Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-27
fCortinued from first page.)

what we're their names. grandpa
asked little Nell, in her soft voice.
"Well. pet, we'll name one of them
Edith and the other Ellen. They always
Z called each other "Dittie" and ''Nellie."
Edith was the prettiest. She had long
light hair, and blue eyes and fair skin.
and altogether was just about the sort OF
girl young fellows picture themselves fall
ing In love with some day. And. assure
you, the young fellow I'm telling you
about did so the very first time he saw
her."
"And was Nellie pretty too '' asked the
Nellie on grandpapa's knee.
WELL" continued Grandpa. in con-
sidering tone, mot exactly. She had
brown hair and eyes, and q trim little
figure, and looked altogether good and
honest and sweet. Still, / guess most
young men would have given her sister
ten glances where they gave her one. At
all events. my young man did; for he
looked at Ditto all the time, and hardly
saw Nellie at all.
There were not many places of amuse-
ment in those days, but such as they were.
they seemed very brilliant to those coun-
try girls, who had never been in the city
before.
And you rarely see a cousin so polite as
cousin Tom-so ready to devote all his
spare time in taking them to this place
and that place and hunting up shows and
entertainments for them. They wrote
home to their father how kind he had been
their letters were full of him and in re-
turn papa wrote and sent his regards,
and cousin Tom must surely come and
spend his Thanksgiving with them in
It.
WIS ready enough to accept the invita-
ton; for he had never seen girls so pretty
or SO nice before; and by this time he had
quite made up his mind To fall In love
with his cousin Edith.
ut was arranged. The young ladies
went home late in October, and the day
before Thanksgiving, if nothing happened
Tom was to present himself in, the
place they lived at in New Hamsphire."
"What place was it, grandpa" per-
sisted Jack.
Suppose we call II Westfeld," replied
grandpa. with twinkle. las it hap
pened, this young clerks employer had
some business to be transacted in the town
of Elgin. only twelve miles from West
feld-and as Tom was going so near, he
decided 10 entrust it to him. only, it un-
attended on the Monday before Thanks
giving.
But never mind that said the head
of the firm, IN give you u fortnights
leave, and you had better be off next
Tuesday that will bring you to Elgin on
Saturday night You can do the business
on Monday and be free to go to your
friends by Monday evening. Then YOU
vSaa mi ,npf k.v /.
Thursday week. How will that answer Pr
for one little thing, and that was, Tom did
not like the idea OF presenting himself at
strangers house two days before he was
expected. However, there was no time |
to write. Mails travelled rarely to that
part of the country. 'There'll be tav-
ern or something, Tom said TO himself |
I'll 60 there and see how the land lies, |
before make my appearance
$50 in the best OF spirits he started on
his forty-eight hours OF staging. All, |
boys, you may talk as much as you like
of the advantage OF steam, but there was
ne'er anything equal TO those old fashioned |
stage rides, when, as in Toms case, it |
was the height of Indian summer, and |
the country all good and misty, and the |
al oSas oho Iittlt
twaDg of last nights frost ia it to give |
zest. -Four good horses and seat on
top! phew you'll never see anything
like it. Well, Tom had a grand time, got
to Elgin safely. did his business Monday
morning, and the same afternoon Just as
the sun was setting. rolled into Westfield. |
in farmers wagon, which he hired TO
bring him over.
The wagon sat him down in front of |
q blacksmith's shop, and drove off, leav-
ing him to shift for himself OF course
the first thing he asked for was the inn
but there was none, it appeared. He felt
at loss what to do, and seeing just then |
pleasant-looking elderly man, jogging
past in substantial jig, he concluded to
stop him and make some inquiries.
Can you tell me, sir, it there is any
place in this village where | can get
nights lodging'"
The stranger looked at him and an
swered Yankee fashion with another ques-
ton.
you are traveller, then p
"Yes. I'm come up from New York to
spend few days, and find you've no
tavern here"
New York, Ell You don't happen to
know cousin OF mine there, named Tom
Somers, do you?"
fCoucluded to.fnorrow1