Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-06-26
The Leisure Hour.
FARMER HILL'S HIRED NAN.

'Jest you walk in aud make youi self to
hum whilst call Ralph. He's my neph-
ew, down here from college, rusticruiting
round awhile for his narves. I'm do him
good 10 drive you over"
This was our first knowledge of the ex-
istence of such a person as Farmer Hills
nephew, and here it may be well, perhaps,
TO break tho thread of my discourse and
explain how we came to make the acquaint-
ance 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 dignifed older
sister. Arabella was widow, still in her
weeds, little pa i'm naturally, and with an
outer crust of cOdness which grief and
black robes had failed to soften, yet so
true-hearted and conscientious that our pa
rents felt entirely safe in intrusting us to
her during their years absence. They had
talked of taking Grace with them, but we
could not bear 10 he separated, for we are
twins, Grace and / ; you would never guess
1t, though, we we are so unlike, Grace be-
ing short and plump, with face like a ripe
peach, and palish golden hair, and the pur-
ring way$ Of a pet kitten, while am just
her opposite in looks and temperament,
aud far more of trial, fear to Arabela's
patience. But Arabella's greatest trial in
those days was our cousin Frank. Dear
child, she would not for the world have
been trial TO any one, but it was Just as
impossible for her IN conform To Arabella's
strict notion of propri0ty as it would be for
a humming- bird to put on the stateliness of
the swan. She Was nothing unless she
could be herself, and Arabella was forever
trying to remodel her. Left an orphan be-
| fore she was ten years old, she had been
| adopted by a dOting aunt, who, after doing
all in her power TO spoil the girl-fortu-
nalely not easily spolt-died, and left her
heir TO 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 centre of attraction.
We had been boarding all winter with
Arabella's mother-in-law, a stylish, ma
uonly woman who, having, for Arabella's
sake, consented to take us into her family,
felt il her duty 10 devote herself TO our en-
tertainment. And gay season had been
the result-readings, reception, and parties
following each other In 50 quick succession
that by spring we were heartily tired Of
fashionable life.
"IIow pleasant ii would be il we could
only so into the country for while," said
Frank, half-burying her face in bunch of
arbutus which, bought that morning of a
little fower-girl at the door, had been whis-
pering to MS all day of the far. away woods
where its home had been.
"Why not take lodge in the wilderness
and try housekeeping ?" said |, with sud
den inspiration.
"Wouldn't it be splendid ?" cried Frank,
catching al the idea with enthusiasm.
"Splendidp r. echoed Oracle, warmly.
"My dear girls, you do not know what
you are talking about, said Arabella, in
alarm.
"Indeed we do" said Flank. "I, fol
one, am hungry for country air."
"And IW
"And L - chimed Grace and myself.
"But there are so many Inconvenience,
attending country life" expostulated Ara
bella, seeing that Frank at least was IL
downright earnest.