The Osceola times., 1881-10-08

are all my gratis in the orchard. A few
years from now this place'll be worth
double what II was when we bought it,
and all from what Ben would call fiddle
faddles. Here, give me that boy" and
the baby Was hoisted upon the shoulder
fits stalwart father, and forthwith the
husband and wife began a leisurely walk
about the yard and garden and orchard,
insensibly drifting into the tender talk
of ten years before, when the two had
pledged themselves TO one another for
better, for worse. And that tender talk
it made them both feel young; and as
they came again TO the front door they
seemed 10 begin life anew. with the same
fair, fresh hopes, and with the same
quick, buoyant pulses.
Five years slipped away, and then it
was rumored that city gentleman, out
Of health, was driving about the country
TO find farm TO suit him. One and an
other place he looked at, but finally his
choice lay between those Of Mr.. Mason
and Mr. Grey. The location of each
were equally good; and each had a
picturesque bit of scenery on its borders
that could be worked up into a charming
landscape. With his wife and family he
went over each carefully, and then re-
turned to the hotel in the village to de-
eide the question Of purchase.
81 shouldn't hesitate moment" said
his wife. 81 should take Mr.. Grey's, OF
course The house is perfect picture,
with those rustic piazzas, all draped with
vines and the yard is Just such one rs
I've always dreamed of it's a rest to the
eyes, which ever way you look"
"And, papa, the gardens full of the
biggest strawberry beds. and such lots of
raspberries, and blackberries and cur.
rants, white, black and red"
And, oh, papa, there's flowers enough
in the beds for forty children's Sundays,
and roses everywhere, all kinds, and
such big sweet-briar-Mrs Grey says
il scents up the whole house after a
shower. Oh, if you only buy that place
we can have all the bouquets We shall
ever, ever want. and we can send bush
els Of them TO Aunt Mary, shut up in
that hot old city. Do say you will
papa -,
"And there's trees planted on each
side Of the road, papa, as far as the farm
goes, and that takes off the broiled look
you know, which place has where the
road Just runs right along without ever
shadow across the dust il really looks
quite like an avenue, instead OF only g
common turnpike. Don't anyway. papa
buy Mr.. Mason's place, for il jus,
makes me think of Sahara and nothing
else"
"it looks to me more as il some old
junk shop had been emptied on to it. III
bet there's old iron enough lying around
there to set up foundry. And there,
not bit of fruit there, except a few lit
tie wizen-cheeked apples. And it's much
as ever You could find dapdeloin or g
buttercup on the whole farm. And the
geese we're waddling all over the from
yard, and the chickens and turkey,
roosting on the old dead trees that stand
near the well. Oh, papa, you might a:
well 90 to the poor house and done with
it as to go there"
Then you vote unanimously for the
Grey farm" said the father, laughing a
the impetuous speeches of the children
"Ol course we do" exclaimed the boy.
and girls, while their mother sale
quietly;
81 should feel as if had mountains tC
remove if you took Mr.. Mason's, iol
there everything is to be done, while OF
Mr.. Grey's everything is done; and i
would seem as if we had right To TAX,
a little rest Pm not fanciful, you know
William, but really there ia somethin!
about the place that makes one think o
Paradise regained.'
Her husband smiled upon her very
tenderly, and said:
an see, then, what kind of bargain
| can make"
81 shouldn't hesitate at any reasona
Bile price," said she, and pray finish il
up quick, for ! want to get settled dowI
there As soon as possible. | do believe
we shall all take new lease of life"
A month later the city family were in
possession Of Mr.. Grey's farm, and drink
ing in long and delicious draughts of the
elixir of life, for not only were thier bodi
ly appetites generously administered
unto, but their very souls luxuriated in
the softened lights and tender shadows
of their beautiful new home.
Two months later the family of Mr.
Grey ate tn: ir first meal in log cabin
on the prairie-an Iowa prairie, one-hall
of which dipped down into the far-ofl
east, whence rose the rays of morning
while the other was circled by broad
belt of woodland, now crimsoned with
the parting beams OF daylight. Through
the open doors they leisurely surveyed
the landscape, smile Of satisfaction
resting on their faces. Three hundred
and twenty of those virgin acres were
their own, money enough in hand to
make a fair beginning at breaking
fencing and stocking, and nest-egg al
interest for the dark day that might
come. And fiddle -faddles," remember
helped largely to bring about this
triumph-Mrs. Caroline A. Soule.