St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-15


Then Kate's plan came out. Sh,
wanted to hire The Deacon's staid
horse Roxy, and the roomy rOckaway
and take her father and mother, anC
the children, with herself, on ride o
ten days or so ont in the country.
.'But where are you going 2" asked
Mrs. Hollis, whose kind heart was in
terested at once. "Your mother doe,
look real peakedy," she said.
My plan is to 90 up to Lake George
see that, and spend one night ther,
with friends that have visited us two
or three times. Then, about thirty
five miles farther, in among the noun
tains, on stage road, lives an old
aunt and uncle of fathers, who write
us about once a year, and always urge
us so heartily to come aud visit. Now
is that too far ~
The Deacon reckOued the miles and
said, "RoXy could easily do it in -four
days, and three back" he added "Ishe's
IL mastertul hand to know when her
head is turned homewards.n
| 1t was all settled at last. The Dea-
con liked to put generous bill in the
collection for foreign missions, and he
liked good bargain right we'll, and it
| did come little hard to offer Roxy
and the Rockaway for ga dollar day
and her keep" but generosity com
PEELED, and he never regretted it?
That evening Kate unfotded her plan
ut home. OF the surprise, the ohjec-
tions, the slow, because fearful, assent
of the stay -at-hOme elders, and the de-
light of the children. we need not stop
to speak.
Suffice it, that the second week of
August proved as bright and bland as
could be desired, and at half-past FIVE
Roxy and the carriage were in waiting
mt the door of the Morgan home. Then
1t took the family just one hour to
pack i'll the belongings necessary for
the trip. Not the clothes-they had
each on good stout suit, and beside
that carried one poorer to wear in the
the woods. But there was small
boiled ham, and three loaves of wheat
bread, and ii pail of ginger-snaps, and
package of cheese, a bag with salt
and pepper for the eggs they should
buy, and tea and coffee and sugar, and
pain-killer, and liniment, and few
other such motherly provisions.
AAuSbllItl. NOu liiNtu UldNlt IL llllS-
take in the box, have you That does
not look just like the one | put the
sugar and things in"
1t was opened and found to contain
hard soap and silver polish, and they
all enjoyed the laugh, and as for Kate,
one look i'll her fathers face was pay
ment enough for all her trouble.
AT last they were off in the early
glory of the morning, through the half
awakened streets, down over the bridge
near the noisy factories, and then out
and up into the fair countryside, past
beautiful farm homes with their flowers
and fruit orchards, through bits of
woods where birds were chirping and
squirrels racing, by little singing brooks
and miniature falls, until at eleven
O'Clock they had come fifteen miles and
were all agreed that convenient wood
with large flat stones was Just the
place for dining room and here they
camped out. Roxy was embarrassed.
little fire built by the brook, and
over 1t they boiled some potatoes and
eggs, and tea for two. They spread "A
cloth on rock, and on it toad per
ched himself as if quite at home. After
dinner, papa and the boys went ex-
ploring, while mamma and Alice took
nap i'll the hammock, and Kate am
bitiously sketched a tiny waterfall.
Toward night they drove five miles
farther, and there put up at IA small
country inn, where they found good
beds and small bills. The next day
they had three hours at Lake George
and time to reach their friends cordial
welcome.
But the third day they really had an
adventure. A thunderstorm overlook
them on the lonely mountain road, and
they were obliged to seek shelter in a
barn, and finally to spend the night
there, finding beds in hay or hammock
or carriage as they best could, and
thankful when morning gave them a.
bright sun again and chance to 90 on.
And that Sabbath among the Adir-
ondacks, i'll its deep quiet, its purple
haze, its majesty of rock and tree
Will any of them ever forget it And
every hour of that piny, aromatic air
seemed tonic to the worn father and
mother, the sickly Willis, and to Kate
herself 1t brought such sense of mai
esty and of ineXpTessible rest, as gave
to her prayer a new and richer mean
ing.
But all vacations have their end, and
Wednesday morning found the Morgan
family turned with face homeward.
True to the character given her, Roxy
encouraged no lettering by the way
this time, and before sunset of Friday
was meditating over the oats in her
own stable.
''I've gained ten pounds, I do be-
lieve," Kate heard her. father telling a
neighbor, ''and | feel like new man.
81 don't believe have enjoyed get
ting up in the morning and going into
my kitchen in five years BEFORE" Mrs.
Morgan said, the next morning as she
moulded her bread into loaves, Chow
much good a little change does do one,
and | have got such help, too, on my
rag carpet from Aunt Martha-ten
balls all cut and sewed. Well, Kate,
you have given us all pleasure enough
to satisfy any daughter
And Kate was more than satisfied,
even when she wore a plain cashmere
for best, all winter.
"IOu went away, after all,n her
friend Louise said, with smile.
Eyes. after had taken your advice
and looked over MOTHER and father
too, and counted them both as my best
blessings Advance.
Saved by n Dream.