The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-08-08
MISCELLANY.
THE THREE GOOD GIFTS.

"Lill. ILL ! run to the door--quicls
There's some one coming down the road"
Lii Penfeld started to her feet with
alacrity, thus ruthlessly destroying all the
bright visions which had built themselves
mp around the glowing logs, in the deep
chimney.
How much is it for foot passenger 7"
aid she, calling up the narrow, wooden
stairway.
But it fsn't o foot-passenger, irritably
retorted Della, with her mouth full of hair
pins. It's old Miss Merrydeer, with her
donkey-cart. Ten cents"
II was q stormy March sunset, red and
threatening along the west, with frozen
breath of icicles in the air, and black
masses of cloud piled overhead, through
which old Miss Merrydeers cart seemed to
advance
Lii Penfeld stood on the dollhouse
porch. looking with surprise eyes at the
gaunt, old woman, who sat ON heap of cut
brushes, and whipped up phlegmatic
donkey in front of her.
"oh, you're always ready enough to
stop !" satirically remarked old Miss Merry
deer, as the donkey came to dead halt in
front of the toll-bar. "Now, then, Young
woman Ito LID why amt to be allowed
TO go on 2"
"a Ten cents, please" said Lill, timidly
holding out her hand, with all that she had
ever read, dreamed or heard about witches,
coming back into her mind at the sight OF
the yellow, old face, with its fringe of white
elf-locks, the red cloak, and the nose that
was hooked like bird of prey.
Ten cents |" shrilly repeated old Miss
Merrydeer. "And what for, should like
TO know 2"
It's the toll-gate, please" exclaimed
Lii, wishing more than ever that her cousin
would come down stairs.
81 don't know anything about toll
gates" said Miss Merrydeer. STAND aside
and let me go through! The road was here
long afore they built the toll-gate It's
swindling-that's what it is. Get up, Ned
iyi"
She settled herself back among the green
spruce boughs and protruding roots, with
an air of determination, and chirruped to
her drowsy steed, as if she meant to ride
roughshod over all opposition but just
stairs, and swung the bar back into its
place.
"Ten cents, Miss Merrydeer," said she,
"or you can't pass. That's the law"
Miss Merrydeer uttered curious grurs
of dissatisfaction.
eff it's law, it amt Justice" said she,
fumbling in the pocket of her tattered old
coat--a garment which had evidently been
cut down from mans ulster. There, as
true as you live, that there dime has fell out
and got lost in the woods 7"
That's nonsense" said Della, tartly.
Ten cents-and do hurry. l can't stand
here in this wind all night"
But hain't got it," bluntly spoke out
the old crone Lemme pass /"
Not without the ten cents" said Della,
resolutely. tive pas orders, and must
stick to 'em. If you haven't got the money,
you must go around by the mill road"
"But that's four miles further" said the
old woman, despairingly. "And Neddy's
dead tired, and so am /. And it's CROWN
colder every minute, and these March winds
Is hard on my rheumatics."
You should have thought of that be-
FORE" said Della, indifferently.
Della, why don't you let her pass ]"
whispered Lill "She's 30 old and"
"Old ?" pettishly repeated Della. Why,
she's the worst old harpy in the country.
We always have just this wrangle every time
she goes through the gate"