Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-01-05
The UNLIMITED Guest.

Keep within the house, Betsey. and
look well to the doors and windows. Be
busy with the apples. II will be but
play for smart wench to get them done
before night; and, when they are all
strung the spinning wheel stands
ready"
Such were the parting words of Han
nah Doten, as she climbed into the wag-
on with her son Jonathan, and set forth
to market, with thirty pounds of fresh
butter and the first new potatoes of the
season. On the potatoes lay a gun, for
those were the days when Indians lurked
near white mems homes, and when wild
beasts disputed the land with the new
Corners.
The house to which Betsey D0ten
turned as her mother drove away, was
log CABIN on green pank by brook
siGr, Green fields and woods surround
ed It. and as far as the eye could reach.
no other house was to be seen. Small
wonder. then, that Betsey rejoiced today
in having companion--her cousin Lucy.
whose welcome presence would ROB the
tedious hours of half their length.
ut would be Il stout arm that could
force that door" said Lucy, merrlly, as
Betsey swung the thick door to It's place.
and laid the bars across. She was fast-
enlng the ntdNN WlHuON ShullNlS WYNN
Lucy exclaimed:
''Prithee. child. why make it a prison?
Leave this window open. My father
SAYS there is little to fear In broad day
light He thinks the Indians have passed
us by this time: and, If they were com
ing, we know night is their time, of
surety. Hurry and get the pot boiling,
and then let me show You the new purse
stitch | learned it from Desire Brad
ford, when / was in Plymouth. Her
cousin brought it from England. As for
the apples. never fear but we Will cut
them in twinkling by and by
So Bctsey made the stew, and left 1t
to cook in the big iron kettle that hung
over the fire, and. seating herself beside
Lucy gave n willing mind to the mys-
teries of the new stitch. Suddenly Lucy
laid down her needles and put her curly
head through the window.
See, Betsey," she said, "how blue the
sky is, | cannot breathe here. Come out
a bit. and let us look for the berries that
you say grow on the hillside. They Will
make IA pretty sauce to our dinner.
For moment Betsey hesitated, for
she remembered her mothers command
to stay within doors. but Lucy was her
guest and not to be lightly refused. Be
sides. in her secret heart, she, too, longed
for run in the open air. The dark,
morning. So laying another stick on
the fire she put her misgivings in her
pocket along with her knitting, and. TAX
ing a pail. the two girls sailed forth.
"Ah. Betsey!" said Lucy. rs they tolled
M the hill where the berries grew thick
est and sweetest, you should see the
spinet in my aunt's drawing room! And
Sweetly she plays it. too. There Is but
one thing | like better than to hear ii.
a., =. q, lit cha mi no
look ut the beautiful silk frocks and the
crimson velvet mantle wrought with sill
yer. When | beg to look at them. she
spreads them on the bed. with the laceS
and high-heeled slippers and silk stock
ings When [ see them, | wish we We're
all in England, where maidens wear such
things. and keep their hands white and
soft to play the spinet."
Betsey looked at her little red hands.
rough with working hard indoors and
ont. and hid them beneath her apron.
For moment she silently echoed Lucy'S
wish Then. looking around on the rich
green fields and thick woods, she said:
Il would like to see England. but me
thinks | like this land too we'll to leave
it, London would stife me, and | should
long for the sweet air of home. But.
truly. those clothes whereof you speak
must he marvellous fine. Prithec, let me
hear more tales
Had Lucy's stories been less fascinat-
ing it might have been easier for Betscy
to 90 back to the house of which her
mother had left her to be the little mis-
treSs. But Betsey did not have an or
portunity every day to hear of new silk
gowns and balls and parties and all the
delightful things that girl with grown
up sisters ut home and an aunt i'll Boston
could tell. So the two girls loiteretL on
the hillside. needless how high the sun
NxnG eli nol,i ut In rs Al
by sure signs the near approach of dim
ner time. and turned homeWard.
Laughing and chatting gaily. they APP
preached the house. when suddenly. to
their horror. they saw that large hear
had made his way through the open door
and was standing by the fire with his
nose over the Savory kettle. Lucy
drCnped her pail of berries and would
have screamed but for BetSey'S quick
hand oven her mouth. Cautiously they
crept around the houSe to the omen win
dow and there. with frightened faces and
withdrawing hearts. they stood and
gazed mt the intruder. The bear, which
was. an unusually large one. was appar-
entity hungry, for he seemed to find the
inviting odor of the dinner quite TO his
mind. 1t was easy to SOC that his dull
brain waS struggling With the difficulties
If the situation. Indeed. he appeared to
have already made advances To the hot
u
the fourth carefully above the floor.
Suddenly. thought seized BetSev. 1t
was but step; the thing was worth try
ing. Without ii word to Lucy. she ran TO
the barn. and soon returned with Il pitch
fork. Leaning forward through the open
window with one swift motion, she
dashed the cover of the kettle To the
floor. letting the steam arise in n fragrant
cloud. straight into Bruins face He
drew back Instantly, and with a fierce
growl terrible to hear. ran out of the
house aud down the road.
Quick. Lucy said BetSey; and they
dartpd into the hoBSe. 1t was hut the
work of a moment Ia bar the door and
window: and through loophole they
watched the bear. as he turned into the
woods and disappeared.
20 BetSey. What if he had seen us
when We were picking berries" said
Lucy. sitting down in the middle Of the
floor and beginning to CRY.
Bctsry said nothing. But the thought