Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1870-11-03
g s MM RMD MARR:

cy Malcolm gets here. The boys ar
ready to break their necks for her. w
mustn't let her know how much her visi
has been looked on. 1t will make he
too important
They say theirs lots of music in Lu
cy,' returned Uncle Dorset. Every
body called him Uncle Dorset. She
just that lrim-built, light-steppiug, crit
ter her mother was before her. Wha
grand, good times we boys and girl
used to have together when she was
young.
Yes, said his wife with a slight ali
of inquiry, you and Horace was boil
smitlen with Lucy Parkes. Everybody
knows that well enough
NO. replied Uncle Dor,et waggiug
his good natured old head. 1T was
Horace's sister [ was after; but | was
always willing to crack joke with Lu,
cy Parkes.
WALL said Aunt Dorset the aggriv-
ed tone shading off a little, 1T always
looked as if it was nip and tuck between
you aud Horace
The old lady did not really mean it /:
but the truth was she had always been a
little jealous Of her brothers wife, and
now, almost 'unconsciousIy the feeling
was transferred to Lucy Malcom. She
did not relish the idea of her coming to
Stockburn, and turning peoples head as
her mother had done. She had not
seen the girl for five or six years; but
reports said Lucy had grown to be pret
ty, arch, dark eyed little witch, with IA
piece of mischief in her composition that
made her irresistible. In the mild haze
Of the autumn day the Dorset boys were
getting in the corn, drawing with an on.
team the rustling shocks to the baru---
'Thc old swsllow.hauuted barn,
Brown-gabled, long and full Of seams
Through which the NOTED sunlight streams
We will have husking bee when
cousin Lucy gets here, said Euoch Dor
set, as he stood upon the load, pi,chfork
in hand, his tall, well-knit form sway
ing little, and showing clearly.
clad as it was in a comfortable fauuel
shirt and ,rowsers ofJcrscv blue.
'Golly so we will said his brother
Job, from the threshing floor. 'lf cous.
in Lncy is as lively as they say she is
it will be a general training the mo-l of
the time while she stays
job was as good-lookiny as Enoch,
his hair was lank and his face was shall
low; but thee were funny lines around
his mouth and he has dry way ofsay-
ing things, and taste of drollery of all
sorts, that made him a favorie. lie
kept his wits sharpened at Enoch's cx
pense; and Enoch was rather opea TO
ridicnle, for he had a sueaking fondncss
for hair-oil aud fancy neckties, and
scented pocket-handkerchicfs, and secret
y believed himself to be the best LOOK
ng fellow in Stockburn.
Halo! said Enoch, standing still on
he load, with that easy sway of the
lips, and shading his handsome brown
ace with his hands, as he looked up the
'oad where it rose q little until the
'piral Lombardy pop'ars in trout OF
stkanah Raynor's house showed gaps Of
ky between, like parted fingers, and
he old chimneys were nestled in q pow
n of frnit-trees, yellow and russet now.
The road down which Euoch was gaz.
ng was by no means common coun-
ry road. The fences were all of the
lest and the foot paths were shaded by
inc stocky naples, that were carpet
ng the wagon-track with hecks OF flame
olor, Every house in Stockburn neigh.
'orhood was snug and neat with
air. 1t had the best school
'ouse and church in the township, and
vas what people called crack street.
There's the stage coming round the1
urnpike corner exclaimed Enoch as
is eyes followed cloud ofdust.
Cousin Lucy! shouted Job. And
e threw down his fork and dashed
way to the house and ip a minute more
Jncle Dorset, bare-headed, with his
road good-natured old f,ce smiling all
yer, and little, bustling Aunt Dorset,
nth her cap-strings flying, hurried out ,
lto the front yard. {
There was Il face at one of the win ,
ows of Raynor farmhouse as the top t
eavy stage, with its six horses, and
apping leather curtains, and piles of c
'uDks strapped on behind went creak- {
lg past. The house was too much |
haded for health, aud the face was in ,
hadow. 1t was young face, with an r
bundance of soft hair, regular features. I
nd large blue eyes that ought to have G
cen patient and loving; but there was |
y unnatural compression about the
nes of the m nth, that made it look t
tile stern. Now as the stage passed 8
uickly by, afording to the watching d
yes at the window glimpse of fasci q
atng, girlish countenance, lovely i'll |
A bloom. with a little blue yeil hutter. /