The Cave by the Beech Fork: A Story of Kentucky-1815

were unable to come and go each day, stayed in the immediate neighborhood. Those were happy days for the dear little ones whom Father Byrne gathered around him. Prayers, instructions and

d out into the woods or into the fie

er in the evening, for the country folks of Kentucky never use the word afternoon), Mr. Howard was always there to see the children off safely. He took great delight in bringing their horses to the stile-block, in strapping on the blankets which they generally used instead of saddles, and in seeing them nestled snugly in their places, sometimes as many

Mr. Howard came blustering into the room, and t

re going to have a heavy rain! Be

ight?" inquired the priest, with some surprise

water. I tell you, if he keeps that up much longer, he'll have enough rain up in the skies to drown the country." Here Mr. Howard pointed

nt," said the priest. "It would be we

ay over night," was the farmer's answer. "So I'

pprobation in the room, for the ch

d and calling his son, who was grubbing around the apple-trees in the

or, "can you get the little things something to e

t been an hour since they had their dinner.

for some time. Just as soon as the sk

t Margaret can have them ready in a few minutes," answered the

am, biscuits and chickens disappear. In former years, the catechism class numbered about ten; this season it had more than trebled. Aunt Margaret began to fear that the whole tribe of chickens would become extinct, and when she went out in the mo

surveyed the sky, where the amber streaks had grown to twice their size, an evident proof that the sun was drawing up a

take these horses

s going to rain?" ask

is going to rain pitchforks and millstones in le

proved a prophet; the rain came as he predicted, and at the time he predicted. It rained-it poured-it came down in torrents. Four, five, six o'clock, and still it rained, but this wa

d Mr. Howard to his wife, when he saw that it was ge

an we stow t

I've been thi

, and we can make room for

hey cannot cross the creeks," replied the father. "I'll walk down to C

could pass to the other side of the stream without the risk of h

n they sleep?"

said the farmer. "I'll see tha

g to put them up in the dusty

ll give you the whole house for their accommodation," and with these words

do with this little t

. Even if the rain holds up awhile, which I don't think it will do, it w

he crowd-the little girls danced, while the b

r all of them?" i

the girls,

e scene; "we can put them all in the d

to sleep?" asked Father By

em than Bertha has for the girls,"

he

he ha

ighted at the prospect of sleeping in the big hayloft. They had enjoyed their games of

a good bed!" excla

ff the whole crowd went to burrow like so m

groaned piteously when she reflected how many innocent chickens would be sacrificed to accomplish this end, and, following the instincts of self-preservation, she concealed a large ham in the chimney,

tethered by his side. Once he was pursued by wolves, and was forced to abandon his horse to their fury. At another time, when in imminent danger of losing his life in a rapid current, he saved himself by grasping his horse's tail, and allowing the animal to drag him ashore. The p

an hour, Uncle Pius made his appearance with the

was coming, something very funny! The music began. Uncle Pius rolled his large white eyeballs toward heaven in a most mysterious way; he twitched and screwed his face into every distorted sh

They pleaded for one more song, which was granted. Then followed night prayers in common. He

f the boys, going to the window after pr

dark outside," rej

any ghosts in that barn to-ni

Ghosts like b

n't g

ther

ntorian voice of Mr. Howard. "

f ghosts!" said

night, boys, and leave the lant

o ghosts, thought he, would ever venture

nt, and the boys scrambled up the r

in my

I a

. I know that's

there, boys?" cal

tt's in

o by this time had burrowed deep into the oats

fore you can say 'Jack Robinson.'" He then pulled two bundles of oats from

o kinds of beds in this hotel-one of oats and the other o

seemed c

boys! I'll be here

exhausted after their day's romping, and were soon fast asleep. Seeing that his services

breakfast. Father Byrne also took his departure; not, however, until he