Year: 1873

BOB AND I.


Let me see, L wonder how old / was
when l first knew Bob Dalrymple !?
Certainly was too young to remember
anything about the first meeting, or
what was said at the introduction. I
think the way 1T happened was this:


Mrs. Dalrymple having done all her
chores for the afternoon, thought she
would carry Bob over to see Mrs
Camps new baby, and after a short
walk across lots, she entered the kitch-
en- door and found the way to my moth
er's room, where l lay in the cradle.
looking at life with great gray eyes, and
fighting fate with little fat fists, and
there Bob saw me, and wondered then
perhaps, as he did many times after
ward, why l could not let well enough
alone, and not tire myself with efforts
after new position.


This much l surmise from the fact
that it was like Mrs. Dalrymple, and al
though neither Bob nor 1 could give
the date of our first meeting, our ac-
quaintance must have begun sometime,
and did, very early in our history.


Mrs. Dalrymple's farm and fathers
lay side by side, and Bob and 1 never
gave the grass a chance to grow upon
the path which was terminated by the
kitchen door of the red farm house at
one end, and our white doorstep at the
other


He always came for me on his way to
school, and in winter drew me thither
on his little sled, while held the books
and our bright tin lunch pail, wherein
was slowed the rosy apples had warm
ed by the fire, packed firm by Bob's
hickory nuts, and covered with two
pieces of pie, and a couple of sand
wiches; for our luncheons were always
united and Bob's repacked daily at our
house.


The old school-house was far from
being air-tight, and often the snow
drifted in under doors and windows,
and our breaths filled the room with
clouds of white vapor, which Bob call
ed smoke from red chimneys; and when
L cried because my hands ached with
cold he rubbed them, and talked, the
tears away, and then covered them with
his red mittens "cause they looked
warm, blowing at his own hands with
great philosophy as he went back to his
bench in the cold corner.


But we enjoyed our school days not
withstanding the cold. At recess we
snOw-balled each other, and built forts
and snow men, and when it was stormy
we sat by the stove and ate our lunch
con and talked or told stories, while,
outside, the wind roared through the
tall trees, and swept down from the
hills In great gusts piling the snow in
deep drifts.


In the summer we played by the little
river, ard gathered wild flowers and
a. T,1N
before our early breakfast time to
catch trout for me, while / cooked gin
ger snaps for him under mothers super
vision.


But the year brought changes. Ere
mont grew and fiourished. Squire Ell
lis saw in our little river more than
sweet music and romantic beauty, and
he resolved to turn its strong current to
his advantage and turn the water into
yellow gold. To this end he built a
large factory upon the river bank, and
all day we heard the whirr of large
wheels and small, and soon Fremont
was converted into a thriving manufac-
turing village.


Bob and had not stood still mean
while. While Squire Ellis was gazing
from the little bridge into the river
thinking out his idea, and while the
workmen hammered and the great
building rose slowly, Bob and 1 grew
too, and when the factory was complet-
ed and applicants for employment were
arriving from near and far, Bob, a
strong, broad-shouldered lad of nine
teen, obtained his fathers permission to
leave the farm work and was enrolled
among the factory hands.


The evening after all was arranged,
had finished milking, and was filling
my bright pans in the cellar singing to
myself, when l heard a step on the walk,
and Bob's voice called me.


MOllie, where are you?"


Here, down cellar" l answered;
"T'H be spry."


"I'n wait, he said.


ran up to my little mirror to see if
my hair was all right, and then sat
down by his side on the door step.


He was looking away off, beyond the
dooryard to the hills which shut in Ere
mont from the world and his face was
serious.


1t was a handsome face 1 thought
then, sunburned it is true, but with fine
regular features, clear brown eyes, and
firm set red lips.


He told me of what he had done, of





the happy future in store, and [ shared
his enthusiasm and believed him to be,
rs he Thought himself, every inch
man.


He went to the factory the next day
and in week or two, went away for
the two years at boarding school, which
had been promised me.


did not see Fremont nor Bob until
Il Il, Lot
came back one bright June day to my
home.


A large hotel stood opposite the vii
lage green, and upon the grass in front
n group of city people played croquet.
Squire Ellis had used part of his gold
flowing river to build an elegant house
on the hill, and surrounded it with
pleasant grounds. The old church was
remodeled and newly-painted and the
little school-hOuse boasted a cupola and
a bell. was surprised and very much
pleased, for these improvements suited
my taste; and had not returned an ac-
complished young lady, full of ambi-
tious projects ? No one could expect
me to put on my calico dress without a
sigh, and forget the days that had pass
ed. since l was a simple country girl.


Mother met me at the gate with a
warm welcome, which made me glad to
be home again. Father was in the field
she said, he had to work very hard now.
1t did not occur to me then that my
school bills and new clothes had caused
him to work longer than formerly.
only noticed that the house needed
paint and looked shabby when compar-
ed with neighbor Jones' across the
street, which was newly fitted up, and
frightened by a coat of brown.


Mothers fresh, puffy biscuit, and
frosted cake were splendid, and the
strawberries and rich cream put me in
a good humor, and l smiled pleasantly
when father kissed me and said he had