Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-11-11

GLOW nice it is here!" said Lucy, look.
ing out through the sitting.room window
at the sunny old garden. 'Ihave always
been cooped up in town, Uncle Dorset;
and now you must teach me 10 be n
country girl"
81 s'pose you think, don't you" in
quired the old gentleman, "that some
cows give buttcrmik, just as DR.. Ilillyor's
niece did when she came up here on
visit from York;"
Perhaps do" returned Lucy, archly.
bursting into merry laugh; land then
you know solemnly believe that potatoes
grow on bushes"
"Do see Lucy snugglcd up to your
father and he looks rs pleased as cudy,'
said Aunt Dorset TO Job. as she put a
drawing Of tea in the pot. There's
good deal of the cat about that girl. The
Parkeses have all got it, every one OF
them
al wouldn't mind having her purr
round me-" responded job. in his dry
way.
They were seated at the pleasant toa-
table now. Enoch had como in, and
Lucy was the centre of overyb0dy's at
tention In spite of Lord Byron's churlish
opinion. she was perfectly charming
while engaged with her knife and fork.
Tell me. Enoch, " inquired she, "ars
there any nice girls in this ncighborhood9
| don't care lig for young men (therc
was ,y twinkle in her eye)-they are
horrid, concsited creatures; but should
like to gc, acquainted with nice girl. :"
Nancy Mynor is our next neighbor's
daughter said Uncle Dorset; and she is
as likely girl as WAS ever raised in
Stockburn.'
"She has got what call pretty man
ners," put in Aunt Dorset, dishing out the
stewed ounces. Most of the girls now
adsys are too brazen to suit my oldlash-
ioned notions"
ASK Enoch about her." said Job with
droll wink.
40. yss," struck in Unclo Dorset.
"Enoch and Nancy used TO bo very thick !;
and can't say whether it.. her fault or
hisn that they don't hitch horses any
more
Enoch colored as he bent over his plate,
and Lucy cast mischieyous little glance
at him.
Nancy don't come here noar as often
as she used to, said Aunt Dorset, pouring
out the old .en,lem,ns cup of tea and
putting in what he called a "long sweet
ening." "Shc amt the kind Of girl TO let
any young man think she's going to break
her heart about him. She's All indepen-
dent little pioce. il she does look rs if
buttor wouldn't melt in her mouth. All
the Raynors are hard bited."
Enoch looked really annoyed now, and
kept his eyes fixed on hi, plate, to avoid
LucyI wicked little glances.
Suddenly he looked up. and said 10 her:
at You sc, acquainted with Nancy. you
can wave your pocket handkerchief out
OF the window. believe you like tina,
sort OF thing" Now it WAS Lucy's turn
10 cast down her eyes.
The house was full of fun and music, just
As Uncle Dorset had predicted Lucy
kept things pretty we'll stirred up and
plotted against Aunt Dorset's steady, Jog
trot, old d.fashioned ideas She wanted to
have her finger in everybody's pie. She
meddled with the cooking, and made
little, mortified looking cakes that nobody
could eat
Pears TO me these biscuits have got
the measles" said Uncle Dorset, one
morning. as he broke one open decorated
with number OF yellow eyes.
II made them, dear" said Lucy, look
ing so penitont. You know I've been
brought up in dreadful ignorance; but
now am learning to cook, for expect
to marry poor man-perhaps farmer
And she cast such glance at Enoch that
Aunt Dorset took the alarm. That same
forenoon, while Enoch was down in the
Evans lot, mending piece Of fence, to
keep Squire Bridgam's cattle out. his
anxious mother appeared, with her apron
over her head.
Look here, Enoch." said She; "the
neigbors have got it round that you are
geing to make a match with Lucy Nal
colin. wouldn't DO quite so partickerler
toward her. if | was you. 1t never turns
ont well for first cousins to marry"
1.-The ncighbors may just mind their
own business" said Enoch, angrily, as he
hammered away at board.
"Tut, tut" returned his mother, who
had temper Of her own. at takes a
flirt to catch flirt; and shouldn't won.
der if you and Lucy were well matched.
To speak pl ain, don't think you have
treated Nancy Raynor right; and the day
may come whe n you will find out what a
true heart is worth"
In spite Of all this, Aunt Dorset liked
the creature. Lucy compelled liking
from those who did not wholly approve
of her. She was disorderly and upseiting,
and shocked the old lady's ideas OF method
and regularity; but still she would bear
more from her than from any body else.
Job liked Iucy's sDirit of fun She WAS