The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-07-29
FARMER HILLS NEPHEW.

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FARMER HILLS NEPHEW.
"Just you walk in and make your
self to hum whilst l call Ralph
He's my nephew, down here from
college, rusticating round awhile for
his narvcs. ItIl do him good to drive
you over. j"
This was the first knowledge of the
existence of such a person as Farmer
Hills nephew, and here it will be
well, perhaps, to explain how we came
to make the acquaintance of Farmer
Hill himself. Some six months pre-
vious, father and mother had gone
abroad for their health leaving Grace
and myself together with cousin
Frank to the care of Arabella, our
digniiied older sister.
Arabella was a widow, still in her
weeds, a little prim naturally, and
with al outer crust Of coldness which
grief and black robes had failed to
soften, yet so true hearted and con-
scientious that our parents felt entire
ly safe in trusting US to her during
their absence. They had talked of
taking Grace with them, but we could
not bear to be separated, for we were
twins, Grace and !; YOU would never
guess it, though; we are unlike, Grace
being short and plump, with face
like ripe peach, and paleish golden
hair, and the purring ways of a pet
kitten, while l am just her opposite
in looks and temperament and far
more a trial, / fear, to Arabella's pa
tience. But Arabella'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 Arabella's strict notion
of propriety as it would be for q hum
ming bird to put on the stateliness of
a swan. She was nothing unless she
could be herself, and Arabella was
forever trying TO remodel her. Left
an orphan before she was ten years
old, she had been adopted by dot
ing aunt, who, after doing all in her
power to spoil the girl-fortunately
not one easily spoiled-died, and left
her heir to a neat little fortune. Since
then she has been with US, and we
love her in spite of the fact that
wherever she was, she was the cen
trc of attraction.
We had been boarding all winter
with Arabella's mother-in-law, styl-
ish, matronly woman who, having
for Arabella's sake, consented to take
US into the family, felt it her duty to
devote herself to our entertainment.
And a gay season had been the re-
receptions, and par
ties followed each other in so quick
that by spring we were
heartily tired of fashionable life.
"How pleasant it would be if we
could only go to the country for
WHILE" said Frank, half burying her
face in a bunch of Arbutus which, |
bought 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 a lodge in the viii
derness and try housekeeping?o said
|, with a sudden Inspiration.
Wouldn't it be splendid?" cried |
Frank, catching at the idea with en-
Lhusiasm.
"Splendidl' echoed Grace, warmly.
"My dear girls, You do not know
what you pre talking about" said
Arabella in alarm.
Indeed We do, said Frank. al
or one, am hungry for country air"
"And l."
"And l." chimed Grace and my
;elf.
"But there are so many inconveni-
'nces attending country life," expos
ulated Arabella, seeing that Frank
1t least was in downright earnest.
Kerosene oil, for instance. said
he mother.in-law, aggravatingly.
"And such swarms of mosquitoes"
ldded Arabella.
~ am sure we have mosquitoes
nough in town, " said Frank, quickly;
and as for kerosene oil, I'll agree to
ieep the lamps in order"
Lets got" said !, with growing
zeal.
"Let's go!'' echoed Grace. And
o overwhelming were the arguments
We brought to bear on Arabella, that
" the time the discussion ended she
lad yielded her consent: and before
month went by, we found ourselves
Ictually at housekeeping in pictur-
'sque cottage not far from Dexter
tation. As for the locality of Dex-
er, it will not be indicated on the
maps yet awhile, there being not
more than six houses in the place.
ii told; but we like it none the less.
)f course there were Inconvenience.
for the first two DAYS. when
wing to the non-arrival of our kitch-
N ware and china, we were some
What puzzled to know how to furnish
orth our board, but they only served
o add zest to the enterprise.
Jolly, isn't it?n said /, presiding
IS gracefully as possible at battered
'each can in place of tea pot
''lt is just fun,n said Grace, using
Ter fingers for a fork, as she helped
lerself to sardine.
Il wish you could find some more
ady-like word, my dear,n remarked