Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1897-11-25
POOR OLD D D .|.)!|| III ; !
BY ANGELA Woods.
[CopyriEht. 1871
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buck valley In central OhlO were
well acquainted with the hardships COM
mon topioneer life. It required not lit
tlecourage and perseverance, toconquer
the forests and to extermi natssthe rep
tiles and wolves; but asstill more for
midable foe to these lonely people was
the miasma that arose from the slow,
muddy creek that wound its way
through the beautiful valley. If you
were to walk to-day, through the bury
ing ground on the East Hill, you would
read the story upon the little white
slabs so thickly set in the green grass.
It was hard climate for little chill
dren. It. a.. 49,. Ra@k ~ ~ Msgaa 80, %4
In those days., when travelling to #a
new country was done by wagons, it
was customary for wagons to join g.
train, whether strangers or not;% and
when one or two or three dropped out,
no one thought it strange, or indeed
thought of it at all. 2 For this reason
no one knew when Diadamie came or
where she lived 1 80 E% ST
The people of the village knew her
only as peddler of the berries that
grew amongst the hills. These berries
were rich and sweet, and were keenly
relished where fruit was almost un-
known. The housewives had learned
to expect Diadamie some time early in
July, and thereafter once, twice or
perhaps three times a week. 'a'r
Diadamie's approach to the village
wasacross the creek through a covered
bridge, which brought her suddenly to
the foot of the main and only street.
She carried large basket upon her
head, and as she emerged from the
bridge her clear nell low voice rang out
upon the summer air + "Old |Diadamie,
huk-kell-berries.'' This call was re-
peated from door to door, until the last
of the little shining berries were dis
posed of. Then Diadamie would make
some small purchases at the village
store, always including stick or two
of bright red and white striped candy,
after which she walked out across the
stretch of level road and disappeared
in the shadow of the mountain.
Why she called herself "Old dada
mic" was mystery. Her figure was
straight and slim, and she walked with
a quick, firm step which. does not be-
long to age. Her eyes were blue, but
of so dark shade as to be easily mis-
taken for black. Her hair was deep
black, with a strong tendency to curl
had it not been dashed back with bands
and pins in her effort to subdue it. Her
mouth was large and strong, and when
she laughed she showed that every
tooth was of amazing wilderness and
perfection. Diadamie wore dress of
indigo blue calico, with a ssunbonnet
of the same material. She was always
scrupulously clean and neat.
lDiadamie's house was little more
thansa hut. It was built of logs and
had but one room; it was situated upon
the top Of the mountain, hemmed in
and sheltered by the dense forest. But
Diadamie did not live quite alone. No,
i she had Tietro-Tietro, who. knew her
onlySSas Nanan. Walled in by huge
drifts of snow, the winters were drear
enough to this strange pair. When
summer came, and Dadamie was
obliged to spade and plant her garden,
and later to go on long walks gather
ing berries, and afterwards to tramp to
the village to dispose of them, the days
were long and lonely for Tietro. twas
then in the silence of the mountain
that little Metro's brain was full Of
imaginings that caused him to ask
many bewildering questions Of Dada
mie upon her return. II
Tietro sat all day long just as Dia-
DAME had placed him in the rudely-
constructed chair, which was high
enough to enable him to look out Of the.
window. There was rest tor the long.