Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-01-31

shutters hanging loosely by one
hinge, and one or two lilac bushes
fornlornly tossing their foliage to
the wind.
"Bow dreary it looks thought
Rachel with a shudder. But Uncle
Ben at once jumped out.
"Come my DEAR" he said to
Rachel.
ais this the place p she asked.
"This is the place. Uncle Ben
answered, with a sudden paroxysm
of coughing. "Gates a little out
of order," as the useful mode Of
ingress became suddenly detached
from its sole remaining hinge, and
fell with q crash to the ground !;
"but that's soon set right with q
screw driver and half dozen or
so of screws"
Alas, poor Rachel! What were
her sensations when she looked
blankly around the neglected, dis
nal spot, where was the sole reali-
zation Of her fair dreams! This
is the home Uncle Benedict gave
them. And for an instant our poor
little heroine felt IA il she could
repel this unwelcome gift, and tell
Uncle Benedict plainly that she
should not spend her days in a
hovel like this.
But then came sober second
thought. Uncle Benedict had
meant kindly; they were poor, and
could not afford to dispense with
even the meanest roof over their
heads. No; she must gracefully
accept the present in the spirit in
which it was given, and check in
the bud all her rebellious and un-
amiable repinings.
81 told you it was cottage, you
know" said Uncle Ben, keenly
scrutinizing her face. as they stood
on the door step waiting for the
door to he opened.
"Yes, I know" said Rachel,
glancing around with frightening
eyes. "That is very choice climb
ing rose over the window, if it is
properly trained"
ats rather lonesome" said Uncle
Ben.
81 like the country" Rachel said
hopefully.
As she spoke slipshod old wom-
an appeared to let them in, and
led the way to the best room, a
green curtaiDed apartment with a
shabby carpet on the floor and a
fire in the stove that emitted far
more smoke than caloric.
"Smoky, eh ?" said Uncle Ben.
"The draught seems to be poor.
said Rachel; "but l dare say it can
he altered"
81 hadn't any idea that the cell
ings were so low" grumbled the
old gentleman.
ats partly the effect OF the wall
paper" said Rachel, with a glance
at the red and green monstrosities,
"A narrow striped pattern will i'm
prove it."
"What queer little cuphoards at
the sides of the mantel," said
Uncle Ben.
"Oh, they will he nice for our
best china" said Rachel.
"My DEAR" said the old gentle.
man, 81 believe you are determin.
ed to be pleased. Do you really
think you shall like this places"
81 shall like any place where
Hugh is" said Rachel, planning
improvements, and suggesting and
contriving, until he really began &c
think that she would make an AR.
cadia out of the tumble down old
frame. And IL she shed few tears
on her pillow, when she went to
bed under the caves of the roof in
an apartment which must have
been built for Tom Thumb, Uncle
Benedict never knew it.
There was the carriage at the
door when Rachel rose from heI
breakfast Of bread and butter and
coffee the next morning.
"Come, my lass" said the old
gentleman, 81 want to show you a
place further mp the road, which
has been taken by friend Of mine.
The drive and delicious Septem-
ber air were like an invigoratine
tonic to our wearied bride, and a
picture after the style Of Vatican
awaited them, in the exquisite vii.
In with rose-clad bav windows and