.