Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-31
FARMER HILLS HIRED NAN.
BT MARY =. sLEisHr.

ever"
I'M. was our srs; knowledge Of the existence
OF such person a. farmer Hills nephew, snc
here IL will be well, perhaps, TO eTeak tht
thread OF my discourse and explain now We
came to make the Acquaintance OF farmer Hil
himself Some six months previous, father and
mother had gone GbrC ad for their health. leav-
iHg Grace and myself, together with cousin
Frank 20 the care OF Arsbells, our EigniteC
elder sister. Arabella was a widow stkl II her
weeds, little PTin naturally, and with ar
outer crust OF GOODNESS which grisf and black
and conscientious that our parents felt entirely
safe IN InIusting US &C her during theii years
absence. They had tElked OF taking Grace
with them, but we could not bear TO be sepa-
rated, for we are wins, trace and /; you would
never guess It, thOush, We are so unlike,
ripe peach. and palis& golden hair, and the
purTing ways OF pet kitten, while ana Just
ner opposite in looks and temperament, and
far more OF a trial, fear 20 Arabela patience.
But Arsbela's greatest trial in those day was
our cousin Frank. Dear child, she woII ID not
for the world have been & rial to any one, but
~ was just as impossible for her 70 conform TO
Arabellas strict notion of prOpriety Is 1t would
he for a humming- bird 10 9ut on the ststeRess
Of the swan. She was moth ~ unless she aid
be herself, and ATabella was forever trying TO
tmOdel =. Left an orphan before she Was
en- years old, she had been adopted by dOuing
audt, who, after doing all N her power TO spoil
ihe girl-fOrtunstely one rot easily spoilt-
died, and left her heir 20 a Eeat little fortune.
Since then she had been viii Us, and we all
Owed her in spite OF the fact that, wherever she
was, she was the centre of attraction.
We had been boarding All winter with Arsbel-
as mother-iu- Law, stylish, atrOnly woman,
who, having for Arabells's sake consented TO
take us into her family, felt il her duty to de-
vote herself 70 our entertainment. And gay
eSas1n had been the result eadings, receu-
tiOns. and parties following esck other in so
quick succession that by sPfing we we're heartily
tree OF fashionable life.
Flow pleasant 1t would be II we could only
20 into the country for a while" SAID Frank
hall buTying her face in bunch Of Arbutus
wbicL. bought that morning OF a Ettle flower
KiIl a. ne IoOr, had been whispering TO us all
day OF the tar-away woods where its home lad
been.
Why not take lodge in the wil.ierr IS and
Try housekeeping: said I, with sudden inspir-
wouldn't i. be spIendid.'' CRIED Frank,
catching al the idea with enthusiasm.
Splendid :" echoed Oracle, warmly.
g My dear gi II, You do not know wtat YOU
are talking about, +" said Arabella in alarm.
- Indeed We dS," san Frank. "I, fo- one,
am hungry for country air"
And - chimed Grace ard myself.
- Bat there are 50 many iLcOnveniences at
seeing that Frank a least Was in downright
earnest.
" Kerosene OIL iOr ms ance - said the mother
And such swarns Of mosquitoes. added
ATsbeIla
- SIN cure we have mosquitoes enough in
town said Frank quickly Z" and as for kerO-
seIe OF, III agree 10 keep the lamps in order"
" Let's 90 said i with growing zeal.
" Lett 90" echoed GTse;e. And so over
~Acimirg were the arguments we brought TO
bear on Arabella that by the time the discus
sion ended she bad yieided her consent; and be-
tore month went by, We fOund ourselves ac-
tuauy a. housekeeping IN a picturesque cottage
not far from Dexter Station. As for the local.
Ity Of Dexter, IL WILL not he indicated on the
nsps yet awhile, there being not more than six
houses IN the place, all told: but We liked IL
none the less. CT course there were incOnve-
niences, especially for the first two days when,
OWING to the nOn-STriyal Of our kitcheE-wsre
- Oh ~ ~. a
how TO furE: IA forth our board, but they only
served % add leSt TO the enterprise.
dolly, Isn't IT. said /, presiding As graceful
OF q teapot.
1T Is Just fur said Grace, using her FIN
gers for a fork, rs she helped herself 10 sar-
sines.
II wish YOU could hnd some more Iady-Iike
word, my dear remarked Arsbella, calmly
splng her tea from terTa-cOtts vase, and
managing 20 maintain her native dignity in
uash-Jub.
Jolly doesn't half express IT," said Frank,
taking lingering looks at the landscape as she
butteTed Ter bread with a Knife; at is
blessedness ITSELF and when things were fairly
put TO rights even Arabells was forced to
one day it was found necessary fer some of rs
10 go TO town to order household supplies, and
2s Grace had a headache and Frank was still
too much in love with the country e care for a
sight OF the city, Arabella and decided TO take
the morning express and make the neeied pur-
before evening, but in one way AMI another we
were detained until there was bA.ely time to
eaten the Ely o'clock train. II was only an
kcnl : ride however, and with a delicious sense
81 rest We shook OF the dust Of the city aud gave
ourselves W 80 thoroughly to the pleasant anti
elpanon OF soon being home, that we scarcely
heard the stations called.
e We mast be near Dexter j." said Arabella at
last, rousing from a state of semi unconscious
ness aud picking up her hand bag.
" Beg pardon. ma am, said A rOice behind
us, " but we have Just left Dexter"
80 IL can't be possible ." cried /, rushing
iTanucal!y 10 the rear OF the car, and mentally
wondering why in the world We hal not taken
The opposite side where We night have seen the
Eame even II We had tailed q hear il called:
but regrets were unsvailing, IOr ,urely enough
there vac Dexter recedIng in the dim distance
Ike dream OF the past.
why, We shan't get home to- gLt We must
stop the train" We must do somethi ng," eiac-
ulsted, turning TO ArabeIla who after propsTIv
thanking cur informant, had followed me at her
usual dignined pace; but her undi.turbed air
eNasperated me, and without waiting for an
answer, hurried 70 the other end OF the car in
search OF the conductor.
There's no help fOrit, mis-, !" said that polite
onelaL - l'll put you of 81 the next station.
that snly three miles on, and you can easily
hnG some one 70 bring you back"
Small consolation il was, but as the last up
u@iI hsd already passed us here was no alter
native and presently We were standing forlorn
ana desOiate on the platfOi m of the Bedford
station, three miles from home, and the sssh.des
OF night gathering about Us with unwelcOme
IN theiI pockets stood staring stupidity at "a.
"bun know, num- said one OF them. in an
sWeT 70 our anxious inquiries, there amt no.
bscy round here a. keeps bosses cept farmer
NM and having pointed out farmer HILLS
house staggered away, and left to our own
devices 4 tiresOme tramp across a plO.ed
ned brought u al last t. the farmer door and
mere u was that we we're told to walk in and
make ourselves to hum" IA! s.Ealph" couiI
come 70 our rescue. Five minutes later the Old
nsn reappeared, tanning himself vigorously
with his broad brim med hat.
" Here's Ralph Strong, he'll take Won over"
And thi- Was our introduction, Tor, a. he spoke
spring wagon drew up at the gate aud the
brJDze-faced driver, with a gallant bow in
formed rs that he al our service. Fvi-
IDENTITY farmer HliIs nephew. whatever might
lie The state OF hi- '.naryes, - was man OF IN
teliIgence and refnement-we made that Dis
cOyeTy before We were a mile on che way-ani
20 entertaining did he prove that, tired and
Lungr. a. we were, We were hall sorry when
the Tide came 70 an end. Frank and Grace
alarmed at our long absence, were watching tor
ne az the gate, and Arabeila, with gracious
cordially introduced the stranger, explaining
N an aside who he was. az course, we invited
HIM ID, and though, IN consideration OF the
lareness OF the hour, he politely declined he