Year: 1860

There never was such a romp as myself yet
J little bit Of thing, ever ready TO
..vanish into thin air'' when the Orthodox
minister called, or Aunt Emma chided me for
some misdemcanor, pa said, ssCome Fan,
stop that mischief and put on sober face"


always had strange antipathy TO the ssmas-
culine GENDER which my mother sagey re-
marked, would end in my utter ruin, for who
would ever take fancy to such fy-away for
wife As for pa, he always said | never
could stop long enough to get married.


always told the folks, however, that
should be married when found time, and that
had nv future husbands miniature. min
iaiurc in fact / had. When but child,
was playing IN little grove, when I espied q
chain gittcring in the sdnbeams. l drew it
from its hiding place, and found locket at
Tackled to it, which sprang open by my acci-
dentally touching the spring, revealing the
portrait of little boy, about my own age, who
looked 50 roguish at me out Of his deep blue
ewes sid bad such sweet miSchievouS smile
that tnced with delight, and ran home with
elec to show my mother the treasure l had
found. | always wore this miniature around
my neck, and when any one jested with me a.
boIt getting married, would laughingly show
them the locket, which said contained my
future husbands miniature.


As | was quite an equestrian, my father
bought me, when | was old enough TO ride a.
lone, little black pony and we. that is, the
pony and /, used TO go racing the plains.
Pa used to say looked like some wild gypsy.
Generally took one particular road, which
seemed more pleasant than all the rest of Fai-
rvpeok. There another, however, run
ming parallel to it for mile or two and at
cro> sing these two met, and then ran off in
opposite directions.


1t used to bc my favorite route TO take one
ofthese until had reached the crossing, and
then the other road and so around home.


l.
have a good ride before the rest of the family
were awake. Dick was very impatient until
was fairly seated, when he sped away like
lightning, my hair and Dicks name flying in
the breeze.


While | was going at this rate, Dick sud-
denly stopped short and turned his head to the
opposite road. l looked up TO see what was
the matter, when, to my amazement, saw a
tall, manly figure coming my way, seated on
Jet black horse. Now for race thought [.
! knew if l could reach the crossing first
should win. When | gained it, | glanced be-
hind TO see that my youth had not come in
sight, then reined in my pony behind a clump
OF trees ard shrubbery where we always stop
ped to rest in the cool shade. Soon my cham
pion made his appearance, and halted, looked
up and down the road bewildered, to see what
had became of NE; then bending his eyes to
the ground, he vainly tried TO discover my po-
ny's footprints.


After turning his horse around at least half
dozen times in 4 very laughable manner, the
stranger came to the conclusion, | suppose,
that had not reached the crossing for he had
turned down my road as if TO meet me-
could see him quite plainly as he passed, and
made the interesting discovery that he was
tall, handsome man, of about twenty-four


] also discovered merry twinkle in his eye
and roguish smile, that looked extremely
natural 10 me, and made me almost think that
had seen him before. | waited until he was
fairly ont OF sight. then bounding from my hi
ding place, crossed over to his road and
started back with railroad speed. 1 soon saw
him or the other road and he saw me almost
as quick.


could not help giving him hearty laugh
at his establishment. which he answered by
doihng his hat, with an air that seemed to say,
81 ou We caught me this time, but will hardly
do so again." now thought had fun enough
for one morning, SO DICK and fastened home.


When we arrived father came to help me-
Giving me glance he burst out into hearty
laugh at my disordered costume [ ran up
the steps and was soon in my own room, and
taking peep at the mirror l could not help
laughing at my wild appearance NV hair was
all over my eyes, my hat on one side. nv fin
gers peeping through my gloves. nv collar
unfastened and dangling down my back. As
met father and mother at breakfast they told
me must sober down little, for Colonel
Frederick Parkes was going to call, and they
wished me to be in readiness to welcome him
mad heard great deal about Col. Parkc,.
Ss1 esc nsve, met him.