The Jasper news., 1921-08-04

wouldn't swap with him."
Samson smiled, remembering that
Robert had liquor store. "Look here,
Henry Brimstead. we're hungry" he
said. "If ye furnish the water, we'll
skirmish around for bread and give
ye as good dinner as ye ever hud
In yer life"
Henry took the horses to his barn
and watered and fed them. Then he
brought two pals Of water from the
spring. Meanwhile Samson started a
fire In a grove OF small poplars by
the roadside and began brolllng venl-
son, and Sarah got out the bread
bonrd and the flour and the rolllng-pin
and the teapot AS she waited for
the water she called the three strange
children to her side. The Oldest was
girl OF ten, with face uneOmmonly
refined and attractive. In spite Of
her threadbare clothes. she had o
neat and cleanly look and gentle man
ners. The youngest was a boy of
four. They were a pathetic trio.
where's your motherr Sarah
asked of the ten-year-old girl.
dead. Died when my little brother
was born"
"WhO takes care of your"
'Father and-God. Father says
God does most of It."
"0h dear" Sarah exclaimed, with
look Of pity.
They had a good dinner OF fresh
biscuits and honey and venison and
eggs and tea. While they were eating
Samson told Brlmstead of the land of
plenty.
After dinner, while Brlmstead was
bringing the team, one of his chill.
dren. the blonde, pale, tattered little
girl of six, climbed into the wagon
seat and sat holding a small rag doll,
which Sarah had given her. When
they were ready to go she stubbornly
refused to get down.
"rm goin' away" she said. I'm
goln' aw-a-ay off to find my mother.
l don't like this .place. There amt
no Santa Claus here. I'm goIn' awny."
She clung to the wagon seat and
cried loudly when her father took
her down.
"Aln't that enough to break mans
hearth" he said with a sorrowful look.
Then Samson turned 10 Brlmstead
and asked:
Look here, Henry Brlmstead. are
you drinking man2 Honor bright
now"
"Never drink thing but water and
tea."
do you know anybody who'll give
ye anything for what you own here7"
There's a man In the next town
who offered me. three hundred and
fifty dollars for my interest"
"Come along with us and get the
money IL you can. III help ye, fit
up and go where ye can earn a llv'
Ing"
"rd like to. but my horse is lame
and ] can't leave the children"
"Put 'em right I'm this wagon and
come on. II there's livery In the
place. I'll send ye home"
So the children rode In the wagon
and Samson and Brimstead walked.
while Sarah drove the team to the
next village. There the good woman
bought new clothes for the whole
Brimstead family and Brlmstead sold
his interest In the sand plains and
bought n good pair Of horses. with
harness and some cloth for a wagon
cover. and had fifty dollars In his
pocket and a new look In his fnce.
He put his children on the backs of
the horses and led them to his old
home, with a sack OF provisions on
his shoulder. He was to take the
track of the Traylors next day and
begin his journey to the shores OF
the SangamOn.
They got into a bad swale that
afternoon and Samson had to cut
some corduroy to nuke a footing for
team and wagon and do much prylnp
with the end OF heavy pole under
the front axle. By and by the horses
pulled them out.
''When OIL Colonel bends his neck
things have to move. even II he IL
up to his bell. IN the mud" said
Samson.
AS the day waned they cnme TO q
river In the deep woods. 1t was an
Exquisite bit OF forest with the bells
of hermit thrush ringing In onG
Of Its towers Their call and thC
low song OF the river were the only
sounds In the silence. The glow Of
the setting sun which lighted the
western windows Of the forest had q
| coIor Ifke fhaf Of the musIc-Qoldan
Long shafts OF It fell through the
tree columns upon the road here
and there. Our weary travellers stopped
on the rude plank. bridge thai
crossad the river Odors of halsan