Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-16

had been mostly in her domain. III
began to wish that he had treated he
wishes more respectfully at least. Blu
then he could not help looking over t.
where that forty acres lay. What {
choice piece of land it was ! How lonl
he had wanted it! And now, when !
was almost within his grasp, must b.
let it go? And even were he to yield t.
know that he had done so reluctantly
and against his better judgment? An(
during the afternoon he thought th'
matter over and over.
| "PoWers.u he called out, as that indi
vidual was leaving the field at night
''if the folks at home can spare Miranda
let her come up in the morning anG
help my wife,"
CAD right, she will be glad to come. >
was the answer.
Harvest was over, and Mrs. Graham
spoke Of discharging the girl. "You haG
better keep her to help you," advised
her husband.
"No," said Mrs. Graham; "wher
there is none but my own family, car
do the work easy enough alone. I be
lieve like to work, /" added she, smiling;
"at least / am always happiest when
am busy"
"How long has 1t been since you have
been home to your fathers on visit p
he asked, abruptly.
'.Five years ago Last June, when sister
Ellen was married."
How prompt was the answer. Per-
haps 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, hesitating-
ly: "How can go?"
"Never mind about that. You have
earned play-day, and none of my
transactions shall hinder you from en-
joying one. You had better take the
children with you; the folks will want
to see them. We will 60 to town to-
morrow, and you can get what things
you need, and Miranda can stay and
help you to get ready. You will want
to get Oft as soon as you can, for you
will want to make good long visit
while you are about it,"
He appeared to be anxious to hasten
her departure, but Mrs. Graham was too
happy at the thought ofseeing the home
Of her childhood again to notice it at
the time.
"But what will you do without us, if
we make too long a stay ?"
Don't mind about me, I can keep
bachelors hall" he added, laughing
Two weeks after and Mrs. Graham had
gone, and Hiram Graham had the house
all to himself.
After the lapse of Ave weeks he went
to the station to meet his wife and chill.
dren. They had enjoyed the most de-
lightful visit, and all were glad and hap
py, 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 glee.
What was that soft, 1ustrOus gray,
cleaning out from among the green
leaves? Was she dreaminga No; it
was the house With its green shutters
and portic0s.
"Why, Hiram Graham, what have
you been doing?"
She looked again. "And a picket
fence? And the most charming little
gate! And graveled walk ;" and then
she couldn't keep the glad tears from
coming.
"Come, Jennie,n said Mr.. Graham,
teasingly, although his own eyes mois.
tened with sympathetic happinesa,
don't feel SO glad about IT. ImaY have
the worst things yet to show you. There,
how does that suite" he asked, after
they had entered the house, pointing to
the bay window. II didn't understand
such things, SO I 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 and throwing h,si &c Spsn .t ths door, "is the
sis pantry that can't be beat any.
didn mention, he confined, approach
ing neat sink in the kitchen, and Law
ing 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 win.
dow and you will See covered 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
didn't do anything with these things"
he said, after they had entered the sit
ting room, glancing deprecatingly to-
ward the dingy- colored papering, the
dilapidated furniture and thread hare
carpet. would rather trust that to you.
And besides, I found that there was SO
much real enjoyment in it that would
be generous and leave some of the pleas
ure for you. Here ls the money that is
left" he added, presenting her goodly
roll of bills, :"
One pleasant day In autumn and
all was complete, and indeed, as Mr..
Graham said, 1t looked like "a bit of
Eden"
II do believe" she said, turning to.
ward her husband with a glad, bright
look In her FACET do believe that
am just the happiest woman in the
world"
He drew her gently to him. "Jen-
nie," he said, "what were you thinking
about that morning found you churn-
ing under the LOCUST tree, and looking
so intently at that Old stone building on
the hill?"
Her only answer was a merry laugh.
ibid you ever think so before?" Al
though he asked the question hesitating-
ly, he looked very wistfully into her
face for an answer.
mo, yoq dear. simple darling, and 1
am sure never shall again." and look
ing up archly, II didn't them"
eix years had passed away, and one
bright morning in spring Mr.. Graham
entered the house. He had changed in
these years; the slight roughness which
had characterized him previously had
worn away; there was an increased dig
nifty and manliness in his bearing. His
children had also grown to be constant
source of parental pride and delight. So
surely do our inner natures conform to
the plan of our outward surroundings.
He held up a paper he had in his hands.
"There," +" said he. addressing his wife,
lis the deed of that Southwell Forty,
clear from incumbrance. II it had not
been for you," he continued smiling,
II should have owned it long ago. and
the whole Southwell farm, too, perhaps.
But thank God that didn't" he add
ed, earnestly, 'if 1 had I would have
been so close over the workrack by this
time that I never would be able to look
up"
A MIXED FAMILY.-"The people Of
Grfmsville, Lehigh county, Pa, just