Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-05-09

/ - AANNSAA SoeSs~3S'
'Well, no; rather of the antique orde
than otherwise"
"Oh," cried Rachel, Pm glad. de
spise those new, stiff, formal places
that look as if they were merely to bs
admired, not lived in and enjoyed
Uncle, what are you laughing at?''
"Atyour- curiosity, my DEAR" re
piled the old gentleman.
''Then I won't ask you another ques
tion," said Rachel, resolutely.
But she fully atoned for that depriva
ton by sketching on the tablets of he
own fancy an endless variety Of struc
lures, with bay windows and trellise,
covered with climbing roses and honey
! suckles while Uncle Benedict watched
from behind the screen of his newspaper
with the queerest of expressions on hi
brown old face.
Pm almost soryI commenced the
thing" he said to himself. eff l should
be disappointed in her! But, pooh! IT'S
the only way to find if she is worth my
boys love-" -1
| Presently the numbering old chariot
came to stand-still; but, to RachePs
surprise, in front of no fairy cot, or low
eyed edifce surrounded by verandas
and fiowery parterres. A tumble-down,
implanted farmhouse stood little back
from the road, with its shutters hang
ing loosely by one hinge, and one or
two scrubby lilac bushes forlornly toss
ing their foliage in the wind.
How dreary it looksH thought
Rachel, with a shudder, as she wonder
ed whether the coachman really meant
to stop there. But Uncle Ben at once
seized her carpet-bag and umbrella.
Come, my dear, he said to Rachel.
Is this the place p she asked.
This is the place. Uncle Ben an
swered, with sudden paroxysm of
coughing. Gates little out Of ORDER
as that useful mode Of ingress became
suddenly detached from its sole remain
ing hinge, and fell with crash to the
ground; but that's soon set right with
a screw-driver and half dozen screws
Alas! poor Rachel! What were her
sensations as she looked blankly around
the neglected dismal spot which was
the sole realization other 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 unwelcomed. gift, and tell
Uncle Benjamin plainly that she could
not spend her days in howell 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 meanest of roofs
over their heads. No, she must CRATE
fully accept the present i'll the spirit in
which it was given, and check in the
bud all her rebellious and unamiable re-
pinings.
II told you it was cottage, you
know" said Uncle Ben, keenly scrut-
inizing her face, as they stood on the
doorstep waiting for the door to be
opened.
Yes. l know said Rachel glancing
around with frightening eyes. "That
is very choice climbing rose over the
window, if it was only properly train
ed"
It's rather lonesome" said Uncle
Ben.
II like the country" Rachel answer
ed, hopefully.
As she spoke slipshod old woman
appeared to let them in, and led the
way to the best room, a green curtain
ed apartment. with shabby carpet on
the floor, and a fire in the CRATE that
emitted far more smoke than caloric.
Smoky chimneys, eh?" said Uncle
Ben.
1.-The draught seems to be poor"
said Rachel, "but I dare say 1t can be
altered"
Il hadn't any idea the ceilings were
SO low," grumbled the old gentleman.
cts partly the effect of the large
pattern of the wall paper" said Rachel.
with a glance at the red and green mon
strosities. "A narrow-striped pattern
will improve it,"
"What queen 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 the old gentleman,
Il believe you are determined to be
pleased. Do you really think you shall
like this place 2"
II shall like any place where Hugh
is (" said Rachel brightly.
She went all over the house with the
old gentleman, planning improvements
and suggesting and continuing until he
really began to think she would make
an Arcadia out of the tumble-down old
farm. And if she shed a few tears on
her pillow when she went to rest under
the caves of the roof, in an apartment
which must have been built for Tom
Thumb, Uncle Ben Benedict never
suspected it.
There was the chariot at the door
when Rachel rose from her breakfast Of
bread and butter and coffee the next
morning. :.
'sCome my lass, said the old gentle
man, II want to show you place
further up the road, which has been
taken by friend of mine."
/ I'll a. Jo1s,sr,,.