Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-11-18
NO. 274.
Calls and Sketfhes.
IN CLOVER.

recognized Margaret at once by the
harmonious gray of her apparel and the
graceful fall of her long veil; but dear
En-, in an absurd, wide-spreading seaside,
puzzled me. Happily gust of wind blew
up one side of the straw extinguisher, Civ
ing me q glimpse of her bright, friendly
face, and without further ado we flew
into each others arms, regardless of the
smiling baggage-master, or the round
eyed country lads contemplating us
through the blurred windows Of the wait
ing-room.
Here she is, Maggie :" cried En-, in an
ecstacy, turning me round and round 1.-THE
good little girl who found the lock-penny
in her shoe!'
dearest Rhoda, how glad am to see
you, and how rosy and round the child has
grown, to be sure,' said Margaret, clasp
ing my hands, and bending to kiss me in
her sweet way.
WAS there ever such lovely retreat
1t is not be found on the map, and we
were the only passengers in the car What
delicious air. What green fields! o, 1
feel young again = cried twentv-year.o old
En-.
"What divine sky'' chimed Marga-
ret, who was Bostonian; raising her gray
eyes, hazy with tears.
IA lucky woman art thou. Rhoda John
stone,' continued En-; "but l thought
your estate lay five miles beyond the rail-
way station. Prithee, are we to walk
it %
'If you will let me edge in one word,
rattlebox, | will instruct you. You must
know that my noble charger, yclept Fin
cite, has but one weakness-an insur-
mountable objection to locomotive puff
and confusion-so l tied him the other side
of the green, where he awaits your con.
venience, fastidious Emily
Il hope he is not spirited :" she yen-
tured, little TREMENDOUSLY.
"Of course he isr' | laughed. Il
could rot endure q stupid animal. Ell
joy life, and like to feel the reins when
drive
Ems countenance heightened ruefully,
by no means tightening as we came with
in sight of my pretty Canadian. There
could not be found fiercer-looking little
beast; not a hair of his shabby coat lay in
line, fringes of dark gray hung about
his hoofs, a voluminous tail swept behind,
and as for his mane-there was no end to
its unkempt profuseness, two wicked eyes
cleaning in the midst.
Little En-" said |, sis it possible you
are such coward Look at Margaret
She is not afraid" For Margaret was
stroking his neck with her white, ungloved
hand.
But am dreadtully airaid.n sighed
En-. care you sure you can manage him,
Rhoda ?"
81 could drive him with my eyes Shut"
| declared. taking pity on the poor little
coward. 'Let me help you into the car
riage. We must be off, or the evening
will he upon u.s.
"Now relieve my curiosity" said Mar
garet, when we had fairly started. "Tell
us of the wonderful windfall of fortune
that has fallen to you"
"Did not explain in my letter."
"Expian? Yes, but leading us through
a bewildering labyrinth, and leaving US
more confused than when we began. l
am afraid writing is not yonr forte.
Rhoda dear; every other line was paren.
thesis. Il must lay down my pen for
moment to see Joseph about sowing the
melons, or, Il must pause to attend to the
cream, and so on.
"You are cruel to laugh at me, for truly
have never been. so busy in my life.
Delightful labor, however, very different
from the terrible drudgely of teaching.
My story is not so very wonderful.
although at first it seemed like trick of
Aladdin's lamp swapping my whip at
Finette. Thus it happened"
"Oh, pray be CAREFUL gasped En-. at
my side.
"Nly mother had father" | con.
"What an unusual blessingm mur-
INJURED EN-.
Yes | continued; consequently I
enjoyed the honor of grandfather,
though, strictly speaking, it was hardly an
honor, for more grabbed. misery, can.
tankerous old man never existed. Dear
me Margaret, it is disrespectful to speak
so strongly of ones ancestors. Never
theless, when my mother married, her
parent forbade her his house, and publicly
disowned her. from what cause It is i'm
possible to divine, and sternlv adhered to
his decree to the day of her death. The
old man lived for years and, like his own
cider, sharpening and hardening with age.
never saw him, but always faucied him
u Wandering Jew grown stationary, and
never imagined but that he would continue
to live through all ages. Consider. then,
my astonishment when he actually died.
and found myself the poor souls heir.
| ought not to abuse him, am sure. for
he has done me nothing but good. When
we have turned the corner we will catch
glimpse Of the old place; it is still
strange to me. am constantly discover
ing odd hooks and corners; and yester-
day found an old sock full Of silver shil-
lin.s Now we are turning the corner,
prepare to be enraptured.'
''See this gorge on my right !" cried
Emily. There is a brook at the bottom,
and cascade. Would it not be horrible
to roll over into it on dark night ?'
BY this time we had gained the ascent,
and delectable land of river, meadow,
and wooded slopes lay beneath us.
called upon Finette to stand. and pointed
with my whip
''Do you see the old-iashioned, long
rooted house nesting yonder among the
elms? And the red barn9 That is the
homestead. In this valley lies my farm;
is it not fairy gift p
'How can we congratulate you enough