Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-18
Farmer Hills Nephew.

"Just you walk in and make yourself
at hum whilst call Ralph. He's my
nephew, down here from college, rusti-
cruiting around awhile for his nerves.
It'll do him good to drive you over"
This was our first knowledge of the
existence of such person as farmer
Hills nephew. And here it will be well
perhaps, to break the thread of my dis
course and explain how, We came to
make the acquaintance of farmer Hill
himself. Some six months previous,
father and mother had gone abroad for
their health, leaving Grace and myself,
together with cousin Frank, to the care
of Arabella, our dignified elder sister.
Arabella was widow still in her weeds,
little prim naturally, and with an out
er crust a coldness which grief and
black robes and failed to soften, yet so
true-hearted and conscientious that our
parents felt entirely safe in entrusting
us to her during their years absence.
They had talked of taking Grace with
them, but we could not bear to be sepa-
rated, for we are twins Grace and you
would never guess it, though, we are so
unlike, Grace being short and plump,
with face like ripe peach, and purp-
lish golden heir,and the purring ways of
apet kitten,while 1 am just her opposite
in looks and temperament and far more
of trial, L fear, to Arabella's patience.
But Arabella's greatest trial in those
days was our cousin Frank. Dear child
she would not for the world have been
Il trial to any one, but it was just rs pos
sible for her to conform to Arabella's
strict notions of propriety as it would
be for humming bird TO put on the
srateliness of the swan. She was nothing
unless she could be herself,and Arabel-
la was forever trying to rem odel her.
Left an orphan before she was ten years
old, she had been adopted by doting
aunt, who, after doing all in her power
to spoil the girl-fortunately not one
easily spoilt-died, and left her heir to
a neat little 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 boarding all winter with
Arabella's mother-in-law,a stylish, mat
ronly woman, who, having for Arabel-
las sake consented to take us into her
family felt it her duty to devote herself
to our entertainment. And a gay sea.
son had been the result-reading,r g,recep-
tions, and parties following each other
in succession, that by the spling we were
heartily tried of fashionable life.
"How pleasant it would be if we could
only go into the country for a while,"
said Frank, half-burying her face in a
touch Of arbutus which, brought that
morning of a little flower girl at the
door, had been whispering to us all day
OF the far-away woods where its home
had been.
"Why not take lodge i'm the wilder
ness and try housekeeping 2"said with
sudden inspiration.
"Wouldn't it be splendid?" cried
Frank, catching at the idea with enthu-
siasm.
"Splendid!" echoed Oracle warmful-
ly.
"My dear girls,you do not know what
you are talking about, said Arabella in
alarm.
"Indeed we do, 1 for one, am hungry
for country air." said Frank.
"And I!''
Sand !"chimed Grace and myself.
"But there are so many incOnvenien-
ces attending country life,'' expostula-
ted Arabella, seeing that Frank at least
was in downright earnest.
"Kerosene oil,for instance" said the
mother-in-law.
"And such swarms of mosquitoes, Pad
ded Arabella.
81 am sure we have mosquitoes enough
in town." said Frank quickly; "and as
for kerosene oil, I'll agree to keep the
lamps in order.
"Let's go!" said with growing zeal
"Let's!" echoed G racie. And so over
whelming were the arguments we