The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-03-09


N1ssssax tried and trusty
friend, and, if he was
9l->-~- sixty, such q con-
genial companion. He was always
ready to go fishing or coasting with
the boys, or to take the girls to drive
although he was bachelor and lived
alone, he had double carriage and
the largest sleigh on Pippin Hill-be-
cause he had as large a heart, Peggy
said. He knew so much about the
wild things in the woods as "The
Hunters Own Book" and on rainy
day or when one had the mumps or
measles he would tell stories by the
dozen-stories that were worth tell
ing, too, for he had been round the
world and home again" and knew all
there was to know about cannibals
and buccaneers and wild men, and all
such distinguished and interesting
people.
1t happened that the only houses on
the tip-top of Pippin Hill were the
Belfry Il suppose the Bells house
may have received that name because
Papa Bell always spoke of his children
as his "small fry;" anyway, that is
what every one in Bloomsboro' called
it) and the Pigeon house, which had
belonged to Mr.. Pigeons grandfather.
The houses backed up to each other,
and there was mutual backyard
fence, SO, of course, it was very desir-
able that the neighbors should be
friendly and congenial; more than
this there was q mutual apple tree.
The gnarled, old "high-top sweeting"
was directly on the boundary line be-
tween the two estates, and the mutual
| fence had been cut in two to make
space for it. Its branches were low
and spreading, in spite of its high top,
and they spread very impartially over
the Bells smooth lawn and over Mr.
Pigeons orchard, and dropped their
delicious fruit-early, the first sweet
apples that there were-almost as
evenly as if it were measured on each
of their owners land. The only diff
ference was that the August sunshine
lay longer upon Mr.. Pigeons side, so
the first red and yellow, mellow and
juicy apples dropped upon his orchard
grassland he tossed them up to
Christine in her seat in the low crotch
of the tree, the seat that he had made
| for her.
1t was Christine who thought the
most of Mr.. Pigeon and he OF her, be-
cause they both had a twist, Christine
said. She could always speak of her
trouble cheerfully, even jokingly.
You would scarcely have though that
she minded it ut all; it was a spinal
weakness which had bowed her shoul-
ders and twisted her head to one
side. The others didn't mind much
when Christine was left out of things;
they were rough, merry set, but Mr..
Pigeon had always remembered her
His twist was in one of his legs; he
had to wear an uncomfortable iron
boot, aud walked with q queer, side
ways motion.
When Becky, who was eleven and
was called the Bloomsboro' Budget
because she carried all the news, came
home with the dreadful intelligence
that Mr. Pigeon was going to move
away, no one would believe it.
SIN the first place it's too dreadful
to be true, and in the next place he
would have told us, said Peggy.
But it really proved to be true. Mr..
Pigeons sister-his own sisterl-had
gone to law to obtain a share of her
grandfather's estate, which he had
failed to bequeath to her because she
had gone contrary to his wishes in
some way, and the only share she
would have was that old estate on
Pippin Hill. Perhaps the law might
force her to take something else as
her share since he had held possession
there so long; but she was Hitty, and
he should give it up to her. That was
what Mr.. Pigeon said in answer to
the indignant remonstrances of the
Bells. She was Hitty; that was all
he would say; perhaps it wasn't much
of a reason, but the Bells understood.
We all know what it is to give up
things to people just because they are
Ky OF Polly or John.
SO it happened that the Bells dear
Mr.. Pigeon went away to a little
house that he owned down at Pequan-
ket Mills and Miss Mehitable Pigeon
Cdule 10 i've Nv INC Olu plucb On Il up
pin Hill and owned half of the high.
top sweeting tree.
Aud the very first thing she did
It was September when she came
was to threaten to have Tommy Bel
arrested, because when he shook then
side of the tree her side shook too
aud she said the top of the tire,
leaned toward their side aud more
apples fell there, so when the apples
were picked aud divided she mus
have an extra bushel. She threatened
to have their yellow kitten drowned
because he scampered after the hyinG
leaves in her garden and, she die
have their cross gobbler killed be
cause he ran after her red morning
gown, as gobbler will, you know
aud gobbled at her He wasn't mucl
oss aud she seat him home pl uckeC