Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1890 — PIONEER LIFE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PIONEER LIFE.

BY OZIAS MIDSUMMER.

HE maid stood on the I kitchen floor, Like others at their stations, And cooked, as other* had before, Her lord and mas* ter’s rations. Them is tress sat where blew the breeze. Where flowers bloomed around her;

She read ’mid the perfume of these, ’Mid shadows that there found were. Thus one would think who did not know The story we’re relating, Which, when ’bis told, will wonder, oh! If truths we have been stating. Therefore, right here, let us assure They who this read and ponder That falsehood we cannot endure— We hope to go up yonder. Therefore, kind friends, let us correct The fact about the kitchen.

And slowly bring you. to reflect On times and scenes bewitching. For this was at an early day, When game and woods abounded; When maids were rosy-cheeked alway, And stately, sweet, and rounded. Which, when the sun shone on the floor, Its surface shone most brightly. But now its surface shone no more. For night made it unsightly. But here and there a shadow lie, As shown the moon’s effulgence: Which mistress saw and heaved a sigh, As saw she their indulgence. For as one shadow seemed to wave, Another caught the notion. And. clasping it, each shadow gave The other shadow motion, Until you’d think-there was a fight Of shadows there then raging. For shone there not a ray of light Between the dark engaging. So closely knit each shadow seemed The other shadow shading. Which, as the truth might have beendeemed. Without a knowledge aiding: But if the knowledge you’d possessed, Or anything suspected. You’d seen the s iadows were caressed And one the most effected. For as that which a shadow east Caressed that of the other, So held each shadow there each fast, While one did gasp and smother; And if your ears had been unstopped, Their drum-heads been well working, You’d heard a noise like something dropped. And something kicking—jerking. And then you’d heard —no. you would not—. For here our story changes; The truth in part we had forgot; Extend we here our ranges. That heretofore which we had said About perfume and flower, ’Mid which we said the mistress read In shady, breezy bower, Was as untrue as that about The cooking we had mentioned, Here, let me not the kitten out With bristles firmly tensioned. For as the sun sank for the day.

Thus bringing night’s deposit, The mistress hid herself away With Rover in a closet; And when she saw those shadows cast Athwart the kitchen flooring, E’en while they held each other fast She came wit h candle soaring. Then came a cry, a piercing sound, A scream rent night asunder; For had she not her husband found With something down him under. All’s well, yes. very well, we trow. Which ending seems to brighten. For heard was Rover’s “bow, wow, wow,” As sprang he with his might in. And soon the bear which husband caughtExploring for the larder Was dead where wife had vainly thought That she might commit murder.

“AND COOKED AS OTHERS HAD BEFORE.”

“THE BEAR WHICH HUSBAND CAUGHT.”