Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-01
Farmer HIPS Hired Man.

Farmer Iill's Hired Man.
-'Jest You walk in and make yourself
to hum whilst I call Ralph. He's my
nephew. down here from college, rusti-
cruting round awhile for his narves. It'll
do him good to drive you over"
This was our first knowledge of the eX
istence of such person as Farmer Hills
nephew. and here it may be well, perhaps,
to break the 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 dignitied older
sister. Arabella was a widow, still in her
weeds, little prim naturally, and with an
outer crust of cOldness which grief and
! black robes had failed to soften, vet so
true-hearted and conscientious that. our
parents 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 to be separated, for we
were twins. Grace and |; you would never
guess it, though, we aIe so unlike. Grace
being short and plump, with a face like 4
ripe peach, and palish golden hair, and
the purring ways ofa pet kitten, while am
1 Just her opposite in looks and temberament
and far more of trial. | fear to Arabclla :
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 to conform to Arabella' ;
strict notion of propriety as it would be
for a humming-bird to put on the statell-
ness of the swan. She was nothing unless
she could be herself, and Arabella was for
ever irving to remodel her Lettan orphan
before she was ten years old, she had been
adopted by Il dOtlng aunt, who, after dong
all in her power to spoil the girl-tortu-
nately not 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 mothcr-in-law, Il stylish, ma
tronlv woman who, having, for Arabella' ;
sake, consented to take us into her family,
felt it her duty to devote herself to our en-
tertainment. And a gay season had been
the result--rcadings,r 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 could
only 90 into the country for while, said
Frank. half-burying her ftce in a bunch of
arbutus which. bought that morning of a
little iower-girl at the door, had been
whispering to Us all dav ofthe far-away
woods where its home had been.
Why not take a lodge in the wilder
ness and Try housekeeping said |. with a
sudden inspiration.
Wouldn't it be splendid?" cried Frank,
catching at the idea with enthusiasm.
( "Splendid" echoed Oracle, warmly.
My dear girls, you DO not know what
YOU are talking about said Arabella, in
alarm.
Indeed we do" said Frank. :. l, for
one, am hungry for country air
And It'
And t. chimed Grace and myself.
But there are so many inconveniences
attending country life" eXpostulated ARA
bella, seeing that Frank ut least was in
downright earnest.
kerosene oil, for instance, said the
mother-in-law, aggravatingly.
And such swarms of mosquitoes" ad-
ded Arabela.
| 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 CO. said l, with growing zeal.
=. Let's 60" echoed Oracle. And SO
overwhelming were the arguments we
brought to bear on Arahella that by the
time the discussion ended she had yielded
her consent; and before month went by,
we found ourselves actually at hOusekecp
ing in a picturesque cottage not far from
Dexter station. As for the locality of
Dexter, it will not be indicated on the
maps vet awhile, there being not more
than six houses in the place, all told; but
we liked it none the less. OF course there
were inconvenience, especially for the
first few days, when owing to the non-ar-
rival of our kitchen-ware and china, we
were somewhat puzzled to know how tc
furnish forth our board, but they only
served to add zest to the enterprise
Jolly, is MT it?' said |, presiding as
gracefully as possible at Il battered peach
can instead Of q tea pot.
1t is just fun" said Grace, using her
fingers for fork, us she helped herself tc
sardines.
q wish you could find some more lady
: like word, my dear" remarked Arabelll,
calmly slipping her tea from Il terra-cOtt;
vase, and managing to maintain her native
dignity in spite of the fact of being seated
on an inverted wash tub.
Jolly doesn't half express it," sale
Frank, taking lingering looks at the land
scape as she buttered her bread with a per
knife. 1T is bessedness itself;' and wher
things were fairly "put to rights" ever
= Arabella was forced to agree with her.
One day it was found necessary for some
of us to 90 to town to order household sup
plies, and as Grace had headache anC
Frank was still too much in love with the
country to care for sight of the city, Ar
abella and | decided to take the morning
express and make the needed purchases
We had fully expected to be at home be
, fore evening, but in one way and another
we were detained till there was barely
time to catch the six O'Clock train. 1t wa
only an hours ride, however, and with
delicious sense of rest we shook off the
dust of the city and gave ourselves up 81
thoroughly to the pleasant anticipation o
: soon being home, and we scarcely hearC
, the stations called.
1--WE must be near Dexter" said Ara
bella at last, rousing from a state of semi
unconsciousness, and picking up her hand
! bag.
, s.Beg pardon, ma am" said voice be
hind US, g but we have just left Dexter
''It can't be possible!' cried /, rushing
frantically to the rear of the car, and men
tally wondering why in the world we ha
. not taken the opposite side where we Nigh
have seen the name even if we had faile,
4 to hear it called; but regrets were unavail
inp. for surely enough there was Dexte