The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-12-17


and pitched in Mlthcah; and they
went from Mithcah and pitched In
Hashmonah; and they departed from
Hashmonah and encamped at Nose
roth"
Uncle Levi Swain paused here to
take breath, and a sweet voice. with
the clear, distinct ring of a laugh in
It, called out:
"Iow funny! From some places
they went, and from others they
removed and from others they de-
parted and in some they pitched,
and in others they 'encamped, and
so on. 1 suppose they encamped
where the country was level, and
pitched where it wasn't; and l sup
pose
"'They shouldered arms and marched,
marched away,
From Baxter street to Avenue A.
The drums and flies did sweetly,
sweetly play
AS they marched, marched, marched
In the Mulligan Guards
And the voice rang out the odd,
sweet melody and pair of smart
little boots clicked out the time, in
march across the uncarpeted kitchen
door.
Uncle Levi let the Holy Book fall
back, and over his round glasses
peered reprovingly at the trim little
figure.
"vashta Osborne. you are child
of Belial!"
"Who is he?" and she paused, and
,looked with wonder at the severe old
man.
"If you lived as you ought, you'd
know"
"But would be child of Belial If
lived as l ought?"
Certainly not"
"But being his child--I say, uncle,
is he a she?"
"Uncle Levi looked down at the
Good Book, and was very silent
well, as / was saying, being a
child of this person. suppose can
call my own parent a person, If /
choose-how can / be any better?
Are children OF Belial ever good?"
"Never!"
thOh ~ ibA ily ldullb ~ Dclldl 81
Look here! Here's conundrum: If
Belial is my father or mother, and
I'm child of the same, how much"
"Vashti Osborne, go out of the
room!" Numbered Uncle Levi
Vashti went like shot out of
gun, and climbed, with shocking
dexterity, over the fence at the lower
part Of the garden, and went gallop-
ing over the field, with her hair fly
Ing in tow-cloud behind her. her hat
hanging by one string down over her
back, and her voice ringing out like
hunting cry:
"Hello, John! Jo-hn!"
A stalwart fellow, with face dark
as Moor's, stepped out from behind
group of dwarf pear trees, and
showed line of snow-white teeth, in
broad smile, as he asked
What is all this row about?"
II am a child of Belial! Do tell
me something about this parent of
mine? 1t quite bothers me"
Who says so?"
"Uncle Levi, and he knows. Now
what are we like-we children of
this same Belial?"
pretty, l should say. Sweet,
bright, lovely, womanly. oh. Vashti,
as far as know, they are altogether
beautiful and perfect!"
John dropped his pruning knife,
and would have kissed her then and
there, but for the sudden surprise
that for moment filled the blue
eyes.
What goosel I'll go straight
up to Uncle Levi and tell him. I"
"Don'ti For that would not at all
agree with his idea OF Belial's chill
dren. 4"
"Then, II you please and vashti's
eyes dropped and her mouth grew
grave, "let us say no more about 1t. I"
All at once she became a dainty,
lady-like young person, who had
come down from the city to spend her
summer, and who really hadn't an
idea Of flirting with her Uncle Lewis
step-son, even though he was big,
strong and handsome. and knew a
thousand times as much as she did.
It did not matter very much whom
Vashti fell in love with, for she al
ways fell right out again; and every
body who knew her minded no more
about her infatuations than they did
Tor puff OF wind. unless the victims
resented and made themselves disa-
greeable.
Hut this John Madison was a little
inherent from Vashtis former lovers.
ihey had been young men. with no
particular reason for loving her, be-
yond the fact that she was pretty and
Jolly, and who were easily consoled
with somebody else; or they had been
oid fellows with plenty OF money, who
wanted a wife 10 reflect credit upon
themselves, and to gracefully hold the
position as mistress OF fine house.
When Vaahti's mother brought ner
w'it young daughter down to the
~rm house, and saw the splendid