Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-08-22


ago the members of the Balde family
took their seats in the big wagon Faith
er Balde had just driven up before the
door.
Although it was a weekday, all were
dressed in their Sunday best. Mother
Balde wore q pretty merinO gown,
short waisted, scant in the skirt and
with puffed sleeves: her sweet face,
with smooth banded hair, peeped out
from huge scoop bonnet. garlanded
with roses and tied with big bow.
She wore mitts, and a Canton shawl
with long silk fringe.
Father Balde's coat was long-tailed
and buttOned up tightly; his shirt
bosom was ruffied, and around his neck
was wound a black satin stock. He
looked like the picture OF Andrew Jack
son, Abby thought.
The boys. Ben and Joe, were resplend-
ent in new blue "roundabouts" with
brass buttons. As for Abby herself, she
felt very fine In her pink frock, en-
broidered pantalettes, leghorn hat and
sandal slippers. Father had just open
ed his mouth to say Get up" to the
horses, when somebody was seen hur.
rying down the dusty crossroads. and
two shrill voices called out. "Wait!'
1t was Aunt Prushy Becker and her
sister, Miss Rushy. Many years before
these two spinster ladies had been
named Prussia" and Russia" They
came up, putting and swinging their
green reticules like big hOp-blOssoms.
WED like to go to town and see Itr'
gasped Aunt Prushy. Il says to Rushy,
We've seen the stage-coach in its day,
an "Clinton's Ditch" and now we want
to see It!"
Father and Mother Balde exchanged
glances. then the latter said gently,
ABBY. l guess you and the baby had
better get out and make room for our
neighbors."
Abby obeyed without a murmur, for
that was the way children were brought
up in those days.
ITS too bad to have the child stay
1t home on account Of u.s." said Aunt
Rushy, hesitatingly.
Tut! tut! She'll live to see 1t long
after you and Prushy and the rest Of
us are laid away In the churchyardy'
exclaimed Father Balde, as he started
up the prancing team.
Abby walked slowly up the path
leading to the house. Her face was
very sober, and I'm not sure that few
tears did not spot the pretty lavender
strings Of her bonnet. But she sOon
grew more cheerful, especially when
Baby Elizabeth, sleeping in her arms,
awoke and began to smile and cool
"Yes, yes. little sister, you and are
left behindw said Abby. I'VE can't 60
to town, hear the band play, buy train
ing gingerbread and candy 'Gibraltars'
and see It-butI Wen go down on the
hillside, and you can roll on the green
grass and I'll read The Children Of the
Abbey!"
J Soon the baby sister lay cOntentedly
on her blanket spread on the grass. her
fat hands clutching clover-tufts, while
Abby sat reading. But the eyes of the
latter often wandered from her book
to the pleasant scene before her-the
broad fats, green and fertile; the Mo-
hawk River winding In and out like a
silver thread, and close beside 1t the
straighter line of the canal.
Nearly still was something that of
late had especially attracted Abby's at
tention-a long row of wooden ties of
yellow-white newness, and across them
steel rails stretching far up and down
the valley. The crowd of foreign work
men, who for weeks past had labored
there with pickaxe and hammer, had
gone away.
But suddenly shrill sound smote the
silence-a sound never before heard
throughout the length Of the green
vale!
Abby sprang to her feet and looked
eagerly eastward. What WAS that she
saw-that great black something. rum
bling and rushing. making ole tEiak Of
the fiery dragon st. George slew:
With swift motions it glided aIona
the steel rails-there was a strange.
looking cab or cart filed with gentle
uen wearing tall hats and black satin
tocks like her father's-and then the
noastee ah0t away, leaving q cloud Of
moks and . shower Of red sparks b.
MA III