The Placer herald., 1873-06-14
FARMER HILLS NEPHEW.

"Jest you walk in and make yourses to
hum whilst call Ralph. He's my nephew
down here from college, rusticrutng round
awhile for his narves It'll du him good to
drive you ove..
This was our first knowledge of the ex-
istence of such IA person as farmer Hills
nephew. Aud here it will be well, perhaps
to break the thread of my discourse and ex
plain how we came to make the acquant-
ance of farmer Hill himself. Some six
months previous, father and mother had
gone abroad for their health, leaving Grace
aud myself together with cousin Frank, to
the care of Arabela, our dignifed elder
sister. Arabella was a widow still in her
weeds, little prm naturally, and with an
outer-crust of coldness which grief and black
robes had failed 10 soften, yet &C rue
hearted and conscientious that our parents
felt safe in mtrusting us to her during their
years absence. They had talked of taking
Grace with them, but we cohld not bear to
be separated, for we are twins Grace and |;
you would never guess it, though, we are
so unlike, Grace being short and plump,
with a face like ripe peach, and pasI
golden hair, and the purring ways of pet
kitten, while | am just her opposite in looks
and temperament, and far more of trial,
fear, to Arabella's patience. But Arabea' s
greatest trial in those days was our cousin
Frank. Dear child, she would not for the
world have been a trial to any one. but it
was just as impossible for her to conform to
Arabela's strict notions of propriety as it
would be for a humming- bird to put on the
staleliress of swan, She was nothing un-
less she could be herself, and Arabella was
forever trying to remodel her. Left an or
phan before she was ten years old, she had
been adopted by doting aunt, who, after
doing all in her power to spoil the girl-fort-
unately one not easily spoilt-died, and left
her heir to neat fortune. Since then she
had been with us, and we all loved her in
spite of the fact that, wherever she was,
she was the center of attraction.
We had been board ng all winter with
Arabella's mother-in-law, a stylish, ma
lrony woman, who, having for Arabella' s
sake consented to take US into her family,
felt it her duty to devote herse. to our en-
terainment. And gay season had been
the result--readings, receptions, and parties
following each other in SO quick succession
that by Spring we were heartily tired OF
fashionable life.
"How pleasant it would be if we conld
only go into the country for awhile" said
Frank, half -burrying her face in bunch OF
arbutus which, bought that morning Of a
little flowtr-girl at the door, had been whis-
pering to us all day of the far-away woods
,boro ;,s hon,o Il, ri I,oop
"Wby lot take lodge in the wilder
ness and try housekeeping said |, with
sudden inspiration.
Wouldn't it be splendid ?" cried Frank !,
catching at the idea with enthusiasm.
"Sl endid" echoed Oracle warmly.
"My dear girls, you do not know what
you are talking about" said Arabella in
alarm.
Indeed we do" said Frank. 81, for
one, am hungry for country air"
And lp'
"And II" chimed Grace and myself.
"But there are so many inconveniences
attending country life" ex pos,ulated Ara
bella, seeing that Frank at least was in
downright earnest.
kerosene oil, for instance" said the
mother-in-law asgravatingly.
And such swarms Of mosquitoes" ad-
ded Arabella.
81 am sure we have mosquitoes enough
in town." said Frank quickly: "and as for
kerosene oil, III agree to keep the lamps in
order
"Lets go!' said l with growing zeal.
"Let's!'' echoed Oracle. And so over
whelming were the arguments we brought
to bear on Arabella, that by the time the
discussion ended she had yielded her con-
sent; and before month went by, we found