Jonas on a Farm in Winter

. The vehicle on which he carried it was a kind of box upon runners, with

s produce, at the market town, and that he was going to send Jonas with

ll I go, sir?

farmer, "as early as possible. W

as and the farmer began to load up the box sleigh, in order to have it ready for the morning. He had about fort

ily, when it was loaded. He put in the various articles of produce, which were contained in bags, and firkins, and boxes. Over these he spread blankets and buffalo-skins, and put in a bag of oats for his horses, and a box of b

ey were completed, he told Jonas to go in and get his supper,

t," said he, "and you'd better be

sed by the shed on his way, he saw that the sleigh was gone. He proceeded to the barn, and, as

was behind him. "It is Franco,

owed the scent along the yard, up to a post by the side of the house, where Jonas had stopped a moment ago to go in

anco," said Amos,

epeated Oliver, "he

these calls, but ran off a

apidly onward, by the light of the sta

soon became warm. His feet were comfortably stowed away down in his box,

crevices of the flume. Vast stalactites of ice extended continuously along the whole face of the dam, like a frozen waterfall, behind which the water percolated curiously down into the foaming abyss, at the bottom of the fall. Jonas thought that all this, seen by starlight, looked very cold. The horses trotted across the bridge with a loud sound, which reverberated far and wide in the still night. He ascended the hill beyond, and drove on. His woollen com

ated by the fires, which they were kindling within. Now and then, he could see a man hurrying out to a barn, to feed the cattle. Jonas thought that they ought to be up earlier. The sun rose soon after, and the fields on every side sparkled by t

nd to see what was coming, and, to his utter astonishment, he saw Franco, coming up, upon the full run, and c

said Jonas, "ho

d the glossy black hair which curled under his neck and upon his sid

out of the barn? and how did y

curled down around Jonas's

back into the barn, and, to make it secure, he fastened up the place where he had got in, the first night that he lodged there. He knew that the barn would be opened when Amos came out in the morning, to take care of the old General and the oxen, but s

em down well, and gave them a good drink of water, and plenty of oats, which he bought of the tavern-keeper. He kept the oats in his bag to use in the town. By the time that he stopped, he was comfortably warm, for he had taken some exercise walking up the hills. Franco always got out when

coffee that they were making; but he thought it better that he should content himself with what the farmer had provided for him. There was a young woman in the back part of the room, at a window, sewing. She asked J

, ciphering. She seemed very busy for a few minutes,

not come righ

lp you now, very well," replied aunt L

he fire, with her slate hanging by a string fro

u ciphering?"

ons," said

ur sum, perhaps I can tell you

um in it. She also let him see the work upon her slat

deed, with such a hard sum.

was right. She then went and put away her slate and book, with an appearance of gr

hank that young man, and

g. She poured out some coffee from a coffee-pot, and put in some milk and sugar, and then brought it to Jonas, an

o a merchant, who had bought the produce of the farmer, and, in a very short time, his load was taken out, and the other articles put in, which he was to carry back in exc

ly, and they carried him rapidly over the ground. It was the middle of the afternoon, however, before he set out, and the days were then so sh

visions had long since been exhausted. After supper, he carried out something for Franco, whom

d he, "here i

gh. He took his supper, and Jonas, after once more feeding his horses, w

wspaper lying upon another table, in the back part of the room. Jonas looked at the books, but they were not interesting to read. One was a dictionary. He read the n

for sale. Jonas read the description, and he wished that he was

n large letters, Dog Lost. This caught Jonas's attention immediately. It was in writing, and he could

OG

subscriber, a valuable dog, o

co," said Jonas, interrupt

collar marked with

collar. But then the man that st

to the nam

alled him Ney. I wonder if he woul

ocile, and quit

s, "I verily bel

o the subscriber, at his residence at W

ES ED

said Jonas, as he slowly got do

looking thoughtfu

y believe it is Franco. I wo

rivate business, unless necessary. So he said nothing about Franco to any of the people at the tavern, but qu

arnessed his horses, and set off. At the first village that he came to after sunrise, he stoppe

with which he was sweeping out the store,-"yes, it is abo

boy, got into his

d he, "I am afraid

the dog, until after he had gone home, and reported the facts to the farmer. But now, as he found that it was on his way, and as he would very probabl

e. They told him that he lived about half a mile out of the village. They said it was a

im. He stopped before the great gate, and fastened his horses to a post. He then walked along a road-way, which led i

Edwards

said th

m to come to the

alk in, and I'l

a door into a little room, which looked somewhat like Mr. Holiday's study. There was a great deal of handsome furnitur

handed Jo

said she to Jonas, as she wa

"but I don't suppose Mr. Edwards knows

e saw there a large dog, very much like Franco in form and size, lying upon the carpet. He was as handsome as Franco. Jon

pleasant expression of countenance, came in. He nodded to Jonas as he entered, and Jonas rose

u, sir, about you

ut my dog?" and, as he said this, he looked do

but that I h

him?" repeat

t one came to me in the w

that I lost.-Yes,-I had forgotten that, i

his seeing the advertisement in the tavern. Mr. Edwards asked him a great many questions, such as what his name

d him; but I couldn't hear any thing of him, and so I got another as much like him as I could. It is probable your

d Jonas; "we c

call of Ney, that would

sir; he is out

"we can tell in a moment. I'll

e dog was standing up in the sleigh, and looking wildly ar

," said Mr

up the road. He leaped first about Mr. Edwards, and t

-"poor Ney,-have you got back

door, and took their seats again. Ney ran around the room, and examined every thing. He looked at the strange dog lying so comfortably in his old place upon the warm carpet, a

said Mr. Edwards. "We w

the outer door opened. Jonas opened it, and let him out. Jonas stepped out himself a moment, t

e go?" said

Jonas, "and jumped up into it,

, Jonas," said Mr. Edwards, "and I presume th

y much indeed,

t a few minutes, appe

boys would have kept him, without saying any thing about it. I am glad that you were honest. I valued the dog very much, and would have given a

I haven't got but a dollar at my command,

want to buy something for himself. Jonas had taken this money with him when he left the farmer's, intending to expend a

a great deal more for him than that.

y own," s

got some for

"but it belongs to the f

would be willing to have you

he likes the dog very much, but I have

ey without authority, Mr. Edwards would not have taken it

, Mr. Edwards resumed the

e dog for me a little while,-that is, if he is willing to go with you. But remember he is my property

sh that you would not agree to sell him t

d keep him till I send for him,-that is, provided he will go with

is hat, and followed him to the door, to see whether the dog

said he

terwards, jumped out of the sleigh

ile I am standing here, it is pretty good proof that you ha

owards the gate, looki

Franco,

ack, and, after a moment's pause, he returned a few steps towards his

t into h

o!" sa

en at Jonas; and finally he went back to the

ads a little towards the ro

," said he; "

r. Edwards continued to call him, but he paid no attention to it. He curled down before Jonas a moment, then he raised himself up a little, so as to look back towards the house; but he showed no disposition to get

I'm very much o

as. Take good

aid he, "I ce

se hay for a bed under the old General's crib, rather than that good warm carpet, for the sake of coming with me. I'll m

f carpet to put upon the floor. He put Franco in; but the next morning he found him in his old place under the General's cri