J. T. Trowbridge

“ The peculiar wild scent of the prairie, which seems to increase as the cool evening comes on, filled all the air. The shadows of the forest were stretching in a vast, uneven belt over summit and hollow; while far away beyond, in seemingly limitless expanse, swept the golden-green undulations of the sunlit hills.
Jack—for I trust we shall also be entitled to call him so—kept his eye out for game, as he drove leisurely along; stopped once or twice for a rabbit on the edge of the woods; and, finally, pulled up sharply, as a prairie-hen shot whirring out, almost from under his wheels. ”

“ Jack started up, with sparkling eyes; but, on an instant's reflection, bridled his tongue, and settled down again, merely giving Vinnie a swift glance, which seemed to say, "If he has any more of his fun with you, I'll—"
"No more trifling," said Betterson. "If you stay, you will come under the new régime. That means, in plain speech—work; we all work."
"Oh!" gasped poor Caroline, and reached out helplessly to her sister. "The hartshorn, Lavinia dear!"
"I'll stay, and I'll work,—I'll do as the rest do," said Radcliff. "But when the Philadelphia partners pony up, of course I have my dividend." ”

“ In a moment all eyes were turned upon Vinnie.
"I beg your pardon," she said, pausing at the door. "I wish to get a pail of water. Can I go to your well and help myself?"
The children—and especially Dud and Zeph—looked in astonishment at the bright face and girlish form in the doorway. As Mr. Peakslow turned his face toward her, all the tenderness went out of it.
"What do Betterson's folks send here for water for? And what makes 'em send a gal? Why don't they come themselves?" ”

“ My father wasn't one of the men, but Peakslow turned all his spite against him."
"He imagines he has been wronged," said Jack.
"I suppose so, for he is one of that kind who never can see any side to a quarrel but their own. The land is growing more valuable every year; he covets it accordingly, and so the ferment in his mind is kept up. Of course," Rufe confessed, "we have done, or neglected to do, a good many things which have kept adding fuel to the fire; for it's impossible to live peaceably alongside of such a selfish, passionate, unreasonable neighbor. ”

“ Of course Vinnie had never seen so pretty a baby, such heavenly eyes, or such cunning little hands.
"The hands are little," said Jack, in a voice which had an unaccustomed tremor in it; "but they are stronger than a giant's; they have hold of all our heart-strings."
"I never knew a boy so fond of a baby as Jack is," said Annie. ”

“ Then, as she turned away with an effort at self-control, and looked about the room, she must have noticed, too, the painful contrast between Jack's home and this, which was to be hers; and have felt a sinking of the heart, which it required all her strength and courage to overcome.
"We are not looking fit to be seen; I know it, Lavinia!" sighed Mrs. Betterson. ”

“ He is one of the most urgent men I ever saw," added Jack, mashing his potato.
Vinnie smiled, while the others laughed; but her eyes were full of anxiety, as they beamed on Jack.
"Isn't it possible," she said, "to meet such arguments with kindness? I didn't think there was a man so bad that he couldn't be influenced by reason and good-will."
"It might rain reasons on Peakslow, forty days and forty nights,—he would shed 'em, as a duck does water," Jack replied. "Isn't it so, Mr. Betterson?" ”

“ The boys were jubilant over the victory, and Jack was the object of loud congratulations; while Lion and Snowfoot formed the centre of the little group.
"Much obliged to you, Wad," said Jack, as they re-exchanged coats and hats. "Thanks to you, I've got my horse again. Thanks to all of you. Boys, I was perfectly astonished at your father's pluck!" And he could not help thinking what a really noble specimen of a man Betterson might have made, if he had not been standing on his dignity and waiting for legacies all his life.
"Not many folks know what sort of a man father is," replied Rufe. ”

“ And, by the way, you'd better be sure that there are no leaks, and that the water comes through all right, before you cover your logs."
"But there's work in digging such a trench as that!" said Wad, shaking his head.
"So there is work in everything useful that is ever accomplished. Often the more work, the greater the satisfaction in the end. But you boys have got it in you,—I see that; and, let me tell you," said Jack, "if I were you, I would take hold of things on this place in downright earnest, and make a farm and a home to be proud of."
"I never could get in love with work," replied Wad. ”

“ Jack had his gun with him; and, though he did not stop to give much attention to the prairie hens which now and then ran skulkingly across the track, or flew up from beside his buggy-wheels, he could not help looking for larger game.
"I'd like to see another doe and fawn feeding off on the prairie there," thought he. "Wonder if I could find some obliging young man to drive them in!"
He whipped up Snowfoot, and presently, riding over a swell of land, discovered a stranger walking on before him in the road.
"No deer or fawn," thought he; "but there's possibly an obliging young man." ”

“ When Link, who in the mean while had been dressing the prairie chickens behind the house, came round and saw his pompous papa sitting under an oak-tree, astride the "shave-horse," filing away at the saw held in its clumsy jaws, and Wad turning the grindstone close by, while Rufe held on the axe, he ran into the house laughing.
"Mother! just look out there! Father and Rufe and Wad all at work at once! Guess the world's coming to an end!"
"I hope some of our troubles are coming to an end," sighed poor Mrs. Betterson, who sat nursing her babe with a bottle. "It's all owing to her. ”

“ Children cry for it. Get me the milk-pail, Lill; that's a nice girl!"
"Do get it yourself, Rufus," said the mother. "You'll want your little sister to milk for you, soon."
"I think it belongs to girls to milk," said Rufe. "There's Sal Wiggett,—ain't she smart at it, though? She can milk your head off! Is that a wagon coming, Wad?"
"Yes!" cried Wad, jumping to his feet with unusual alacrity. "A wagon without a horse, a fellow pulling in the shafts, and Link pushing behind; coming right into the front yard!" ”

“ Jack dragged the fawn and placed it beside its dam. There lay the two pretty creatures, slaughtered by his hand.
"It can't be helped," thought he. "If it is right to hunt game, it is right to kill it. If we eat flesh, we must take life."
So he tried to feel nothing but pure triumph at the sight. Yet I have heard him say, in relating the adventure, that he could never afterwards think of the dead doe and pretty fawn, lying there side by side, without a pang.
He now backed his buggy out of the woods, set the seat forward in order to make room for the deer behind, and waited for his horse. ”

“ Vinnie was amazed at the foolish vanity and improvidence of the lord of it; but she only said,—
"There seems to be a great deal of unused room in the house; I should think you might let that, and a part of the farm, to another family."
Caroline smiled pityingly.
"Lavinia dear, you don't understand. We could never think of taking another family into our house, for the sake of money! though it might be well to let the farm. Besides, there is really one more in the family than you see. I think I haven't yet spoken to you of Radcliff,—my husband's nephew." ”

“ Betterson, weeping, as she sank in her chair. "I am worse than when I wrote to you; and the baby is no better; and Cecie—poor Cecie! though she can sit up but little, she does more than any of us for the sick little thing."
Vinnie turned to the lounge, where Cecie, with the baby in her arms, lay smiling with bright, moist eyes upon the new-comer. She bent over and kissed them both; and, at sight of the puny infant,—so pitiful a contrast to Mrs. Lanman's fair and healthy child,—she felt her heart contract with grief and her eyes fill. ”

“ Then Lanman said,—
"Now it is your turn, Jack."
"But you know," replied Jack, "I never play or sing for anybody, when your wife or Forrest is present."
"True; but you can dance."
"O yes! a dance, Jack!" cried Annie.
Vinnie clapped her hands. "Has Jack told you," she said, "how, on the steamboat going from Albany to New York, after they had had their pockets picked, he and George Greenwood collected a little money,—George playing the flute and Jack dancing, for the amusement of the passengers?" ”

“ Presbit.
"Besides," Vinnie continued, "I ought to go, for the children's sake, if not for hers. Think of Cecie and the poor baby; and Lilian not ten years old, trying to do the housework! I can do so much for them!"
"No doubt of that; for I must say you are as handy and willing a girl as ever I see. But there's the Betterson side to the family,—two great, lubberly boys, according to your friend's account; a proud, domineering set, I warrant ye! The idee of making a slave of yourself for them! ”

“ He had never been able to finish it; and now its weather-browned clapboards, unpainted front pillars, and general shabby, ill-kept appearance, set off the style of architecture in a way to make beholders smile.
"Lord Betterson took a bigger mouthful than he could swaller, when he sot out to build his castle here," said his neighbor, Peakslow.
The proprietor's name—it may as well be explained—was Elisha Lord Betterson. It was thus he always wrote it, in a large round hand, with a bold flourish. Now the common people never will submit to call a man Elisha. ”

“ You seem to be very pressing in your attentions to a stranger!"
"Don't say stranger,—you who drove the deer in for me! I am anxious to pay you for that kindness. I want you to ride with me."
"Why didn't you say so before?" cried the rogue, rolling a fresh quid in his cheek. "I always ride when you ask me to, don't I? Say, did you ever know me to refuse when you offered me a ride? Which way are you going?"
"Down through the woods," said Jack, amused, in spite of himself, at the scamp's reckless gayety. ”

“ He is, in short, a gentleman at large."
"What supports him?"
"He receives a limited allowance from our relatives on the Betterson side," said Caroline, pleased with the interest her sister seemed to take in the illustrious youth. "He is not so stylish a man as my husband, by any means; my husband is a Betterson of the Bettersons. But Radcliff has the blood, and is very aristocratic in his tastes."
Caroline enlarged upon this delightful theme, until Cecie (who seemed to weary of it) exclaimed,—
"O mother, do see how Aunt Vinnie soothes the baby!" ”

“ Annie continued, "and barked furiously; and became at last so fiercely threatening, that it was thought high time to give him the basket. Lion took it and ran home in extraordinary haste; but it was several days before he would have anything more to do with Horace."
"Who can say, after this, that dogs do not think?" said the admiring Vinnie.
"Mr. Lanman thinks he has some St. Bernard blood," said Jack, "and that is what gives him his intelligence. He knows just what we are talking about now; and see! he hardly knows whether to be proud or ashamed. ”

“ Not much comfort for the poor woman and the sick girl shone from these two indifferent faces. Indeed, the only ray of good cheer visible in that disorderly room gleamed from the bright eyes of a little girl not more than nine or ten years old,—so small, in truth, that she had to stand on a stool by the table, where she was washing a pan of dishes.
"O boys!" said the woman in a feeble, complaining tone, "do, one of you, go to the spring and bring some fresh water for your poor, sick sister."
"It's Rufe's turn to go for water," said the boy on the doorstep. ”

“ The boy, on one knee in the dirt, holding the grease-pot to catch the drippings, looked up and grinned at Jack.
"I should like a few minutes' talk with you, Mr. Peakslow, when you are at leisure," said Jack, hardly knowing how to introduce his business.
"I'm at leisure now, much as I shall be to-day," said Mr. Peakslow with the air of a man who did not let words interfere with work. "I've got to grease this wagon, and then harness up and go to haulin'. I haven't had a hoss that would pull his share of a decent load till now. Tend to what you're about, Zeph!" ”

“ Betterson smiled and said, "Ah! Peakslow! Highly characteristic!"
"He threatened to shoot me!"
"Very likely. He has threatened to shoot me, on one or two occasions. I said, 'Shoot!'" (Jack wondered whether he said it with that condescending smile and gracious gesture.) "It isn't agreeable to have dealings with a person who talks of shooting his fellow-men; but I imagine there's no danger, if you keep cool."
"I couldn't keep cool," said Jack. ”

“ Snowfoot's week was up the next forenoon; and at about ten o'clock Jack, accompanied by Lion, and carrying a double-barrelled fowling-piece, with which he had shot a brace of prairie hens by the way, walked into the Betterson door-yard.
He found the boys at the lower end of the house, with the steers and wagon.
"What's the news?" he asked.
"The news with us is, that we're out of rainwater," Rufe replied.
"I should think so," said Jack, looking into a dry hogshead which stood under the eaves-spout.
"It's too much of a bother to bring all our water by the pailful. ”

“ Betterson. "She never utters a word of complaint. Yet she doesn't have the care she ought to have. With my sick baby, and my own aches and pains, what can I do? There are no decent house-servants to be had, for love or money. O, what wouldn't I give for a good, neat, intelligent, sympathizing girl! Our little Lilian, here,—poor child!—is all the help I have."
At that moment the bright little dish-washer, having put away the supper things, and gone to the spring for water, came lugging in a small but brimming pail.
"It is too bad!" replied Jack. ”