The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-01-17

France. Uncle John did credit to nis
short experience in culinary affairs
When the contents of Jennie's little
book case became too familiar, the pub
| lie library, was at hand; and after an
Eearly tea in the soft June twilight, Uncle
John would read to the two girls, and
he read with that appreciative feeling
which made it a reai pleasure to listen
to him.
Two months swiftly sped awayand the
school year drew to its close. Teacher,
ana scholars were alike dispersed, anC
Jennie had settled down for the hot
summer months in the little brown cot
tage.. 1t had not been so hard as she
anticipated. Uncle John had proved
SUCH a pleasant companion, and, though
from the coming, she had been com:
PEELED to forego few personal luxuries
she did not really regret them.
She was sitting in the little parlor, the
shades mostly down, to Keep out the
hot July sunshine, herself in keeping
with dainty yet inexpensive furnishings
which surrounded her, when Uncle John
entered. carrying an open letter and ex.
claiming:
I'm luck, in luck, at last, little girl.
Here is one Of my old customers, who
has long been indebted to me and from
whom never expected to realize q
penny, at last taken pity on me and
sent Inc a draft for 500. "Come little
girl, and Uncle John snatcned some
article of sewing from her hands and
threw it into the corner, mo more work
with the needle this hot weather. Pack
your boxes and We will away to the
White hills. l know you would have
made this journey if had not come, and
now, with Sue, and myself as baggage
master, we will see for ourselves how
much of truth and how much of poetry
there is in the Starr King
1t was needless for Jennie to indulge
in remonstrance. She could not tell
Uncle John it would be much better to
put the money aside, against further
contingencies, without causing him to
feel that his presence was burden to
her; and so it was arranged that the
White hills should be visited.
Uncle John at once put himself in the
hand of tailor. Was it Jennie's imagi-
nation, or did the perfectly fitting
clothes, and the possession of we'll
filled purse, make difference in Uncle
Johns personal bearing? He certainly
had little difficulty in assuming the pol
ished and courtly bearing that comes
from mlngling with the best of humani-
ty, and the two girls grew to be very
proud of their escort. The pert hotel
clerks. the obseQuious walters, semed to
know that they had to do with man of
the world, and everywhere the best
rooms, the choicest service was exacted
and rendered.. Before starting Uncle
John admonished his companions:
to consider this five hundred dollars as
On y,,rycb M n ropro6 nj or~ ,,oo,,kL.
l know that you, ennie, have an unex-
pressed idea that the old pauper," (here
his mouth was suddenly covered with a
little white handy "Well, then, that
your Uncle John might better put it
aside, against the unknown demands of
the future; but I want to take one more
Journey and I don't want any thoughts
of the past or fears for the future to mar
its pleasures. In days agone, More for
tunate? Well, as regards companions,
certainly not more Fortunately, used to
take long journeys, and know all the
ms and outs of travel. Now you, little
girls, are not to worry, not even about
your baggage. I carry the checks and
the pocket book, and for once / am 60
ing to play the autocrat. I have put
fifty dollars one side for the fare home.
When the balance is spent, we will come
back to RiAetown, and, we'll, we will
hope that many more Of my delinquent
cuetomers will remember me-"
And SO they started. They went to
Springfield and up to the Connecticut.
They stopped at Northampton that Jen-
they passed charming day at Brattle-
boro; they loitered Everywhere. At
Haverill they engaged an open carriage,
drawn BY span Of black horses that
made light of mountain road. They
put mp at cross road hotels, and, tu-
tored by Uncle John, the girls drew from
the clear mountain streams many a speck-
led beauty Finally they reached the
enchanted land, and thenit transpired
that this was not Uncle Johns first visit.
He was familiar with every desirable
drive, not even Starr KING knew better
the best points for studying the charm
ing scenery. And then Jennie discov-
cred new treasures in her pauper uncle.
If he was fairly familiar with every
branch of literature, he was equally at
home with the feral life of field and for.
est. He read the formation in the con-
tour of the hills; he nameh the birds
from listening to their songs; not a flow
er on the mountains or in the meadows
was unknown.
content. From the White. hills they
drilted to Portsmouth; they sailed out
to the Appledorc; they staid several
days at the big hotel, and Jennie delight
ed her eyes with good long look at
Celia Thaxter. They stopped at New
buryport, rode along within sight of the
passed the house on the H.
land which shelters Mrs. Spoford and
her sister; and i'll a little side street,
leading off the long, rambling thorough
fare Of Amesbury, found the home of
the Quaker poet. BY and by they
reached the Hub, stopping at the Bruins
wick, and Uncle John seemed as fami-
lar with Boston, as with the White hills
A week passed, and still the five hum
dred dollars held out and Jennie began
to think the purse that held it was like
the one 80 famous in myth. At last Au-
gust drew near its close; they had been
away from home seven weeks; Jennie's
school would soon recommence, and
Sues customers begin to think of fall
styles Was not the five hundred spent?
Once John drew a long face.
he said, Though there is still money in
on to the end just as we are, with no
thought of schools or the cutting of
dresses"
st would be nice, must confess"
assented Jennie. "This trip has almost |
spoilt me, though have seen the White |
hills, and now want to see beyond the |
Atlantic l have had one good outing,
at any rate, if never have another; and |
am ready to 60 back to the little brown |
cottage and take up my work once
mOre.".
1t was almost dark when the parlor |
car which contained them, (Uncle |
Johns extravaganza holding out to the
end,l drew up at Rifetown station. As.
they alighted, a superb calria e, drawn
by magnificent black horses, stood
waiting, and servant in livery touched
his hat obsequieus.y to Uncle John, and |
opened the carriage door for the party |
to enter.
"Come, Uncle John, let us walk, said !
Jennie. eve know the streets of Rifle |
town we'll enough not to miss our way,
and am sure the, money is all gone by
this time" &
"Just enough left to pay the carriage
hire" laughed Uncle John. "Jump in,
girls, let's wind up our outing royalty"
The servant had already loaded in
their bundles, the driver had difficulty
in holding the impatient horses, and
Jennie and Sue and Uncle John were
finally, in the carriage, and away they
went with dash. q. 4. J 80.
Finally the carriage stopped before a
stately gateway, illumined by two bril-