The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-09-07
RIPPLE GRANGE.

Mr.. PiXley was a real estate agent
Mr., Pixley had had goodIy number of
houses on his list in his time, but never
one SO persistently, unaItcrably. persc.
vcringly on his list as Ripple Grange.
Year after year it had figured ON his
books as II "Desirablc Country Res
idence, to be had on Reasonable TERMS
year after year it still hung hopclessly
on his hands.
Nor was Mr., pixley the only reoI es-
tate agent who had wrestlcd, SO to speak,
with Ripple Grange. Other land brokers
and rent collectors had had their "ry -
at it, with equally unsatisfactory results,
1t had been advertised III newspapers.
and pasted up ON bulletin boards, and
still it remained Ripple Grange
Let"
Hang the old place. said Mr.. piN,
ley. yehemently scratching his b@ld
head II wish it would burn down, or
blow away, or something. It's dis
grace to business man to keep such an
eye-sore ON his list I've great mind to
put old Miss Briggs into it, to keep it in
order until can get II tenant She wants
place cheap. III let her have Ripple
Grange for nothing"
So when Miss Briggs came tiptoeiug
into the rcal estate oIlice--a faded, mel
auchoIy little old maid, leading her ter
ricr dog by its string, and wearing
green veil to neutrnIiHc the spring
winds Mr.. Fixley told her that kippl,
Grange should be hers, for the present a
least
"You'Il probably find it lonely sait
he.
81 dote on the country" said Miss
Briggs.
And very much out Of repair" lie
81 don't doubt but that it will do for
me- said the little old spinstcr, her
faded eyes Frightening.
"Probably, also there's n ghost about
the premises, iocosely uttered the
agent,
Miss Briggs shook her head with sod
smile "It's live people | am afraid Of, -
said she, mot dead ones"
"WcIl," said Mr.. PiXlGy, "kipple
Grange shall be yours this quarter, it
you'll fN up the garden Il little, and give
tine place liycd-in sort of look. OF
course it will be for sale. aud shall cN-
pcct you to do your best for our inter
csts. -
And Miss Briggs courtesied, and said;
''Yrs, she would and withdrew, greatly
clatcd in spirits.
Upon the same day, the twenty-iith
OF April, Mr.. Bcggurall, the real estate
agent Of Dorchester, let Ripple Grange
to old Mr.. Hyde, who was naturalist
and n botauist and IN etOmologst. 90 say
nothing Of half II dozen other lists, and
who wanted quiet country home, with
woods and meadows in its vicinity,
wherein toprosecute hi, beloved sciences
And MACPHERSON n Co., Of Long Island
made a bargain with the Reverend Mr..
Bellnirs, an invalid clergyman, who was
in search Of country air and complete re-
pose Mrs. Bellairs was pattern house
keeper, and gloned in the prospect OF
grass bleaching, new-lnid eggs, wild rasp-
berries and plenty of plums and april
cots for preserving purposes.
And, strangely enough, it occurred to
none of the three real estate agents TO
let the other know Of his action.
There is never any demand for Kip
pie Grange said MACPHERSON u Co.,
"I'll write to PiXley and old Mac when
| get time said BeggaraIl.
There's no hurry about Ripple
irange,' thought Pixlcy. ''If Miss
Briggs keeps it from tumbling to pieces
'hc will do very well. "
Meanwhile Mrs. Ripple herself, the
plump widow whose grandfather on the
side had bequeathed her this
mpracticable piece of property, began
o think of running down TO look ut it
lerself. "They tell me there's no such
hing as letting it, said she "I've
mind to go down and see for myself.
)ne really pines for the country, now
hat they are selling lilac blossoms and
'ansles in the streets; and I'm quite
urc that change of air would do me
,ood. I'll take Dorcas, my maid, and a
ew cans of peaches and sardincs, and |
veil picnic at Ripple Grange. Just for
he fun If the thing
at never rains but it pours, saith the
nrient proverb; So upon this windy,
looming April day, when the sunny
meadow slopes were purpled all over
Nth wild violets. and the yellow mar
issus was shaking its golden tassels