Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-11-11
WHEN EB FORGOT THE END-GATE'


the little streams of water which drpped
from the melting snow on his boot-heelS'
Ebenezer Chenowith remarked, 81 think
we're going to have change OF wealth
er."
"Do you think it'll turn warmer "
Melissa turned from the table which
she was laying for supper and looked out
through the west window. A splash OF
red spanned the horizon, and its reflected
light tinted rose pink the banks OF snow
by the sheds and along the path to the
barn.
81 amt sure, but was wondering live
oughtn't to take those barrels OF lye ashes
over to your mothers tomorrow. We
won't be likely to have any good sleddln'
after this snow goes off, and it's sight
easier to get 'em in and out OF the shed
than the wagon"
"And III take my quilts over. Mother
and the girls'll help me, and maybe
they've got some new patterns. You
know haven't made up my blue merlno
yet"
Melissa thought Of dozen other rea-
sons why the visit should not be post
poned, and her eyes sparkled with de-
light as they sat down to supper.
"Maybe fathers been KILN and we
can have some fresh meat. Pm tired to
death of ham, amt you2" she said, as
she poured the coffee.
"Oh, Dunno" Eb answered, care
lessly, "but would like good mess O.
backbone with the tenderloin left on. ]"
He smiled across at his wife as he added,
al reckon you've been spoilin for a visit
home for a good spell, haven't you, Lis
sy?"
II was not yet daylight the next morn
ing when the bob-sled stopped at the
front gate, and "Lissy," muffled in shawlS
and wells, and loaded with bundles, clam
bered over the side of the sled and sat
down by her husband, putting her feet on
the hot bricks which he had tucked under
the robe.
The ride was uneventful. Ebenezer
and his wife had been born and raised"
in the country, and familiarity made them
Indifferent TO the almost uncanny beauty
OF the scene through which they passed.
Tall oaks and shagbark hickorieS lifted
their leafless branches in delicate tracery
against the sky. Copses of hazel brush
and low clumps of haws broke the severe
lines of the tree trunks, and to the left Of
the road a snake fence was etched boldly
upon the snow.
1t was a world asleep. There was no
wind, and the horses feet were deadened
by the soft snow through which the sled
runners cut noiseleSSly.
There were many tracks Of forest Great
ures in the snow-bird tracks, pricked
delicately on the surface, and rabbit tracks
leading from copse to copse. Once Eb-
enezer stopped his horses and examined
the prints where some larger animal had
crossed the road near the top OF the hill
which dipped to the gate leading out to
the big road.
"Those tracks look powerfully like a
painter's," he said, as he knocked the
snow off his boots and climbed back to
his seat. 81 reckon we'd better get
started home early enough not to get
caught after dark. It's lucky brought
my revolver. That's comfort, any
how"
But the sun had set and the twilight had
fallen before any one remembered the
time. Although il was Melisa's first year
away from her fathers house, the winter
had been hard and the days so short that
visits had been very infrequent, and con-
sequently there had been many things to
, talk about, new things to be displayed
and others to be planned for.
There had been receipts to be copied
and quilt pieces TO be looked up, basket
to be filled with sparerbs and backbone
with the tenderloin left on" And the
day had proved far too short for the need.
When Ebenezer went out to "hitch up"
he found that it had grown bitterly cold,
and the air was full of fine, singing
frost.
Mrs. Watson begged them TO stay all
night, and when her sou-in-law said he
could not stay away from his stock after
seeing panther's tracks, she protested,
"All the more reason for your not goin'
back through the woods after dark"
30 pshaw! Eb's got his revolver,
mother" Melissa put in, "and anyway,
haven't heard of a painters settin' upon
anybody for years. They're afraid of
people. It's the stock Eb's worried
about"
eyes, have my revolver" Ed an
swered, comfortably, "but we must get
started, Lissy. Are you all ready2 I've
hitched up right in the shed, and we'll
get in and get settled before drive out "
you'd better take that other feather
bed gave you," Mrs. Watson suggested,
"and sit on it, and wrap that log cabin
comfort round both of YOU"
"Lissy can," Eb answered. "'Ilsi on
the seat"
"You've got to put on my plaid shawl
over your head" broke in Melissa, ''ii
you sit up there. You know your ears
were frozen once. Better be on the safe
side"
They made funny appearance as they
drove out from the darkness of the shed.
Lissy looked like bundle of bedclothes,
and Eb bore hardly more resemblance to
human being.
Mrs. Watson ran out once more to give
| them a roll of candles and a box OF