Milford chronicle., 1883-05-25
AN AUBURN TRESS.

81 wish I knew of some pleasant farI
house at which to spend my vacation,
said I to my office chum, Lon Fordyce
"where there would be no other board
ers taken; where the nearest neighbo
lived at least mile away; where ther'
were plenty of old trees about; where
fellow might swing in hammock from
morn till dewy eve if he chose, and reat
and smoke and dream the time away tC
his hearts content; and where new, un
skinned milk, fresh eggs, crisp vegeta
bles, ripe fruit, and tender chickens were
realities, not myths. But where, oh
where can such Arcadian bliss be found !
I've read of it in stories and newspaper
advertisements, but Inever knew any
body who had met it or anything like il
i'm their search for summer board and
lodging, I mean. Quite the contrary has
been my own experience; in fact dis
gustingly the contrary"
All the time 1 had been speaking,
Mouse had been listening attentively
(Alouse was a twelve-year-old boy be-
longing to our department, his real name
being Roderick).
4 was a thinkin' our folks might take
you" said Mouse. "They've got a nice
farm, and big trees, and new chickens,
and eggs, and fruit, and vegetables, and
cows milk, and most everything you
said you wanted"
Your folks ?" said 7, and it struck
me that had never thought of the quiet
little chap in connection with folks be-
fore. "Why, don't your folks live in
the city?"
" No, sir. They live at Nutwood. 1
stay here with Aunt Hannah, cause I'm
to be a business man. Tim-he's nine
he's to be a farmer. And there isn't any
house 'cept the Larrups' shanty for
more'n a mile. And I've told 'em how
good you are to me, and I'm most sure
they'd let you come and stay as long as
you wanted to- And there's ducks.
"Do you know, Lon, this sounds very
promising ?" said 1.
MAY be as deceptive as the adver-
tisements, for all that, said Lon. "Not
Intentionally so, of course, but Mouse
being a boy, and the farmhouse the
home of his childhood"
Nothing easier than for me to find
out all about it." interrupted L "In
take a run down there tomorrow"
(Which happened to be Saturday. 'af-
ternoon. And, Mouse, if you like, you
may go with me. :"
''Thank you, sir" said Mouse, his
bright eyes sparkling with pleasure; and
then he silently disappeared, while Lon
and 1 fell to work as though our very
lives depended upon getting a certain
amount done in q certain length of
time.
The next afternoon found Mouse ana
myself on board of an express train
speeding away to Nutwood. 1t was af-
ter five o'clock when we arrived at the
small station, for I had not been able to
start as early as 1 had intended, and
nearly six when we came in sight of
large old-fashioned peak-roofed barn,
just beyond which stood a low, broad,
comfortable-looking farmhouse.
"That's our house and our barn; and
there's Phil feedin' the chickens" said
Mouse, in the spightliest tones I had
ever heard from him; and turning to
glance at the youth, Phil, who was
feeding the chickens, saw the prettiest
girl had ever seen, standing in the
wide doorway of the barn. On her
head she wore bewitching mob-cap
made of dotted cambric, beneath the
rill of which an intensely auburn wavy
Bang fell almost to her auburn eyebrows.
Her dress was made of the same mater
al as the cap, the sleeves being rolled
Up nearly to the shoulders, displaying a !
,air of beautifully rounded arms, and |
he held the corners of large white |
ipron in one hand, while from it she dis