The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-07-16
THE OLD CHERRY FARM.

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asech a reediklis thing to dole
declared Aunt Lurainey .Mnlord:
81 sh'u'd cay Hazel wasn't in her
sane senseAe
The Mulford connection, far and
near, were terribly exercised over
the fact that Hazel Heathertonhad
invested six hundred dollars for the
old Cherry Farm.
"a warn.out old place that amt
wuth shucksl' they asserted.
When Uncle Hezekiah Mulford
died, leaving a thousand dollars
apiece to each ofhis two unmarried
nieces, the two girls we're looked
upon as heiresses by the numerous
kin.folks living in and around the
little village of Drapping Springs.
But when Hazel, in spite Of all
opposition, persisted in investing
six hundred dollars Of her legacy
in the farm, as already stated, and
invited Aunt Comfort Mulford to
live with her, their discomfort
knew no bounds
"she might Of invested her mon
ey safe with me, complained Uncle
zeke, "an' I'd Of give her FIVE per
cent intrust on it. She could o
lived good on that but no, she
must go an spend her money fust
thing fore Uncle Hezekiah was
fairly cold in his gryae."
"That ole place won't-grow moth.
in but pusley and cockle.burrs,'
groaned Aunt Lurainey, She'll
starve to death on it, shore"
"Itll be a Judgement on her, if
she does" declared Uncle zeke,
grimly shaking his head as he
lighted his cob.pipe with q coal
from the fireplace.
And the rest of the kin-folks
agreed with him, and prophesied
all manner of ill.fortune for Hazel.
All, that is, with the exception Of
Cousin John Mulford and his wife,
Arvilla
They upheld her in her unpopu-
lar proceeding. Cousin John even
went and mended the roof Of the
leaky but picturesque little cot
tage, which stood on a grassy hill
side, sheltered by the sweeping
branches of half a dozen or more
black. heart cherry trees which had
given the place its name.
ats a pretty place." avcrred
Cousin John, "An' Hazel will have
a home there ifshe amt got moth
in else. aer an Aunt Comfort III
live as happy as cows id aclOyer.
field"
But the other relatives shook
their heads and drew long faces
over Hazel's future prospects.
"Shc might of bought lot in
town, if she must have proppity,"
they grumbled.
But Hazel only laughed at their
fore.bodings.
II never had q home Of my own,
she said, "and l guess the old place
will support me and Aunt Comfort
as well as the robbins that live up
in the cherry trees"
And when the three tiny rooms
of the little cottage we're secured as
clean as soap and water could make
them, the walls newly whitened
and the rooms filled with the pret.
ty household furniture Hazel had
bought, and which Cousin John
brought out with his OK team, the
young mistress of Cherry farm felt
a serene content in her possessions
that all the ill.naturcd forebodings
OF the Mulfords clan failed to dis
turb.
"Thar you air, hazel-snug as a
bug in a rug!" said Cousin John,
mopping his face with his red cot
ton handkerchief, as he started
the numbering oxen on their home.
ward way. can when you git yer
plumber all put to rights, me an
Arvilly'll come an make you a
visit"
"Be sure you do" cried Hazel,
brightly. "And when the cherries
are ripe, Arvilla can have all she
wants to put up"
Melzena Mulford, Uncle Heze
kiah's other legatee, was no less
loud in INSTRUMENTATION Of Hazel's
investment.
"How does she ever expect to
git married I'd like to know" she
commented, "away of in that lone.
ly place, with nobody but poky
Aunt Comfort for company But
7 Jonit oo.o IL, ,r.o ;f ,Ln ,,,rt,