Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 43: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PRAIRIE AMUSEMENTS. 48 present is charming; and I should like to put it on paper as a picture, if you will lend it me for that purpose.” “Can you be serious, Mr. Harris ?” : “Listen, and I will prove it to you. Scene—the wide- extending prairie in autumn; fires in the distance, and Indians with their ponies loaded with game. That is the background. Then, in the foreground, on the edge of the forest, is a cot, without other surroundings than you have given it, and a young girl in the attitude of listening, gazing out over the wild and breathless scene; while a deer, with head erect, half-concealed by the fall grass near the hut, is . understood to have given the ‘ whistle’ which has caught the girl’s ear. Isn’t that a pretty picture ?” “ve no doubt I should think so, if you were to put it on paper as you say,” answered Minnie, blushing with pleasure. “Then if I make the sketch, you are to give me the verses ?” “he “ Oh, if they can be of any service to you, I shall be only too well pleased.” “And you will consider a copy of my drawing a fair exchange for this?’ asked Fletcher, pocketing the paper. “T don’t think it would be an even exchange,” returned Minnie, sincerely, “ for the obligation would be all on my side.” . And so the drawing lessons went on every.evening. Min- nie’s fingers seemed inspired, so rapid was the progress they made in learning to handle the pencil. Fletcher, who was so nearly well as to begin to talk of going away, daily accom- panied the cousins on short excursions, in which Minnie was instructed in botany by her friends, and taught to analyze the simple flora of the prairie. Once or twice Fletcher went up along the creek shooting, in company with Frank. Brant, geese, swan, ducks, and several kinds of smaller game were in great abundance; often at evening the wet prairie was white with geese, and nothing could haye been prettier than the immense flocks of brant, flashing the silver lining of their wings in the morning sun. In addition to the good table-fare provided by the sportsmen, Fletcher, who had an eye for nick-nacks, brought home great quantities of swan’s-down, “ for trimming the ladies’ evening comiliclooks.com