Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-12-12
RUTH'S CHRISTMAS.

Ruth Hill was the niece of Farmer
Hill-as wild and pretty housekeeper,
4he neigbbors said, as an old man would
care to have, whose own sons and
daughters were married and gone, and
whose wife was in heaven. She was
good at churning, baking, or weaving,
however; her cheeses were the pride of
the county. Her bread had passed into
ia proyerb. Many of the young men in
the township had, paid court to her,
only to find it time wasted if they dared
put the question.
"Maybe she's waiting for him of the
Ridge Farm" was the fayorite sarcasm
launched at Ruth. Now the owner of
the Ridge Farm was as mythical per-
sonage to the residents at Greenside as
the Grand Lama of Thihet or the man
in the moon. It was, indeed, we'll
authenticated fact that farm of that
name existed that its owner carried
oft the county prizes; but nobo3y
among Ruth's acquaintances remem-
bered having seen him. Nobody in
those parts had had the happiness to
meet him in highway or market. town
but when o son of Greenside was to be
especially commended to the good
graoes of any of it's daughters, he was
declared cas- good catch as him of
the Ridge Farm ;" or if neighbor
raised an ambitious crop of grain or
grapes, or a yoke of steers remarkable
in any respect, he was reputed to have
beaten the Ridge Farm hollow. As
this hero was understood to be a
bachelor, the girls ioked about him.
Every stranger driving by was "him of
the Ridge Farm y when their scissors
stuck in the floor, he was coming to
call and every letter among the tea
grounds in their cups was written by
him. To be mistress of the Ridge Farm
was almost equivalent, in their regard,
to being Queen of England.
{" I'm tired of this eternal litter about
the Ridge Farm and its owner" said
Ruth, on one occasion. 81 suppose
he's made of clay like other folks"
Like his farm, too," put in her
uncle Isaac.
ST don't care for him nor his farm
either" averred Ruth.
"Wait till you're asked, Ruth"
"Td show him there was one woman
in the world he couldn't have for the
asking; he'd ask in vain, I promise
you." {.
Perhaps, as rumors of the Ridge
Farm travelled to Greenside, so Ruth's
scoffing may have reached the ears of
its master, since dog that brings q
bone will carry one.
One winter Uncle Isaac was over
reached by rheumatism, and though he
fondly trusted that spring would bring
him round, yet spring came and found
him still beneath the counterpane
but as the planting must be done, and
the farm hands needed head man, he
advertised in the County PloWuaan for
a capable man to oversee the farm of
Isaac Hill. And to illuatrate the ad-
vantages of advertising, somewhat
tall and thickset man of twenty-five
arrived, one Elkanah Reed, with honest
brown eyes, and severely outlined
mouth, which smile broke into tender
lines and curves. He carried ample
recommendations in his pocket, one of
which bore the name of Guy Grosvenor,
the master of the famous Ridge Farm.
And how long have you worked at
the Ridge p asked Uncle Isaac.
"From boy, sir, on and off," was
the answer.
Ruth stood with one arrested hard on
her spinning wheel, listening-a pretty
picture enough, with her saucy bright
eyes, the apple blossom color fitting
across her cheek, and her lips half
pouted with a smile. She had been
too often told of her charms not to be-
lieve in them, and perhaps she was the
least bit surprised that Elkanah Reed
never looked aG her after the first salu-
tation.
"And why did you leave the Ridge
Farm ?" she asked, presently, not caring
at all, but bent upon compelling his
regard.
"Why, miss Because I wished to
earn more, by your leave"
80 he of the Ridge is hard master
eh? Is he bachelor still +? Well he
never marry, think you p
=" Perhaps-if he were to see you,
MISS"
Ruth flung back her curls and made
her wheel buzz. This was the recogni-
tion she had craved, but somehow it
half displeased her she was uncertain
but this Elkanah Reed was laughing
at her.
81 would sweep the streets first"
she answered, ecornfully. Then she
turned her liquid glance full upon him,
and her scorn melted into smile that
seemed to make halo about her as she
graclously ~ said, 81 have met you some
where, if I mistake not (; was it at the
fair last autumn ?"