Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-28

him over.
sThe wagon set him down In front of ablack-
smith'e shop, and drove OFF, leaving him to shift
for himself. OF course, the first thing he ask ID
for was the INN; but there was none, It appear
then q pleasant looking elderly man jogging
past In Q substantial gig, he concluded to stop
Linn and make some Inquiries.
:, Ian you tell me, sir, If there ie any place
ins?r s
The stranger took q look at him. and an
swefSd, isnkee fashion, with another question:.
Yes. Il have come up from New York to
sIend q few days, and find you've no tavern
"'New Ycrk, ehP You don't happsn to know
cousin Of mine there named Tom Somers, do
That is my name, SIR
"A !? said the old gentlem An with laugh
81 thought I couldn't be mistaken in yonr nose.
LIS as good as a family label all the world
round. But what On earth do you want to Ind
'TOm explained.
"'Nonsense,' said his cousin. sJump right in.
You can't come too sooa. The girls will be
sac 70 see you. They couldn't say enough about
convenience ' ~
81 Inconvenience, not bit. Jump right In,
L say. We are country folks and don't put
ourselves out for our friends. Yol must take
us as you nnd US. Dittie was deee i'm some
fuIbelow or other when came OFF, but Nelly
Nbsfs
never too busy to do anything that's wanted. if
1t only makes somebody else comfortable.'
"Se on they drove. and after half a MILE
turned IN at an open gate, and stopped in front
OF large, low, comfortable homestead. The
old gentleman sprang out like boy, and open-
ing the door began to call in a loud voice,
'Dittie-Neliy-grls!'
This way, Tom. Here's the keepinp-room,
and there's a fire-or ought to be- well
Dlttie, what's the matter? Why don't Won
come and speak to your cousin Tom?'
"Ard Tom stood and stared, for the figure
before him was very little like the exquisite
fairy he had been dreaming about for a month
back. Ditto was cuddled up in a corner of the
hearth with a candle beside her, and her lap
full OF blue silk petticoat. upon which she
was sewing. Her pretty hair was all tucked
out of the way, and locked rough and careless
Her dress was sort of faded bedgown, evil
IDENTIFY put on in q hurry, and as she got I'D and
shuiifed unwillingly forward there could be no
doubt that her slippers were down at the heel,
"Now, children, If there is one thing above
another woman cannot afford to be, it is ut-
tidy. No matter how beautiful she is il spoils
1t all Venus, herself, couldn't make an i'm
preston in an old bed gown, with her hair rum
pied and her collar awry. And as Tom stared
at his lady-love-sullen and mortified, and in
tins unpromising guise-he felt his sentiment
for her oozng out at the tips of his fingers; and
what's worse, ii never came back again. Re-
member that, girlsi
1--WE didn't expect you go soon,~ was all
Dittie could find to say in the confusion OF the
moment.
but we're very glad, Cousin Tom,' Joined
in another voice, and then he became conscious
tor the first time that Nelly had entered. She
carried a candle in each hand. sad when she
had set them down aud given Tom a welcome
and found a chair for him and her father she
moved about the room, giving bright little
bOusewifely touches here and there-poking
the fire to a blaze, and making things look neat
and cheerful. Her dress was only a common
print. but IL was fresh and spotess; her hair
HaS as glossy satin; and the neat little collar
and bow OF ribbon made the simple garb as be-
coming as a richer material. All the time she
Was arranging the room she went on talking in
A peasant voice, asking questions about the
journey. and diffusing that atmosphere of
bone and welcome which is so acceptable to
stranger.
"Dittie slipped away, but Tom forgot to miss
her, he was 80 well entertained. By and by she
came back in a smart gown with her hair curled:
hut somehow Tom couldn't think her a. pretty
- lie used to. The vision OF the shabby dress
ing-gown and rough locks was too recent 70 be
forgotten.
"Well, a supper appeared, and irst-rate
supper it was. Tom was glad to see il, for the
journey had made him very hungry. Nelly
poured the tea. IL appeared she was house
he per; and as she sat there, looking sweet
enough TO sweeten the cups without sugar,
Tom saw for the first time what dear little
face she had, and how honest and true her
brown ewes were. Her teeth, too, were like
PeaTls-she showed them when she laughed
a al that was pretty often, for Dittie seemed
sulky and silent, and she was ANXIOUS to make
up Tor 1t and have Cousin Tom feel at home.
Next morning Ditto looked subdued and
distracted, with none of the lively ways she
had worn in New York. Tom found aftarward
that her head was full of the blue silk gown
which she had set her heart on finishing for
Thanksgiving.
"Soon after breakfast she went away to work
upon it, leaving Tom in Nelly's hands which
was announcement; for Nelly had all sorts of
things to do that day-spples to pare and
know what all.
"HOwever, there was no help for it, She
made bright fire in the keeping room and
brought some books for Tom, and told him that
she must leave him awhile, and if he got lonely
he must come out in the kitchen, for there
she must be. And of course Tom had no idea
OF sitting alone; SO he soon came wandering
after her, and spent almost the whole day there,
helping and hindering; for, though he pared
some apples and beat a great many eggs, I'm
afraid his long legs and his conversation were
"However, Nelly didn't let him know it if
they were. And il was so pleasant to watch
her at work that he would have been sorry
enough to have been ordered oil. She was the
quickest, most skilful little creature in all
her ways, and yet so orderly and systematic.
" neither whisking some dainty mixture with a
big spoon, or welding the rolling pin, or touch
ing the oven door with a white knuckle, to see
II the heat was right, all she did seemed grace
full aud charming. All, can tell yoa chill
dren, q girl never looks half 50 well As when
she is doing plain, useful work in the incest
and prettiest way. And when those pies came
out Of the oven," said grandpaps, smacking his
iilc3 YOU never saw Tue ike. 1ney resem-
bled snow-flskes fried to a rich brown, only
they were a great deal betteri"
"NOt better than grandma's," broke in a
chorus of indignant voices.
"Well," said grandpa. looking wickedlv
about, grandma's pies, as Ii happens, are the
only ones i ever saw which were exactly like
Nelly's, and just as good"
The dear old lady blushed like a girl. "Now,
Thomas" she said, "You mustn't talk such nom
sense to the children"
"Oh!" shrieked Jack, the irrepressible;
"grsndpapa's name is Thomas, amt ito. /
guess" But here somebody chOked him Off
and grandpapa went, on very fast:
$50 all the pies were baked, and the loaves of
bread, and the Thanksgiving cake, and the
plum pudding mixed and put over to 'half
boil Tor IL was great business in those days
to get pudding boiled, and by that time sup
peT-time was nearly come. Dittie came down
very good natured and laxative. She had
finished her dress and quite recovered her tenn
per; and Nelly, who was tired, looked a little
pale, and sat quietly most OF the evening.
But there was no danger of Cousin Toms
making any further mistakes. Twenty -four
hours had done the work of q month, aud he
had made mp his mind, once for sll, that the
pale, weary face in the corner was the sweetest
face in the world.
"wednesday was almost as busy as Tuesday
There were the last touches to be given TO the
cooking, and the house TO be Frightened up aud
the red apples TO wipe and arrange with autumn
leaves. Cousin Tom helped In everything;
and when the afternoon came, and he found
fla a the piaa wa IN he