Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-01-03


han week If could help it. And shook
lands with Martha, and babe her not to
think Of me as another little Red Riding
Hood going into the forest, otherwise the
city, to he eaten by WOLF for Marihns
.ooks were uneommonly lugulrious.
My boxes ] had two--wcre hoisied into
he cart. was helped by Farmer Mallerl TO
ny own seal NJ his side, and the next min
ute We were off. looked hack to wave Il
last farewell TO Aunt Sarah and Martha, still
standing AT the gate Farmer Mallarl drove
.ast, and the hay mare was good one; in
mother minute the Nest"--so We called
'ur pretty homc--was completely out of
light, hut could still hear the loud, yen-
mcnt sdieux Of Rover, our dog. BY the
lime his voice had died away in the distance
So We're in the village, where almost every
'aouse tgrncd ont one or more men, women,
,r children, smiling, g,courtcsying touching hat
or cap in greeting. for every one knew of
my jupsney, and il was quite an event TO
hem. London WAS such a long way off,
md such wonderful place in the village
mind.
y Exeter itself was thirty miles of, SO we
had long drive before us, Farmer Mallard
md together We had not much to say to
each other, though our hearts were full of
goodwill. As we passed from the known
into the farther and less familiar country, l.
sAade few remarks on its aspect, with
which my companion always agreed. 1t
vas fine. bright day, but the air was sharp,
and he was constantly hoping dill not feel
cold, and heaping rugs and all kinds of
wraps around me to prevent it. Sometimes,
TOO, he yentured what he considered good
humored joke, likely to please me.
Il don't expect as shall ever have the
pleasure of driving You hack from Exeter,
Miss Chrlssy."
SO yes, hope you will in week, Far
mer Mallard. shouldn't like to leave Aunt
Sarah for longer"
But the farmer smiled, shook his head
and said;
''Ah but shouldn't wonder if they
know rose when they see one in London
even. M,ybe there'll be some one who
won't be for letting you come hack
Nobody should keep me against my
will, ! said, stoutly.
"But there's no knowing he proceeded;
'perhaps you'll like the citizens, when you
see them, better than lis, country pumpkins.
hope not, though" he added; ''for there's
no manner Of doubt the country's the best
for the roses themselves, they'll soon fade
and grow pale in the town.
The vision Of my cousin of Westminster
with the red face, as lie had been described
to me, here crossed my mind, but did not
communicate that fact to Father Mallard,
though it might have convinced him there
we're exceptions to his rule of town pallor.
We were now rapidly approaching Exc
ter; the picturesque suburban villas, sparse
frequent, until at length We We're rattlny
lthroagh the streets, passing shops that riri-
feed all my attention; those of London sire
| ly could hardly he more magnificent
The Bensons lived out of the way of the
shops, in a more retired part of the town.
They received me very kindly, extending
also their welcome to Farmer Mallard, as Il
friend and benefactor Of mine, though he
was personally unknown to them. 1t was
too far to drive sixty miles in one day; in
deed the farmer had too much regard for
his tayorile mare to have intended such a
thing but his idea of putting up at n hotel
until the morning was so decisively mega
tived by the hospitable Bensons, that he was
forced to yield and accept the sheI'er Of
their roof and partake of the huit OF their
vine.
We spent pleasant evening, at least !
can answer for myself; am not sure the
farmer felt quite at his ease among these
town-bred strangers. The Miss Bensons
had been in London more than once, and
very kindly wrote down for me list of all
the most wonderful sights, which must on
no account neglect to see. must stay a
night with them on my retnrn, and enter
tain them with an account of my visit ]
said hesitatlngly, perhaps my cousin Eliza
Jane might be with me, we had invited her
to come and stay with us. Whercupon the
friendly Bensons declared they should he
delighted to see Eliza Jane for my sake, as
indeed, any or all the Smiths Of Westminis-
ter. / thought to myself that in that case
their house should be made Of India rubber
for these Smiths were a family Of ten, with
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