The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-05-03
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whether the coachman had really meant t
stop there. But Uncle Ben at once seizet
her carpet bag and umbrella.
"Come, my dear" be said to Rachel.
" Is this the place ?" she asked.
This is the place" Uncle Ben answered
with sudden paroxysm of ofcoughing. "Gate's
q little out of order" as that useful mode oi
ingress became suddenly detached from its
sole remaining hinge, and fell with crash
to the groundj "but that's soon set right
with screw driver and half a dozen
screws"
Alas poor Rachel What were her
sensations us she looked blankly around the
neglected, dismal spot which was the sole
realization Of her fairy dreamsP This the
home Uncle Benedict has given them And
for an instant our poor little heroine felt as
if she could repel the unwelcome gift, and
tell Uncle Benjamin plainly that she could
not spend her days in a hovel like this.
But then came sober second thoughts.
Uncre Benedict had meant kindly; they
were poor, and could not afford To dispense
with even the meanest of roofs over their
young heads. No, she must gratefully ac-
cept the present in the spirtin which it was
given, and check in the bud all the rebel
lious and unamiable repinings.
81 told you it was cottage you know"
said Uncle Ben, keenly scrutinzng her face
as they stood upon the doorstep waiting for
the door to be opened.
eyes, I know" said Rachel glancing
around with frightening eyes. "That is a
very choice climbing rose over the window
if it were only properly trained"
" It's rather lonesome" said Uncle Ben.
al like the country" Rachel answered
hopefully.
As she spoke a slipshod old woman ap-
peared to let them in, and led the way to
the best room, green curtained apartment,
with shabby carpet on the floor, and fire
in the crate that emitted far more smoke
than caloric.
"Smoky chimneys, eh?" said Uncle Ben.
"The draught seems to be poor" said Ra-
chel, "but dare say it can be altered"
al hadn't any idea the ceilings were so
low" grumbled the old gentleman.
"It's partly the effect of the large pattern
ofthe wall paper" said Rachel with glance
at the red and green monstrosities. "a mar
row striped pattern will improve it,"
"What queer little cupboards by the sides
of the mante W said Uncle Ben.
"oh, they will be nice for our best china,'
said Rachel.
"My dear" said the old gentleman, "I
believe you are determined to be pleased.
Do you really think you shall like this
place ?"
al shall like any place where Hugh is !"
said Rachel, brightly.
She wentall over the house with the old
gentleman, planning improvements and
suggesting and contriving until he really be-
gan to think she would make an Acardia
out of the tumble-down old farmhouse.
And if she shed few tears on her pillow
when she went to rest under the caves ofthe
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
Rachael rose from her breakfast of bread and
butter and coffee the next morning.
"Come, my lass" said the old gentleman,
al want to show you place further up the
road, which has been taken by friend of
mine.
The drive and the delicious September air
were like an invigoratng tonic to our wear
led little bride; and picture after the style
of Watteau awaited them, in the exquisite
villa, with its rose-clad bay-windows and
picturesquely sloping roof. Rustic iron
chairs stood under the bowling branches of
the elms on the lawn, and marble Cupid,
holding up a carved conch-shcll, scattered
bright rain into II flower boardered basin
directly in front of the gates.
"oh, how beautiful !" cried Rachel. az
never saw such superb scarlet geraniums in
my life; and what lovely marble-paved
halll"
" You like the appcarance?"
ooh, yes; It's beautiful"
"Come in, my dear, and see how you like
the Interior" said the old gentleman, serene
ly.
1t was perfect, from the drawing. rooms,
with their superb Brussels carpet and ex-
quisite silk hangngs,to the chambers, all in
white and pink, like the inside of a roses
heart, and the fairy conservatory, all stock
ed with comellias, heliotrope, and rare fuschi-
as, at the south end of the house.
"It is like lairyland p cried Rachel, en-
Enthusiastically. "Do tell me, Uncle Ben who
is to live here ?"
Uncle Ben turned round and faced her.
"You, my dear"
"And Hugh, of course ?"
"To be sure" !"
"But, uncle" gasped little Rachel, quite
overwhelmed by this unexpected good luck,
"tho other house"
That's only little joke OF mine This
is the real home, and give it to you with
all the more pleasure that you were disposed
to make the best of the bad bargain you
thought you were in for, Ny dear, the con-
tented mind you possess is worth a thousand
houses p
And Rachel felt something warm and wet
upon her cheek, like tear, as the old gen
tleman stopped 10 kiss her.
When Hugh came home, TO find his little
wife upon the verandah, all welcoming
smiles to greet him, he exclaimed "Why, .
Uncle Ben, this is perfect casketl"
But none too good for the little jewel that
inhabts it," Uncle Ben answered.
And Hugh read in the tone that his young |
wife had won the caprieious old gentleman's /
heart
PATRICR'S THEOLOGY.
Patrick, p said a priest, "the widow Mo
lony tells me you have stolen one Of her fin
est pigs. Is that 50 ?" "Yes, yer riverence" l
a. NVb.t have 49,, I,pa ,5itI Il - HU-su,N -