Middletown transcript., 1868-10-31
popular GALES.
HOLM GRANGE.
BY GEORGE ELLINGTON.

Just out of the village of Ashford, on
the bend of the beautiful country-road lead
ing therefrom, stood low, brown farm
house. And yet it was not a farmhouse
either, although it was surrounded by doz-
ems of smiling and fertile acres, for the
original building had been modified and
improved by the yariou sowners, to such an
extent, that it now rcsembled more gen.
tleman's residence than the old, traditional
farmhouse. The front was supported by
heavy pillars, standing far out, so that
they left wide piazza which ran halfway
round the house, and was the coolest,
plcasantest place in the world to lounge in,
of a warm summers morning. Rustic So
fas and chairs were placed i'll various posi-
tions here and there, to lure the idle or
weary one to their luxurious depths, and
delicious dreaming places they were. The
roof sloped gently down towards the back,
and branched out on either side to cover
capacious wings which had been added from
time to time.
The moss on some portions of it showed
its ancient date. A soft, velvety lawn
spread all round and in front of the house,
| dotted here and there with clumps of ever
greens and stately poplars, under whose
grateful shade the sheep and COWS loved to
lie and doze away the long summer days.
Back of the house was the garden, and at
its foot smaj lake beautifully fringed with
willows, on which foate4 r tiny boat,
named "The Katie"
The owner of this beautiful place was
Mr.. Sunderland, wealthy merchant who
had been visiting for a long time, in fact
ever since his marriage in distant city
On the death Of his wife he resolved to
bring his little daughter Catharine and oc.
cupy the oia home of his youth, which had
been without 2 tenant for years.
Very quickly it lost its old look of des'
olation, and revived under the cheering in
fluence of social and liberal hospitality
till, at the time when our story commen
ces, more inviting, beautiful place wal
not to be met with for miles around.
1t is generally received opinion that I
house cannot be very lively without chill
dren, who, though at times trouble ant
annoyance, yet always manage to compen
, safe for it by their sweet, winning ways
Children properly speaking, there wer
; none at Holm Grange; and yet Katie wa
but fifteen, an age when most girls woul
have been children still. But the loss c
i her mother so early in life had deyelope
and matured the girl into woman, he
. fathers pet and companion. She was tal
e for her age apd sleHderly built, with deep
e rich brunette complexion. Eyes in who's
: shadowy, thoughtful depths you read un
told powers of suffering or of happiness
Hitherto her life had been all sunshine, s
/. that sparkles of mirth rose to the surfac
as naturally as smiles to the dainty, ros
mouth. Her features were not faultles
she had not grecian profile or a class
face at all, and her little piquant nose az
tually turned Up very little, just enoug
to give certain air of sauciness, that ye
would not have dispensed with for tt
world. To know her disposition you hi
but to look in her face.
K. fNot Katrine, In her mirror blpe,
Gave back the smiling banks more true
than did that face mirror the emotions
her heart 1t was not what would be ca
ed faultlessly beautiful, but its very ire
ularities and imperfections made it mo
L. lovablc. And yet she was not slWa
sweet, and placid, and saintlike, this X
tic; she bad her moods; but like Tenn
sons Lillian" she was ''a dainty roi
ct round with little wilful thorns, |
sweet as English air could make her"
~ thought her father, and so also half I
3m young men of the country side, at lea