The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-01-26

wandered from the book around the
neatly-kept room, from the yellow paint
ed floor. almost covered with braided
mats. to the pink and white bed quilt,
and to the lttle pictures and keepsakes
here and there, then out through the
dimity curtains into the world beyond
A beautiful world 1t was, in all the
tints Of spring. The trees were just
smoothing out their crumpled leaves,
and down in the wood lot, the hobble-
bushes cleaned like drifts Of snow in
the shimmer Of faintest pink and daz-
zling green. Along the grassy banks OF
the brook, winding through the oppo-
site field. great punches of violets held
up their purple bonneted heads;
through the apple orchard the pink
buds were bursting into white bios
SONS, and by the roadside patches OF
bluets looked like tiny sheets Of snow,
defying the spring sunshine. The door
yard was dotted with Mayweed and
lecked with dandelion gold, while
through the still air, now and then. a
sweet bird note sounded.
Just as the clock in the kitchen
struck five, Sophy saw Luther Sargent
drive down the hill and turn into the
lane. She ran quickly downstairs to
tell her mother saying: What if he
asks me to go to ride with him?"
"Wcll. it's a pleasant day. Slip of
that pink calico, put on your new dress
an best hat, an 60"
What will father say to my going
Sunday night?"
"Oh, I'll make It all right with your
futher. You 60 TO the door, an show
Luther into the parlor. Roll up the
green paper curtains first; mind you
don't tear EN- said Mrs. Goodwin. as
she dropped her gingham apron, dis
closing white one underneath, q pre-
caution which she always took in case
a neighbor might drop in.
In response to sophy's Walk in,"
Luther said: "Guess won't step in.
side. III stay by Charlie; he don't like
to stand very well. jest drove round
to see II you wouldn't like to go to ride
q little ways, tho weather's SO fine"
Mrs. Goodwin came out, sat down on
the door rock, and inquired how
Luther's mother was this summer, II
she had commenced TO make cheese yet,
and how many acres Of corn he was zeal.
c'latin'" to plant.
In few minutes Sophy was roady
at seems to be cloudin' up little over
there in the west, but s'pose there
haint no need O. your takin' an um.
brell," said Mrs. Goodwin, as the couple
drove of.
Soon they were 20 busy talking Of 9th.
er things that the weather was forgotten
Sophy loved horses. and Charlie turned
back his pretty ears to isten to her
praises OF his glossy coat and beautiful
wavy name.
Suddenly Luther exclaimed: "Itt
sort O. breexin' up!" and looking
around, he saw large black cloud, of a
peculiar shape, rolling up in the sky.
"Sure's preechin', Sophy, there's q
shower q comm. It's furder back to
your house than 'ts 70 ourn. Guess
youll hs~ to go homo with me an wait
till It's over"
just then Charlie felt the whip on
his back, un unusual sensation, but ap-
parently taking In the situation, he
started for Q rece with the storm. Soon
the dust whirled in clouds. the tender
new leaves were flying through the air,
and the big drops began to fall.
"Tain't no use said Luther. ''we
shll hev to drive up to the next house
here. You know Leander Perry's folks,
don't ye? An their barn doors open.
Leander Perry had been "raised" in
that neighborhood, but had afterwards
gone west, where he had remained sew.
eral years, with varying fortunes.
When asked why he returned to his old
home, no had said: "As soon's get a
little ahead, long 'ud come a cyclone
an sweep away everything, 30 reck.
oned Id come back to New England
where they didn't hev such things"
Leander came hurrying out of the
barn to greet his guests, saying: "Wall,
e. WI. out west sh'd say We wuz in
fur re9lar cyclone"
Luther jumped out, but Sophy, feel.
ing rather bashful. as she was not ac.
quainted with Mrs. Perry, said she
would rather sit in the buggy. So they
fastened Charlie in the farther corner
OF the harm, next the shed. Soon, how
ever, the women folks came ou:, and
prevailed upon Sophy to go In with
them.
No sooner were they seated in the sit
ting-room than the storm grow rapidly
worse. Tho rain swept in binding
sheets across the field, and 1t grew SO
dark that they could barely see the out
lines Of the swaying trees across the
road. The old house fairly rocked with
each gust Of wind, then came a sharp
fash OF light, followed by terrific
crash that almost stunned them. When
they recovered sufficiently to look from
the windows the clouds were lifting
and the returning light revealed the
jooryard, scattered with bricks from
the great chimney and broken branches
L - l.