Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-06-07

certain amount done in a certain length
of time.
The next afternoon found Mouse and
myself on board of an express train
speeding away to Nutwood. 1t was
after o'clock when we arrived at
the small station, for l had not been
able to start as early as had intended,
and nearly six when we came in sight
of large old-fashioned peak-roofed
barn, just beyond which stood low,
broad, comfortable-looking farmhouse.
"That's our house and our barn and
there's Phil feeding the chickens,
said Mouse, in the sprightliest tones
had ever heard from him and turn
ing to glance at the youth "Phir' who
was feeding the chickens, 1 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 cambria, be
meath the frill Of which an intensely
auburn wavy bang fell almost to her
auburn eyebrows. Her dress was
made of the same material as the capi
the sleeves being rolled up nearly tc
the shoulders, displaying a pair OF
beautifully rounded arms, and she held
the corners of a large white apron in
one hand, VIII le from it she dispensed
the supper Of the fowls with the other.
"By Jovel" thought l, it was worth
the journey from New York to see
this lovely, truly rural picture alone.
And then said in an inquiring man.
ner to Mouse, "Phil?"
"Yes, sir; Philippa. She's my only
Sister,
And Phllippa, seeing us at this mo-
ment, did not utter shrek and fly, as
many a damsel 1 wot of would have
done, but flung the remainder of the
corn from her apron, and came smil-
ing toward us, walking with an easy
grace that told plainly that she had
never undergone the martyrdom of
tight, high-heeled shoes.
"This is Mr.. Lovejoy, Phil" said
PodarioE lHopoa 70 cea if r,oofb ar,II
take him to board for a month"
"You are very welcome" said she,
at the same time offering me a small,
brown hand to which some of the corn
flour still clung. and looking at me with
a pair of clear hazel eyes. Roderick
has often told US of your kindness to
him.
And no sooner had she ceased speak
ing than began to think that / had
found the very place of all in which to
spend my vacation, and was sure Of
it after L had seen her father and
mother-he an honest, outspoken,
cheery-faced old fellow, and she an at
tractive, still young-looking woman,
with eyes exactly like those she had
bestowed upon her daughter, and the
neat, prettily-furnished room they Of
fered me, facing the grand old wood
filed with nut trees that gave the place
its name, and looking out at the side
on jolly little brook on whose spark
ling waters some brilliantly-plumaged
ducks were proudly sailing. They
wouldn't hear of my returning to the
city that night, as L had proposed to
do, but insisted upon my remaining
until Monday morning.
"It won't discommode US in the
least" said Mrs. Dayton.
"And by that time you will be bet
ter able to tell whether you like the
place or not" added her husband.
"Like the place r l made up my
mind about that before 1 slept that
night. 1t was heavenly, after the dust
and noise and crowding and jostling
of the city. And as for the eggs and
milk, and chicken fried in cream, and
light and airy mullins that we had for
supper, they were heavenly, too.
" Phil cooked the chicken and made the
mullins, whispered Roderick, who had
as Isoon discovered a fact that raised
him greatly in my estimation most
intense admiration for his only sister.
Sunday passed like a delightful
dream, and early Monday morning 1
left, with promise to return the fol-
lowing Wednesday, that being the day
on which my leave of absence was to
begin.
"Well, how did you like Nutwood p,
asked Lon, as soon as we met.
"It's quiet, pretty place. said I.
"And the Mouse's description wasn't
as highly colored as the advertise
ments," he continued.
1T wasn't highly colored in the
least" 1 replied. Al found there all
he promised and"-" much more,v L
was about to add, but checked myself.
"Then what do you say to speaking
word in my favor when you leave !?
| Knight spend one of my holiday weeks
there, anyhow. The other I've got to
spend with the old folks"
"Oh," said !, emphatically, "Nut-
wood would never do for you. You'd
get the worst kind of blues there in
no time. It's so exceedingly-well,
dub, you'd call it. You want to be
where there's some fun going on As