The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-05-23
MISCELLANY.
THE FARMERS DREAM.

White and high the wintry SHOWS were
piled against the north side of the old farm
house-mournfully the March wind howled
through the tops of the yellow pines. that
clustered like band of sentinels at the back
of the chimney-stack, and Mrs. Liddell
stood in front of the open fire, with face
of tender womanly pity, warming some
blankets, while a kettle of hot water sung
and bubbled on the crane.
Poor thing-oh, poor thingl" she re.
peated. Indeed, Israel, could think of
nothing but frozen white lamb! She can't
be more than eighteen, and"
And her story is just about as lamely
constructed a one as ever l heard" dryly
interrupted Farmer LiddelI. "Folks don't
turn other folks out of doors for no reason
at all,-and if people deserve friends, the "
amt generally left to wander, alone and
unprotected about tho roads such night
as this"
But, Israel" pleaded the sympathetic
voiced little woman, " she has told me every
thing. How she cams over from Scotland
ady's-maid, just to earn her passage some
where out of that hideous steerage-how the
woman became Jealous of her, and accused
her, falsely, of course"
("Of eoursel" grimly intcrpolated Mr.
Liddell)
"Of trying to ALLEVIATE her husbands af-
fections, and discharged her, penniless and
friendless, on the Boston DOCKS" went on
Mrs. Liddell "And how, hearing of q
factory somewhere out this way, she SET
forth to find it, and, getting lost in the snow
storm, remembered nothing more until she
found herself looking into my eyes, Blue
stars, she said they were like, Israel" Mrs.
Liddell added, laughingly.
So they are, little woman, so they are :"
said the farmer. "She's right, so far. But
Il most wish it didn't snow so hard, or
that the Town House was dozen miles
nearer"
Israel !" cried M. Liddel, "you never
would send her there !"
Why not, Judith ?" asked the farmer.
"She is so young,-so prsttyl"
Neither o. them reasons would hold
good in logic" said Liddell, Struggling his
shoulders.
But, Israel" coaxed Mrs. Liddell, ait
isn't matter of logic. It's ones own feel
ings. 1t seems to me, dear, that Providence
has laid her down at our very door for an
especial reason. We have dear sou, hus
band" Caying her hand tenderly on his
broad shoulder), "but God never gave us o
daughter. Why couldn't we adopt this
poor friendless, beautiful young creature p
Whew-w-w!" whistled Farmer Lid
dell. "What creatures you female women
kind are to jump at conclusions !"
But, Israel, reallyw pleaded the wo-
man.
Nonsense said the farmer. "Go to
bed, now, Jul Your brain is turned with
all this excitement"
Mr.. Liddell had caught only a fleeing
glimpse of the fair, marble-pale face as he
carried her in out of the snow that night
1t was he who had found her, lying like a
dead creature at his door, but it haunted
his slumbers strangely that night. And
when he rose up, pallid and unrefreshed,
his dream was strongly impressed on his
mind.
How is your patient this morning, Ju ?"
he asked, as he came into the kitchen, his
iron-gray locks yet dripping with the cold
water into which he had plunged them.
"Oh, much, much BETTER" said Mrs. Lid
dell. "She is sitting up. She wants to
come in to breakfast, but won't let her."
81 saw her last night" said the farmer
Saw her, Israel 2"
In my Dreams" said Liddell, staring
hard at the fire. "I was walking in the
home pasture lot, where the little river runs
through the woods and the daisies grow So
thick in summer-tme-and little spotted
adder, coiled up like a spiral, made dart al
me. And, just as It sprung, and 1 shrunk
back in mortal terror, saw that it had the
face and eyes of your Miss Leonie Bellew."
Mrs. Liddell laughed.
"a nightmare" said she. "Nothing
more"
eff ever anything was real, said Farmer
Liddell, "that was Don't keep her here,
my dear. Send her away You've done
everything that you could. Now let her
shift for herself"
But Judith Lddell, in her quiet way, could
be Just as obstinate as her broad-shouldered
husband. She had taken fancy to adopt
this pearly skinned, violet-eyed girl with the
strange history, the deep contralto voice,