The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-06-15
= "a a saHsa ~ g e q
prise, insfrontsof no fairy cot OR 1oM
[eaved edi0cA surrounded hyl< VArandse

III ~ gS xSs2sSsss ~ n - rs
Eprise ipjhontsof no fahy; eot, or Rx
peaved ediac4 surrounded By Nerandse
and flower parterres. A tumble down,
implanted farm. house stood little back
from the road, with its shutters hanging
loosely by one hinge, and one or two
scrubby lilac bushes forlornly tossing
their foliage in the wind!
"How dreary It looks 7" thought Rachel,
with little shudder, as she wondered
whether the coachman had really meant
10 stop there. But Uncle Ben at once
seized her carpet-bag and umbrella.
"Come, my DEAR" he said to Rachel.
sis this the place." she asked.
"This is the place.. Uncle Ben an
swcred, with sudden paroxysm OF
coughing. Gates . attlt out Of nr1er,''
as that useful mode Of %iAgress became
suddenly detached from its sole remain.
ing hinge, and fell with crash to the
ground; but that's soon set right with q
scrcw-driver and halfa dozen screws"
Alas! poor Rachel! What were hel
sensations as she looked blaHk1y 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 Benz plainly that
she could not spend her days in a hovel
like this.
| But then came sober second thoughts
Uncle Benedict had meant kindly; they
were poor, and could not afford to dis
pense with even the mcanest of roofs over
their heads. No, she must gratefully &C.
ccpt the present in the spirit in which il
was given, and check in the bud all hel
rebellious and unamiable repinings.
~ told you it was. a cottage, ypu
know" said Uncle Ben, keenly scrutiniz-
ing her face, as they stood on the door
step waiting for the door to be opened.
Yes, | know" said Rachel, glancing
round with Frightening eyes. "That is a
very choice climbing rose over the win.
dow, if it was only properly trained"
Its rather lonesome" said Uncle Ben.
II like the country" Rachel answered,
hopefully. * A. &
: As she spoke aslipshodg old womsnsap
peared to let them in, and led the way to
the best room, a green-curtained apart
ment, with a shabby carpet on the floor,
and fire in the CRATE that emitted fa1
| more smoke than caloric.
"Smoky chimneys, eh?' said Uncle
Ben
1.-THE draught seems to be poor" said
Rachel, "but 1 dare say it can be al
| tercd.'
II hadn't any idea the ceilings were so
low" grumbled the old gentleman.
It's partly the effect of the large pat
! tern of the wall paper" said Rachael,
with glance at the red and green mon
strosities, Anarrow- striped pattern will
improve it."
"What queer little cupboards by the
sides of the mantel!" said Uncle Ben.
ooh, they will be nice for our best
china" said Rachel.
MY DEAR said tine old gentleman, 81
believe you are determined to be pleased
Do you really think you shall like this
| place?''
IL shall like any place where Hugh
isl" said Rachel, brightly.
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 ar
Arcadia out of the tumble-down old farm
And ii she shed few tears on her pillow
when she went to rest under the caves Of
the roof, in an apartment which mus
have been built for Tom Thumb, Uncle
Ben Benedict never suspected it,
There was the chariot at the door when
Kachcl rose from her breakfast Of bread
and butter and coffee the next morning.
"Come, my lass" said the old gentle
man, l want to show youa place further
up the road, which has been taken by a
friend of NINE" -
The drive and the delicious September
air were like an invigorating to to oul
wearied little bride; and picture after
the style of Vatican awaited them in the
exquisite villa, with its rose-clad bay win.
dows and picturesquely sloping roof
Rustic iron chairs stood under the bowling
branches of the elms on the lawn, and a
marble Cupid, holding up carved conch.
shell, scattered bright rain into flower.
bordered basin directly in front OF the
gates.
ooh, how beautiful" cried Rachel. 81
never saw such superb scarlet geraniums
in my life and what a lovely marble-paved
hall!'
"You like the appearances"
"Oh, yes; it's beautiful"
"Come in, my dear, and see how you
like the INTERIOR said the old gentleman
serenely.
1t was perfect, from the drawing-rooms
with their superb Brussels carpet and ex
quis;te silk hangings, to the chambers
all in white and pink, like the inside o.
roses heart, and the fairy Conservatory
all stocked with camelias, heliotrope anG
rare fuchsias, at the south end of the
house.
ait is like fairylandn' cried Rachel, Ell
Enthusiastically. do tell me, Uncle Ben
who is to live heres'
Uncle Ben turned round and faced her
"You, my dear"
"And Hugh, of course?"
"To be sure!"
"But, UNCLE" gasped little Rachel
quite overwhelmed by this unexpected
good luck, "the other house-"
"That's only little joke of mine. Thi'
is the real home, and give it to you will
all the more pleasure that you were dis
posed to make the best of the bad bargain
you thought you were in for. My dear
the contented mind you possess is worth
a thousand houses!"
And Rachel felt something warm ans
wet upon her cheek, like tear, as the ole
gentleman stopped to kiss her.
When Hugh came home, to find his lit
tie wife upon the veranda, all welcoming
smiles to greet aim, he exclaimed. "Why
Uncle Ben, this is a:perfect casket!"
"But none too good for the little jewe
that inhabits it," Uncle Ben answered.
And Hugh read in the tone that hi
young wife had won the capricious OLE
gentleman's heart.-World.