American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-04-20

ID
dict, as he saw Rachel sobbing on Hugh's
shoulder. But there was CHEEKY twin
kle in his own keen gray eyes, neverthe-
less.
Poor little girl! the atmosphere has
lost somewhat of its sparkle, and the
world looked less bright as she journey
ed in Uncle Ben's barouche toward her
new home, with Uncle Ben's newspaper
rattling by her side. AS the autumn
twilight began to fall, her thoughts be-
came busy, as woman's will, ut times.
Uncle" she said, turning suddenly
toward the old gentleman, "what sort
of house is it? Ours, l meant"
Well," said Uncle Ben, rehectively,
it's a cottage, should say"
GA modern cottage?"
"Well, no; rather of the antique or
der than otherwise"
"Oh!" cried Rachel, " l am glad. l
despise those new, stiff, formal places,
that look as if they were merely to be
admired, not lived in and enjoyed. I'm
Gle, what are you laughing at?''
cat your curiosity, my DEAR" replied
the old gentleman.
"Then 1 won't ask another question:"
said Rachel, resolutely.
But she fully atoned for that depriva-
ton by sketchihg on the tables of her
own fancy an endless variety of little
Gothic structures, with bay-windows,
and trellises covered with climbing roses
! and honey-suckles; while E-~le Dono-
ATS atcned her from behind the screen
of his newspaper, with the queerest ex-
preston on his brown old face
I'm almost sorry 1 commenced the
thing he said to himself eff 1 should
be disappointed in her' But, pooh! it's
the only way to find out if she is worth
my boys love-
Presently the numbering old chariot
came to a stand-still; but to Rachel's
surprise, in front of no fairy cot or low
eaved edifice surrounded by verandas
and flower parterres. A tumble-down,
implanted farmhouse stood back lit
tie from the road, with its shutters hang
ing loosely by one hinge, and one or two
scrubby lilac bushes forlornly tossing
their foliage to the wind.
| elbow dreary it looksi'' thought
Rachel, with little shudder, as she
wondered whether the coachman had
really meant to stop there. But Uncle
Ben at once seized his carpet-bag and
umbrella.
"Come, my DEAR" he said. to Rachel.
ais this the place?n she asked.
"This is the place." Uncle Ben an
swered with a sudden paroxysm of
coughing. "Gate's a little out of or
DER" as that useful mode of ingress be-
came suddenly detached from its sole
remaining hinge and fell with crash to
the ground, s'but that's soon set right
with a screwdriver 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 of her fairy dreams!
This the home Uncle Benedict had given
them! And for an instant our poor lit
tie heroine felt as if she could repel the
unwelcome gift and tell Uncle Benja-
min plainly that she could not spend
her days in howell like this.
But then came sober and second
thoughts. Uncle Benedict had meant
kindly; they were Door, and could not
afford to dispense with the meanest of
roofs over their heads. No, she must
gratefully accept the present in the spir-
it in which it was given, and check in
the bud all her rebelious and unamia-
BILE repinings.
81 told you it was a cottage, you
know" said Uncle Ben, keenly scrutin-
izing her face, as they stood on the
doorstep waiting for the door to be
opened.
Yes, 1 know" said Rachel, glanc-
ing round 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.
s'I like the country" Rachel an
swered, hopefully
As she spoke, a slipshod old woman
appeared to let them in, and led the way
to the best room, a green-curtained APP
partment, with a shabby carpet on the
floor, and a fire in the CRATE that emitted
far more smoke than caloric.
"Smoky chimneys, eh?' said Uncle
Ben.
The draught seems to be poor" said
Rachel; "but dare say it can be alter
ed"
'I hadn't any idea the ceilings were
so low" grumbled the old gentleman.
"It's partly the effect of the large
pattern of the wallpaper" said Rachel,
with glance at the red and green
monstrosities. GA narrow striped pat
tern will improve it,
"What queer little cupboards by the
sides of the mantell' said Uncle Ben.
sob, they will be nice for our best
china,' said Rachel.
"My DEAR" said the old gentleman,
4" believe you are determined to be
pleased. Do you really think you shall
like this place?''
81 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
an Arcadia out of the tumble-down old
farm And If she shed n few taars on /