Middletown transcript., 1897-07-10

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~
EEp -llSIA walters that af-
ESEd- Es6S noon. The Shane
~ FLEn2T walters lived on
n1[AF ly half a mile
MInggeA from the Bensons
fnyEDIksAK, as the crow or
MfTMlO' the bees flies; but
around by the road. as men walk or
ride, it was mere than three-quarters OF
mile.
As Katie Benson stood on the por-
tico, looking across theintervening val
ley along the -and-bee line, she
could see the straw carrier Of the thrash :
ing machine pointing obIiqnely upward
out of the back door of the barn, while
the straw hoated in ragged edge clouds
of yellow from its uppsr end and then
dropped airily upon the great round
stack where three or four men were
laboriously trudging about to trample
down the straw.
Now and then cloud of dust and
chaf would pour out of the door, driven
by the fresh breeze, and completely en-
veloped the workmen on the stack. At
intervals the hum of the machine
would reach Katie's ears. One of the
men was her father-he was building
the stack-and she wished that she was
over there herself, jumping about ON
the springy straw.
But it was Katie's duty to stay at
home that afternoon with her sister
Liza, two years older than she. and
Neddie, the ''baby" of the family, 4
years of age. Shortly after dinner Mrs.
Benson had said:
SNOW. girls, | must 60 over and help
Mrs. Shanewalter to cook supper for
the thrashing hands. Stay close to the
house all the afternoon. Don't gl away
for anything. And take good care of
Neddie.''
"Yes, of course, you can play any
where about the house,"
"And mayn't we haul Neddie in his
little wagon out in the road2';persisted
Liza.
'.If you promise not to go more than
q few rods from the gate"
"Oh, we promise, don't we, Katiew
Katie nodded her promise readily
enough, but there was strained ex-
preston on her pale little face as if she
were trying to suppress some agilating
emotion
"What,s the matter, Katie2" her
mother queried. YOU'RE not afraid
to stay with Liza and Neddie, ATE
you?"
"A little red rosebud suddenly bios
somed out on each of Katie's pale
cheeks and her eyes scrutinized crew
ice in the floor into which she was try
ing to thrust her bare little toes.
"No-I guess not just little,n she
stammered, in a self-contradictory way.
"You needn't be afraid at all, Katie"
said Mrs. Benson, putting all the as
surance she could into her tones. "There
isn't anything TO harm you.n
sOh, Katie'se such 'fraidy-cat," /"
scoffed Liza. 'Shs'd be scared at a
mouse's shadow, so she would, il she
was alone. The other day she saw a
little snake in the yard, two rods away
from her, and what do you think she
didP She just stood in her tracks an
screamed as loud as ever she could, till
got stick an killed the snake. Poohl
1t wou 'dn't have hurt her,"
81 can't help being afraid Of things"
Katie sobbed.
whats the use to be afraid" boast
ed Liza. II am not at all afraid Of
anything. l wouldn't be such 'fraidy-
cat as Katie is! I'd have mora spunkI'
Liza's lofty way of putting her own
heroism in contrast with Katie's tim
idity stung her little sister to the quick
brir ging hot tears to her eyes. She knew
she was tfraidy-cat, and that was
just what made her sensitive to her
sis er's j bes.
For awhile after her mother had
gone, Katie could not revive her cour-
age. She stood on the portico. and gaz-
ed longingly across the valley at the
thrashers. Every sound about the house
and barn startled her. and she had vis-
ions of tramps and robbers galore, if
not Of wild AMI sayays b3as:s poun-
cling down upon the unprotected chill
dren left alone in charge of the large,
rambling farmhouse. Liza guyed her
for awhile, making her weep still
more.
But presently game of hide-and-
sesk in the large, bushy yard drove all
the little /" 'fraidy-cats'sn fears out OF
her mind. A jolly afternoon they we're
spending. sometimes putting Neddie
into his small wagon and pulling him
back and forth along the road in front
of the house. The wagon was an old
fashioned, homemade one. with a
rough box and pole and heavy little
wheels hewn out of thick board; but
it was strong and serviceable, and no
| doubt Ei eased the children fully as well
as the trig express-wagons of to-day
please our own boys and girls.
| At about half-past three they were
playing with the wagon in the road.
Katie began to feel little tired with
| her vigorous romping, and presently
| she said to Liza:
Pm going to sit on our post and
rest awhile. -
| She opened the gate and stepped into
the yard, and then followed little
| rath = hiding through thick clump Of
rose bushes and berry stalks to the cor.
| ner "a the yard, where couple of steps
| o...tf..zl 49,. k..-.,Is..of. ~ ~ a