River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-11-24
THE STORY OF A VISIT.
From Household Words.

rom EDuSenDiu W UFus.
What old roundabout ways CUPID
chooses! What queer little messen-
gers he dispatches on his errands.
What innocent conspirators they are.
Little Jenny Jones did not know what
she was about as she tripped along the
field way 10 DOrley Grange that fine
June morning, between the many col
lored long meadow grasses weighted
with dewdrops, yet the three cornered
note in her hand was the match that
was to set a long train of events and
be the beginning of the end he delights
in.
Jenny made her way TO the back
door, and into the low, old kitchen,
and presently old Susan put her head
in al The door of the breakfast-room,
which in the morning was the school
room, too, and said
Miss Ellice, here's letter for you
from Miss Furnival."
When Ellice had read it she got up
from her chair of office at the end OF
the table.
"Now, children, get ON with your
work. there's dears. Jack, get that
sum finished before | come back; and
Sybii. sit up and hold your pen right; l
shan't be long away"
And then she fitted out into the
hall and through the wide open door
into the garden, where the rose trees
were holding up the bonny red heads,
and the warm air was full OF the hum
ming of bees and the scent of wood
bine
Down the long walk to the left she
went. where, among the red current
bushes, large straw hat was to be
seen bobbing up and down.
"Mother, DEAR" cried Ellice. there's
Il note from Cousin Mary, and she
wants us girls to go and help her this
afternoon with lot of library books.
III saw ives [ suppose? There's no
reason why we shouldn't gol'
Mrs Holt thought moment, and
then said: mo, certainly, go by all
means"
"Why don't Oracle and Belle come
and help you gather these currents =.
'They are coming soon. my dear. =
'Pd like to help" said Ellice; "but |
must not, | suppose" and then she
went back through the sunshine.
The mother, bending down to the
ripe. red clusters, had still the picture
in her eye of the 1.-the, straight white
ROBBED figure, with the dark-halred
head so dainty poised, standing against
the background of the old red wall on
which the apricots were ripening.
Glow pretty the child gets p she
said to herself, and her mouth and her
ewes smiled, and softened into the
expression that only mothers faces
wear.
& few hours afterwards, amid the
cheerful clatter of dinner, the afternoon
arrangements were discussed, as all
other family details We're, In full con-
clave. Mrs. Holt sat with her back to
the open window, against which the
blind Tapped gently in the warm breeze,
her husband opposite; Ellice on one
side, with Jack and Sybil ON either
hand. and Grace and Belle on the
other.
Belle was next in order to ElIice, and
lust back from school ''for good a
bonnv. healthy, II year old lassie.
Grace was the orphan niece OF Mr.
Holt, tall, fair-haired, graceful still IN
deep mourning garment for the loss OF
her mother.
Fifteen loads, my dear !" said Mr..
Holt, in answer to his wife. Nv
couldn't begin carrying till 10 O'Clock
the dew was so heavy. 1 don't think
we shall get into the long meadow to-
av. However, the grass is very high
and | think we are in for long spell oil
fine weather. Idon't remember Tin
er hay-time and | never had q better
lot of men than this year"
Father" said Jack, may Tom and
Harold Price come tomorrow after
noon and work in the hav-field p
Yes, my lad, though / guess it:
more mischief than work that you
dor
"May Bessie come too" pleaded
Sybil:
you might call at the yicarage
girls" said the mother, 'and ask To-
the children to come and spend Ions
afternoon, and perhaps you could man
age to take a basket of currants. There
are a good many things for You to d.
ON your way. You must take bundle
of rags to old Betty Freer, and call ant
see how that poor little Harry Caswel
is"
"And there is the Fori'.iqhtly t.
leave at Mrs. Barrows," said trace
.svou have done with it, uncle, haven
your
mo use keeping it for me, said Mr.
Holt. And so the programme va
made out. and when dinner was owe
the girls went up stairs to change then
dresses and make ready for their walk
1t was always pleasure for them tt
90 to cousin Mary's" Belle had Ions
ago announced that she meant never L
be married, but to be Gust like c us
in Mary
@As # YOU could be, had sneereC
her big. schooEboy brother Tom.
Miss Furnival was a tall, graceful
woman. with a tender face, framed II
hair which had early lost its color AMI
turned gray. She lived in The Church
House" where she had been born
Father and mother. brothers and SIS
tiers, had departed and she was alone
and vet We're its rambling passages, 1t
quaint parlors. its oid-fashioned gar
den, bright and pleasant places, shon'
upon by the mistress serene eyes ans
made merry by the V ices of the chill
ureu ana young Iuiks sue uSAlStAeSN. y
have about her. Mr.. Holt, of Dorle!
Grange, was her cousin, and to his chill
dren cousin Mary" was the fountain
of all good things, She was TO then
the grand designer of Christmas game
and charades, the giver of charmin;
presents, the organizer of picnics in til,
pleasant summer time, the best of al
nurses. the kindest of all comforters
She it was who drove Ellice into Mid
dleham every week for singing lesson:
she it was who was keeping Ton, a
school for another year. There was n
end to Cousin Mary's kindnesses.
So the girls were as merry as larks