Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-04
RHB s0UFRB's HIRED NAM

FHHR SQUIRRELS HIRED MANs
s.More strawberries ?'' said Mrs. Wylde
with perplexed contraction OF her brow
Eyes," said old Phillis. the cook. ''I'v'
| made two shOrt-cakes an a pie, an dal
amt nigh enough left to fill be big glass
dish for tea"
| 5"Dear me!'' said Mrs. Wylde, ''what
shall we do ?" 'Barbara''-to a slender
young girl who was curled up in one of the
deep window seats, reading will
have to go.o
Barbara Wylde scrambled down out Of
her high perch.
ssMamma" said she, Swhat nuisance
all this worry all this trouble. I don't be-
lieve Captain Ellwood Severn is in love
with either Maude or Lisette. And think
preserved gooseberries are quite good
enough for him.
s'Hold your tongue, child I" said Mrs.
Wylde, sharply. Take the basket and &c
for the strawberries at once"
| Auu OdlUd1d Unsupported I'LL
enough.
'sStrawberries, indeed !'' said Barbara to
herself. 'It's dreadful to be the youngest
of a family of girls, and have to pick
Strawberries for ones elder sisters beaux. .
II wonder which of 'em he'll marry p
said Barbara to herself, as she paused
a minute to listen to a robin.
which, perched on the bough Of feathery
elm beyond the brook. trilled out his bar.
carole of glad music. ''Lisette is the
prettiest, of course, but Maude us literary
and has read all the new books, and can
talk so we'll. Gentlemen like intellectual
ladies'. I wish''-with a sigh-s'that was
intellectual" H
And our little maid fell to work at the
Strawberries again for full five minutes.
And then she took her basket, and peered
down into its depth with eyes Of azure de-
spair.
ssNot half FULL" said she to herself, s'not
quarter full. Oh. dear me! how wish
some one would come to help me! And
there is some one stretched .provokingly in
the shade under Squire Dallas big oak by
the stone wall where the sweet briers grow.
People have no business to lie in the shade
when other people have to work hard in
the sun! And I do believe it's Squire Dal-
lass new hired man, and he ought to be at
work in the bayfield, instead of lying there
under the trees with book. And. he shall
work; he shall help mel"
"Young man y she called out.
s'Young man, say!'' she called out
again, this time with certain accent of
the imperious in her voice. The recum-
bent figure under the oak tree Strengthened
itself up at once, and made haste toward
the stone wall that separated Squire Dali
lass domains from Deacon Wylde's south
pasture lot.
II beg your pardon" said he "but-dld
you call ?"
''Of course Icalled,'' said Barbara think
ing within herself how tall and straight
and darby handsome Squire Dallas's new
hired man was. "Don't you think, young
man, you ought to be at work %
cat work Y'' repeated the Spanish brown
stranger. swell, perhaps I ought"
''There's no perhaps about it," said
Barbara, brusquely. ''Of course you
ought. And since you don't choose to
work for your master, you may as well be
working for me-"
''My-master %
esquire Dallas, of course said Barbara.
'sDear me how stupid you are!''
Sand how, may venture to ask, did
Won know who was p he questioned, in
an amused sort of way.
ooh! 1t didn't require any great bril-
lance for that" responded Barbara, with
wise little nod of the head. s'l know
Sqire Dallas has got new hired man; and
if you are not he who are you p
"That's the question: said the stran-
ger gravely.
"But we mustn't stand talking here, y
went on Barbara, in a business like sort
of way. s'Take the basket and go to pick
ing strawberries just as fast as you can,
because we're to have company at our
house, am Barbara Wylde, you know,
young man-and 1 must get back with
the berries for dessert as quickly as posi-
ble."
GAIL right" said the stranger, ,'I'm toll
erably quick at this sort of thing. I be-
lieye." +4r
II hope you are" said Barhara-ilntent
on extricating tiny -pricker from the
point of her stained forefnger-'and at
other things too. Because, if you're not
Squire Dallas won't keep YOU"
'eHe won't eh!'
Barbara shook her head. "The last man
went away because he couldn't endure the
Squire's driving ways" said she, ':Qh, I
was so sorry! He was nice. He used to
lend me books and things over the fence,
and he taught district schools in the win
ter. fused often to come here and talk
with him over the stone wall, because,
you see, it's lonesome up at Che house, if
l do have two grown sisters. Grown sis
tiers are dreadful she said, with solemn
shake Of the head.
sAnd l suppose you are not grown, -
said squire Dallas's hired man, with a
curious gleam Of amusement around the
corners Of his mouth.
s'No," said Barbara. IT am only sixteen,
and haven't got trains to my dresses yet.
But perhaps when the girls get married,
and one Of theM is sure to marry this
Captain seyern-Qh, take care, you're tip
ping all the berries out upon the grass
Squire Dallas won't keep you a week II
you are as clumsy as that"