Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-11-10
Seletted Mlistellanv.
THE soUIRE's HIRED GIRL"

lWO CLOCK Il. vi. on DlaZlnS July
day in the country. A row Of stalwart
mowers, each keeping time with scythe
and step across the ten-acre lot ON the
Rowland farm A line of piebald cattle,
black and white, red and white, dun
and gray. cream color and dun, coming
slowly down the slope of the woodland
pasture to drink from the brook beneath
the spring. A great, old-fashioned,
cream-colored farmhouse, with green
blinds and a piazza, a side-porch and a
grapevine colonnade, standing on
level lawn, beneath tall maple-trees that
were only tiny saplings in the days
when Great-grf ndfather Rowland moved
up in o Vermont from Connecticut ''to
settle" some eighty years ago.
The doors and windows of this fine
old mansion were standing wide open.
and a brown retriever stationed at the
front gate aniably watched the depar-
ture Of two double-scated carryalls, each
drawn by pair of fine horses, and laden
with merry cargo of laughing girls.
And from one of the upper windows
another girl, apparently some twenty
years of age, looked out, dressed in a
blue striped calico, with pinaforc apron
pinned to her slipping shoulders, and a
cook book in her hand.
This was the aspect of the old Rowland
farm and homestead when John Parry,
artist, first beheld them.
During the three weeks of his stay in
| the mountain village of Bradley he had
heard much Of the Rowland place, and
the "Howland girls" Being shy and
retiring student, he inwardly congratu-
lated himself this afternoon on the alb
scence of "those girls as he too looked
after the cloud of dust that followed the
retreating carryall-whecls.
IL can get my picture done before they
all come laughing and Cabling home
again" muttered Mr.. Parry, as he fixed
his camp-stool and umbrella near the gar
den-gate. and prepared to sketch in the
groundwork of the finest view in Clayford
county, as his host at the village tavern
had called it, while directing him to it
that day.
The ungallant artist painted as fast as
he possibly could, in order to finish his
work before the daughters Of the house
returned. But the sun poured down
his most screening beams upon his head.
and not a loaf was stirred in any direc-
ton by a welcome breeze. The
haymakers halted now and then to al
low of the passage of stout, comfortable
looking brown jugs along the line, and
the sight made Mr.. Parry thirstier and
tbirstier, till at last in his desperation he
unlatched the garden-gate behind him,
ard went up to the house
The brown retriever did not oppose
bis advance, but lay on the clean mar
ble-painted wooden floor of the hall, and
lazily tapped his tail in welcome.
Mr. Parry knocked.
After some delay light, graceful
figure in blue calico appeared at the
lower end of the hall
Mr. Parry looked at the girl as she
came nearer.
She had frank, happy, childlike face,
with large bewitching gray eyes, and
a quantity Of soft, short, curling hair
of the true golden color, such as is
seldom seen except upon the sunny
head of very young child.
"The hired girl, Of course. How
lovely she is / should like to paint
her." thought Mr.. Parry, as she busted
some -four from the prettiest hands and
arms in the world, and apologized to
him in very sweet voice for keeping
him waiting.
II bad just begun to make biscuits
for tea. and could not come till now"
she said.
The artist, lost in admiration, gazed
at her so persistently that sudden hot
blush ran over her pretty face
DO you wish. to see Mr.. Rowland,
sir p she asked.
"No-no-I-you--if / might have
a glass of water" stammered the unfor-
tunate artist.
Certainly, sir. Won't you step
inside while get it?"
Like one in dream, he followed her
INTO a cool and pleasant parlor, and stood I
waiting till she returned from the
Kitchen with goblet of water on tray.
ut is from the coolest corner of the
we'll. for | drew it myself" she said,
With a bewildering smile.
John Parry drank it, and thought it
nectar His mind was in .hirl, but