Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-05

The horses shook and tremblcd at the
roaring thunder Of the strings.
having put on my cap and coat, stood
me on the table and stopped so that
could climb into the basket-a pack
basket that he had used In hunting. the
top n little smaller than the bottom.
once in. | could stand comfortably or
sit facing sideways, my back and knees
wcdGed from port to starboard. With
ne In my place, he blew out the lantern
and CROPPED his way TO the road. his
cane in one hand, his rife in the other
Fred, our old dog-a black shepherd.
with tawny points-came after us.
Uncle Eb scoldcd him and tried to send
him back, but plead for the poor crea-
our party.
dunno how we'll feed him." said
Uncle Eb. "Our own mouths are big
enough { take all we can carry, but
hahn no heart t. leave i'm all lone
there"
l was old for my age. they tell me-
and had a serious look and n wise way
Of talking for a boy SO young. but
had no notion of what lay before or be-
hind us.
Nov. boy. take good look at the
old house" remember he whispered
to me at the gate that night. "'Tain't
likely yell ever see it agin. Keep quiet
now" he added, letting down the bars
ut the foo. Of the lane. We're goin'
west an We muslin. let the grass
grow under us. Got t. be purity spry.
can tell ye."
1t was quite dark. and he felt his
way carefully down the COW paths into
the broad pasture. With every step
kept a sharp lookout for swifts. an
the moon shone after awhile, making
my work easier.
had to hold my head down present
~ when the tall brush began to whip
tie basket. and | heard the big boots
Of Uncle Eb ripping the briers. Then
we came into the blnckness of the thick
timber. and ! could hear him feeling
his way over the dead leaves with his
cane. got down shortly and walked
beside him, holding on to the rife with
one hand. We stumbled often and
were long in the trail before we could
SEQ the moonlight through the tree col
umns. In the clearing climbed to my
seat again. and by and by we came to
the road, where my companion sat
down, resting his load on bowlder.
pretty hot. Uncle Eb; pretty hot
he said to himself. tanning his brow
with that old felt hat he wore every
where. We've come three mile ei
more without stop. an l guess we'd
better rest a fifty"
My legs nched, too, and I was get
ting very sleepy. remember the jolt
Of the basket as he rose and hearing
him say, "Well. Uncle Eb. guess wee
better be goin'."
The elbow that held my head, lynn
on the rim Of the basket, was aread,
numb. but the prickling could no Ion
| ger rouse me, and. half dead with wea
riness. l fell asleep, Uncle Eb has told
me since that tumbled out Of the has
ket once and that he had time Of
getting me IN ngain. but l remember
nothing more of that days history.
When l woke In the morning ! could
hear the cracking Of Are and felt very
warm and cozy wrapped in the big
shawl. got a CHEEKY greeting from
Uncle Eb, who was feeding the fire
with a big heap Of sticks that he hat
| piled together. Old Fred was licking
my hands with his rough tongue, and
| nuppoco Tint 10 xx,bot oil mo Tns
was sleeping In the little pot that hung
| over the fire. aud our breakfast Of boil
ed eggs and bread and butter lay on {
paper beside it. l remember we'll thu
scene Of our little camp that morning
We had come TO II strange country, an(
there was no road In sight a wooded
hill lay back of us, and Just before raj
noisy little brook, winding between
smooth banks. through long pasture
into dense wood. Behind wall OF
the opposite shore great field Of rus
Ting corn filled a broad valley ant
stood higher than mans head.
While went to wash my face in til,
clear water Uncle Eb was husk In,
some ears of corn that he took out o
his pocket and had them roasting owe
the fire In a moment. We ate heartily
giving Fred two big slices Of bread ant
butter. packing up with enough remain
ing for another day. Breakfast over
we doused the fire. and Uncle Eb p,l
On his basket. He made after q SOUR
rel presently with old Fred and brough
him down out Of tree by hurlin
| ~ <nl 81
lower of'our camp got bit of meat TO
his breakfast We climbed the wall a
he ate and buried ourselves In the dee
corn. The fragrant, silky tasseIs brusl
el my face suf, the. corn hlssed at .ou