Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-27
HOW 1T ENDED.

"l I've made up my mind said Miss Bell
Martin.
She was rosy-cheeked, squarcly-made
woman, somewhere about five and thirty, with
merry black eyes, short curling hair, aud a
resolved expression Of countenance.
" But dear me, Bell, you are not going out
into the wilderness actually to live, are you ~
Well, I've no intention of dying there, "
epigrammaticaly replied Miss Bell
Mrs Parkesworth Pryce stood in open-eyed
amazement, her garnet-colored moire antique
dress trailing over the carpet, and her large
carriage shawl festooned gracefully over her
fine shoulders--the very persouihcation aud
embodiment Of brainless votary Of the latest
fashion.
Q" My goodness gracious ;" said Mrs. Pryce,
fecbly, as if the magnitude of the idea rem
dered it impossible for her mind to grapple
with it.
eyes" said Miss Bell, al am And,
what is more, Katie Appleton is going with
me, You see, Mrs. Pryce, am not so young
as was, and poor dear Katie was disap-
pointed when that young scamp, Henry Mes
senger, went South and married Julia Levy,
so we've concluded to retire on a farm in
Western New York, where we can raise calves
and chickens, and grow our own asparagus
and Strawberries place, in short, where we
can be entirely independent of men !"
Dear me % said Mrs Pryce, "what a
Quixotic plan to be sure ~
1t may be Quixotic," said Miss Bell, rub
bing her chin thoughtlully; but we're going
to give it a trial, nevertheless, Katie and |.
You will be heartily sick Of it, and come
back to New York in less than a month,
predicted Mrs. Pryce.
" No, we shall not, said Bell Martin, res
olutely. 81 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-repeat.
ed remonstrances of Mrs. Pryce and others oi
her stripe, Miss Bell Martin and her cousin
Katie Appleton, shy little maiden, with
modest blue eyes, and face like a peacl
blossom, packed their guitar and canaries
and croquet and band-boxes, and went ou
West
Isn't this jolly ?" cried Bell, warming heI
plump hands before the blaze of huge wood
fire on the night of their arrival. Just Sc,
the fringe of moss on that log. And such
picturesque red brick hearth ~
"Oh, yes, certainly" said Kate timidly
"but don't you think it's little lonely, lisa
bel ?"
We don't mind that, child" said Bell
briskly; "were going to be company fol
ourselves"
Are wei"
"Why, of course we are. Just wait til
we get our fower-beds planted, and the daisl
roots set out, and the chickens hatched, an'
we shall have no time to think about getting
lonesome"
And Miss Bell jumped up to get fres
supply of wood from the covered shed back o
the door for fundamental element of he
dreams of rural felicity had been the stric
Introduction Of anything in the similitude of
servant
" For I've been quite sufficiently Irish-rid
den in New York !" she had said
This is luxury" went on Bell, baskinl
before the genial blaze for the April eve
ming was chill and raw. feel Just lik,
Robinson Crusoe on his desert island, and"
Hush :" cried Katie, neryously graspinj
her cousins arm, whats that ~
What's what ?"
That noise Oh, Bell, if there shoul
be a ghost in this runous old house ~
Oh iddle-sticks :" said matter-of-fac
Bell; " it's only the COW looking in at tn
easement don't you see her horns now ?"
Miss Bell rushed out of the door to rou
the enemy.
Such dear little dot of red calf a
there is in the barn-yard !" she cried costa
tically, as she returned. " But we must tax
/ it away tomorrow"
thing !" cooed Kate " Let us be a littl
consderate."
And have no milk to use" scoffed Bell
" That would be nice farming | saw fin
lot of hens in the barn this afternoon, Katie
eggs are fifty cents dozen, and spring chick
ens forty cents a pound We shall make ou
/ fortunes, Kate. And old Mr.. Tully say
Strawberries bring fifty cents quart, and tn
asparagus yielded hundred and seven bunch
es last year at forty cents bunch And but
ter--dear, dear-there's no saying what W
shall realize out of our butter with thre
cows"
"To be sure" said Katie" sympathetic
ally.
1t was raining hard the next morning, whe
they woke up. Now if the agriculture
world was all made up of leafy dells wher
the drops tinkled musically as they fell, an
opening butter-cups and yiolets, this would b
all very well-but rain on the roof of a leak
farmhouse and rain in country barn-yarc
are decidedly lacking in the elements G
romance.
"Do let me sleep just five minutes longer,
pleaded Kate, piteously.
"Get up! get up" cried the ruthless Be
-" we're farmers now, and you must com
out and help me milk 1t will be such fun.
In the rain ?"
"We're neither sugar nor salt--we sha
not melt. Get your acqua suctum, and com
quick ~
Miss Bell looked the ideal of resolutio
and enterprise as she stalked into the barn
yard swinging the pail in one hand aud th
three legged stool in the other. Kate Apple
ton looked on in admiration.
Where did you learn to milk, Bell ?"
never learned"
"How can you do il, then p
"Why, it is easy enough Of course. Any
body can milk. This calf has got to com
out first %
Miss Bell advanced TO the little red call
who was nesting close to its mother.
Get along, bessie" she said, brandishin
the milking-stoo.
But TO her amazement the brindled COY
lowered her horns and ran furiously at tn
disturber of her daring's peace, Miss Be-
scrambled over the wall more nimbly tina
gracefully.
"I am afraid she's vicious" said Miss Be
obviously. ave won't disturb the calf jus
now"
So, descending once more when the belig
erent animal had apparently calmed dowr
J Miss Bell selected the mildest-cyed COW sh