Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-09-22
Misecll
Women Agriculturists.

Bell Martin.
She was rosy-t heeked, squarely-
made woman. somewhere about five
anu-thirty. with merry black eyes,
short curling hair. and resolved cs.
preston of countena, &C.
"But, dear me, Bell. YOU are not
going out into the wilderness actually
10 live. are you:'
"Well. I've no intention of diving
there. epigramrna,ically replied Miss
Bell
Mrs. Parkcsworth P.yce stood in
open eyed amazement, her ga-nct-color
Ell moire antique dress trailing over
the carpet, and her large carriage
shawl festooned gracefully over fine
shoulders-the very pers nifcation
and embodiment Of a brainiess votarv
of the latest fashion
My goodness gracious - said Mrs.
Pryce. feeblv. as if the magnitude of
the idea rendered it possible for her
mind to grapple with it.
YES" SAID Miss Bell. i am. And.
what is more, Kate Appleton is going
with me. You see. Mrs. Pryce. am
not so young as l was. and poor. dear
Katie was sadly disappointed when
that young scamp, Henry Messenger.
went South and married Julia Levy.
50 we've concluded TO retiie on a farm
IN Western New York. where we can
raise calves and chickens, and grow
our own asparagus aid strawberries
a place, in short, where We can be en-
tirely Independent of men,
Dear me :" said Mrs. Pryce, what
a Quixotic plan. to be sure p
1T may be Quixotic.' said Miss Bell,
rubbing her chin thoughtfully but
we've going to give it trial, neverthe-
less, Katie and L."
You will be heartily sick Of it. and
come back to New York in less than a
month"; replied Mrs. Pryce.
No. we shall not said Bell Martin.
resolutely. Il hope I'm old enough TO
know my own mind, and Katie will be
governed entirely by me-
And in spite OF the pathetic and Oft
repeated remonstrsnces of Mrs. Pryce
and others of her stripe, Miss Bell
Martin and her cousin, Katie Appleton,
shy little maiden, with modest blue
eyes. and face like peach blossom.
packed their guitar and canaries, and
croquet and bandboxes, and went out
West.
Isn't this jolly cried Bell, warm-
ing her plump hands before the blaze
of huge wood fire, on the night of
their arrival. Just see the fringe of
moss on that log. And such a pictur-
esque red brick hearthr
oh, yes, certainly, said Katie,
timidly but don't you think it's a lit
tie lonely, Isabel:'
We don't mind that, child said
Bell, briskly we're going to be COM
pany for ourselves
Are WEI
why. Of course we are. just wait
till we get our flower beds planted, and
the daisy roots set out, and the chick
ems hatched, and we shall have no
time to think about getting lonesome.
And Miss Bell jumped up 10 get a
fresh supply of wood from the covered
shed back of the door for q funda-
mental element of her dreams Of rural
felicity had been the strict interdiction
Of anything in the similitude of a
servant.
'For I've been quite sufficiently
Irish-ridden in New York. she had
said. W
This is luxury went on Bell, bask'
ing before the genial blaze; for the
April evening was chill and raw. q
feel just like Robinson Crusoe on hi.
desert island, and ....|.
.Hushr cried Katie, ne. vously
grasping her cousins arm, whats
that
what's what?
That noise Oh, Bell, ifthere shoult
be a ghost in this ruinous old house
oh, fiddle.sticks ! said the matter
of-fact Bell: it's only the COW looking
in at the easement; don't you see be
Miss Bell rushed out OF the door t.
route the enemy.
Such . dear little dot of red cal
as there is in the harn-yard r she cried