Part 13 (1/2)
Little Miaetts and Breakaways took dinner together
Robert Day could not help noticing the difference between his grandon-beds were built al down in the centre and standing high at the ends, and they appeared half as long again as the Ohio vehicle The covers were full of innumerable ribs, and the puckered end was drawn into innumerable puckers
The children took their dinners to the yellow top of a brand-new stump which, looked as if so clean on purpose for a picnic table Soh to make teeter seats for Corinne and Thrusty Ellen Jonathan and Robert stood up or kneeled against the arching roots Dinner taken from the top of a stump has the sap of out-door enjoyment in it; and if you have to scare away an ant, or a pop-eyed grasshopper thuds into the middle of a plate, you still feel kindly towards these wild things for dropping in so sociably
Jonathan and Thrusty Ellen were rather silent, but such remarks as they made were solid inforot his money,” said Jonathan
This was stated so much like a dare that Robert yearned to retort that he did know, too As he did not know, the next best thing was to pretend it was no consequence anyhow, and find out as quickly as possible; therefore Robert Day said:
”Ho! Maybe he hasn't any”
”He has htily
”Then why don't he give you soold dollar, but I b'lieve that little oldon his back stole it”
Jonathan and Thrusty Ellen old
[Illustration]
”My fawther calls 'em yeller boys,” said Jonathan ”He carries 'em and his paper money in a belt fastened round his waist under all his clothes”
”You don't ought to tell,” said Thrusty Ellen ”Father said we shouldn't talk about it”
”_He_ won't steal it,” said Jonathan, indicating Robert with his thu aunt Corinne
Aunt Corinne with soinia children that her nephew and herself were indeed above such suspicion; that Ma Padgett and brother Tip had the most money, and even Zene ell provided with dollars; while they had silver spoons aett said had been in the family more than fifty years!
Jonathan and Thrusty Ellen accepted this infor old silver ett had one pair of horses hitched to her on instead of three pairs, and they secretly rated her resources by this fact
It was very cheerfulcaravan When there was a bend in the 'pike, and the line of vehicles curved around it, the sight was exhilarating
Soinians sat on their horses to drive There was singing, and calling back and forth And when they passed a toll-gate, all the tollkeeper's fahbors came out to see the array Jonathan and Robert rode in his father's easiest wagon, while Thrusty Ellen, and her e As they neared Richmond, which lay just within the Indiana line, men went ahead like scouts to secure acco, the last of the Ohio villages, aunt Corinne atching for the boundary of the State She fancied it stretched like a telegraph wire froround, so the cattle of one State could not stray into the other, and so little children could have it to talk across, resting their chins on the cord But when they came to the line and crossed it there was not even a round; not socorn And at first Indiana looked just like Ohio Later, however, aunt Corinne felt a difference in the States Ohio hadin the sun The woods of Indiana ran to iness, and broad-leaved pa bushes crowded the shade; hty sycamores blotched hite, leaned over the streams: there was a dreamy influence in the June air, and pale blue curtains ofover distances
But at Richmond aunt Corinne and her nephew, both felt particularly wide awake They considered it the finest place they had seen since the capital of Ohio The people wore quaint, but handsome clothes
They saw Quaker bonnets and broad-brimmed hats Richmond is yet called the Quaker city of Indiana But what Robert Day and Corinne noticed particularly was the array of wagons moved from street to street, was an open square such as most Western towns had at that date for farmers to unhitch their teaon connected with a tent It was nearly dark But at the tent entrance a tin torch stuck in the ground showed letters and pictures on the tent, proclai-headedhimself and his accomplishments, attended by Fairy Carrie, the wonderful child vocalist
Before Bobaday had e to aunt Corinne, by leaning far out of the Brockaagon and lifting his finger Aunt Corinne was leaning out of the carriage, and saw hied her head
The caravan scouts had not been able to find lodging for all the troops, and there was a great deal of dissatisfaction about the rates asked by the taverns So ons wound on to ca the Robert for his wife and daughter at the carriage door, assured Grand-place next ain
”I thank you kindly,” said Grand risky for e folks ht, if it is a tavern bed, and a set, table, if the vittles are tavern vittles And we can stir out early”
So Thrusty Ellen and Jonathan rode aith their father, unconscious of Robert and Corinne's superior feeling in stopping at a tavern