Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-03-13
WHOLE NUMBER, 449.

4 !
sister Ellen was married"
| How prompt was the answer. Per-
hsps she had counted the time. ,,.
"How would you like to go out and
see the folks this fall ?"
What glad light came into her
face, and then faded, as she said,
hesitatingly: "How can I CO." r.
Never mind about that. You
have earned a play-day, and none of
my transactions shall hinder you from
enjoying one. You had better take
the children with you; the folks will
want to see them. We will go to
town tomorrow, and you can get
what things you need, and Miranda
can stay and help You to get ready.
You will want to make a good long
visit while you are about it," =,
He appeared to be anxious to has
ten her departure, but Mrs. Graham
was too happy at the thought of see.
ing the home of her childhood again
to notice it at the time. s,; oirl r
"But what will you do without us,
if we make too long a stay r.
Don't mind about me. / can
keep bachelors hail." he added,
laughing. Two weeks after and Mrs.
Graham had gone, and Hiram Gra-
ham had the house all to himself. ~,
After the lapse of FIVE weeks he
went to the station to meet his wife
and children. They had enjoyed the
most delightful visit, and all were
glad and happy, and as they drove
homeward there was much to be told
and many inquiries to be made. As
they neared the house Mrs. Graham
looked suddenly forward while her
husband watched her face and rubbed
his hands together in quiet gles.
What was that soft, lustrous gray,
cleaning out from among the green
leaves2 Was she dreamingr No; it
was the house with its green shutters
and porticos. .aT5,l
"Why, Hiram Graham, what have
you been doing?"
She looked again. "And a picket
fence? And the most charming lit
tie gate And graveled walk, and
then she couldn't keep the glad tears
from coming.
Come, Jennie" said Mr.. Graham,
teasingly, although his own eyes
moistensd with sympathetic hsppi-
ness, "don't feel SO glad about it. I
may have worse things yet to show
you. There, how does that suit 2"
he asked, after they had entered the
house, pointing to the bay window.
81 didn't understand such things, so
l got a workman who did, you see it
is all complete, ready for the plants.
And here" he said, leading the way
through the kitchen and throwing
open the door, lis the wood-house,
and there" opening door, ''is PAN
try that can't be beat anywhere.
And this is something you didn't men,
tion," he continued approaching a
neat sink in the kitchen, and laying
hold of the handle of a cistern pump
that stood in one end, up gushed a jet
of soft water, which told of good
cistern underneath. Look through
the window and you will see cover
ed drain that carries away all the
waste water. I am going to fix it SO
you can irrigate your flower garden
with it. You see I didn't do any.
thing with these things" he said, af-
ter they had entered the sitting room
glancing depreoatingly toward the
dingy colored papering, the dilapidat-
ed furniture and threadbare carpet.
| would rather trust that to you And
besides. I found that there was 80
much real enjoyment in it that I
would be generous and leave some of
the pleasures for you. Here is the
money that is left" he added, pre-
senting her goodly roll Of bills.
One pleasant day in autumn and
all was complete, and indeed, as Mr..
Graham said, it looked like "a bit of
Eden"
81 do believe" she said turning to.
ward her husband with glad bright
look in her FACET do believe thatI
am just the Aappiest woman in the
world"
He drew her gently to him. "Jsn-
ME-" he said what were you think
ing about tn t morning I found you
churning und r the locust tree, and
looking SO intvntly at that old stone