Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-06-15

..Of course / shall co. said Hugh.
ssBut about Rachel .
81 suppose I'm old enough to take
care of little girl like that, . said
Uncle Ben, in an aggrieved tone.
..You'll, find US both in. the new res
idence, with the table laid for dinner,
when you come back tomorrow. .
So there was nothing for it but for
Hugh to kiss his little bride half
score of times. and commission Uncle
Ben to take the best possible care of
her until he should return.
''F00lish children - said Mr.. Bene-
dict, as he saw Rachel sobbing on
Hugh's shoulder. But there was a
CHEEKY twinkle in his own keen gray
eyes, nevertheless.
Poor little girl! the atmosphere had
lost somewhat Of it's sparkle, and the
world looked less bright, as she jour.
neyed in Uncle Ben's bar0uche to-
wards her new home, with Uncle
Ben's newspaper rafting at her side.
As the autumn twilight began to fall,
her thoughts became busy, as a
woman's will. at times.
''Uncle," she said, turning suddenly
towards the old gentleman, .swhat
sort of a house is it! Ours mean -
'sWell," said Uncle Ben, refiectively,
'"'it's cottage, l should say
"A modern cottage p
.'Well, no; rather of the antique
order than otherwise"
son." cried Rachel, ''1'm glad. I
despise these new, stiff, formal places,
that look as if they were merely to be
admired, not lived in and enjoyed.
Uncle what are you laughing at p
Sat your curiosity, my DEAR" re-
piled the old gentleman.
''Then won't ask you another ques-
ton, . said Rachel, resolutely.
But she fully atOned for that depri.
walton by sketching on the tablets of
her own fancy an endless variety of
little Gothic structures, with bay.win-
dows and trellises covered with climb.
ing roses and h0neysuckles while
Uncle Benedict watched her. from be.
hind the screen of his newspaper,
with the queerest of expressions in
his brown old face.
.'I'm almost sorry commenced the
thing he said to himself. s'If
should be disappointed in her! But,
pooh it's the only way to find out if
she is worth my boys love-
Presently the numbering old chariot
came to a stand.still !; but to Rachel's
surprise, in front of no fairy cot, or
low.eaved edifice surrounded by YER
andahs and flower parterres. A tum.
ble.dOwn, unpainted farmhouse stood
ia little back from the road, with its
ShuttQra hanuinr 1oooolx, ~, o,,r 1,:,o~.o
and one or two scrubby lilac bushes
forlornly tossing their foliage in the
| wind
elbow dreary it looks - thought
Rachel, with little shudder, as She
wondered whether the coachman had
really meant to stay there. But Uncle
Ben at once seized her carpet.bag and
umbrella. . -
"Come, my DEAR" he said to
Rachel. -
lis this the place p she asked.
''This is the place" Uncle Ben an
swered, with sudden 1,aroxysm of
coughing. s'Gate's little out of or
der,' as that useful mode of ingress
became suddenly detached from its
sole remaining hinge, and fell with a
crash to the ground ''but that's soon
set right with screw-driver and half
i dozen screws
Alas poor Rachel! What was her
sensations rs she looked blankly
around the neglected, dismal spot
which was the sole realization of her
fairy dreams This the home Uncle
Benedict had given them! And for
an instant our poor little heroine felt
as if she could repel the unwelcome
gift, and tell Uncle Benjamin plainly
that she could not spend her days in a
howell like this.
But then came sober second
thoughts. Uncle Benedict had meant
kindly :; they were poor, and could not
afford to dispense with even the mean
est of roofs over their heads. No, she
must gratefully accept the present in
the spirit in which it was given, and
check in the bud all her rebellious and
unamiable repinings. Ge
II told you it was Il cottage. you
KNOW said Uncle Ben, kcenly scru.
tinizing her face, as they stood on the
doorstep, waiting for the door to be
opened.
.'Yes, know said Rachel, glanc.
ing around with Frightening eyes.
''That is a very choice climbing rose
over the window if it was only proper.
~ trained.'' Eaty -
''It's rather lonesome" said Uncle
Ben.
II like the country Rachel an.
swered hopefully
As she spoke a slipshod old woman
appeared to let them in, and led the
way to the best room, a green-cur.
tanned apartment, with shabby car.
pet on the floor, and a fire in the CRATE
that emitted far more smoke than cal.
Oric. r
''Smoky chimneys, Ell said Uncle
"The draught seems to be poor .
said Rachel, ''but dare say it can he
altered n
81 hadn't any idea the ceilings were
so low" grumbled the old gentleman.
'1t's partly the effect Of the large
pattern of the wall paper, - said Ra-
chel, with glance at the red and
green m0nstrosities. "a narrow.
striped pattern will improve it,
"What queer little cupboards by the
sides Of the mantel - said Uncle Ben.
! .'Oh, they will be nice for our best
china, said Rachel.
':My dear" said the old gentleman,
III believe you are determined to be
pleased. Do you really think you shall
like this place!''
II shall like any place where Hugh
is I! said Rachel bri htly.
She went all over the house with the
old gentleman, planning improvements
and suggesting and contriving until he
really began to think she would make
an Arcadia out of the tumble. down old
farm. And if she shed few tears on
her pillow when she went to rest un.
der the caves of the roof, in an apart.
ment which must have been built fol
Tom Thumb, Uncle Ben Benedict never
suspected Il.
There was the chariot at the door
when Rachel rose from her breakfast
of bread and butter and coffee the
next morning.
Come my lass, . said the old gentle.