The Mineral argus., 1884-07-03
MEADOW FARM.

shy was al u JOnqu1 glow; I'll
frogs We're croaking in the stumps; til
naples were crimsoned with thei
earliest banners of blossoms; and, a
she tripped along, Mary found a tuf
OF v~iolets, half hidden under a drift o
dead leaves-pale, purple, scentlesi
J bloomsi
1.-THE first violets always bring good
luck with them" she whispered to her
self as she pinned them into the bosom
of her blue flannel dress.
Home" was scarcely the ideal r~ealiza-
ton of that poetic word to our factory
girl. She and her mother lived in the
upper half of a shabby, implanted
wooden house, with the blacksmith
scol ding wife and seven riotous chill
dreu down stairs, and one-half of a tram
pied back yard by way of a garden,
where nothing ever grew but burdocks,
nettles and Mrs. Mugg's long-Iegged
fowls.
But Mrs. Miller, who had been a
school-teacher once, and still retained
some of the refinement of her early
education, had the tea ready, with a
shaded lamp and a bunch of maple
blossoms on the table ready for Mary
to come home.
Good news, mother!" the girl cried
lightly. "The meadow farm is to be let!
Mother, we must take it,"
Mrs. Miller looked obviously at the
eager, bright face, with its blue-gray
eyes and fringes of yellow hair.
"Can we afford it daughter? ?" she
said slowly. "a whole house and farm
of forty-three acres?"
1T isn't such a very large house,
mother!" pleaded Mary as she laid the
bunch of violets in her mothers lap,
nor so many more rooms than we have
here. And we could keep two cows,
and 1 could sell milk and butter, and
chickens and eggs; and / am al
most sure that VIII Davidge would work
farm on shares. And only think.
mother, how delightful it would be to
have a home all to ourselves, where we
couldn't hear Mrs. Mugs boxing Bob
by's ears, or Helen shrieking with the
toothachel And a little garden, mother,
where we could have peonies and holly
hooks, and all those lovely, old fashioned
flowers that our soul delights in"
Mrs. Miller's face softened.
at would be a great temptation, Mol
w." she said.
"Its a month since old Mrs. Dabnev
said Mary. "And they say that
her daughter in the city and her son in
despise the old farm, with its
one-story house and its old red barn.
So it is to be let. And so cheap, tool
Only a hundred and fifth dollars year.
Mother, we must take It'll I'll leave the
and turn dairy maid. I've saved
,nough, you know, to buy the two COWS
nd some real Plymouth Rock fowls to
with, and oh, it will be such hap
)iness! Say yes, mother--do say yesl"
When Mary Miller pleaded like this
he gentle widow never knew how to
'efuse; and the upshot of it was that
hey leased the Dabney house, and be-
anne c~o-sovereigns of the realms of
Meadow farm.
1t was their first night there. Over
read the young May moon shone
through a veil of purple mist. A soil
airy owl hooted in the chestnut wood
Jack of the house, for Meadow farm was
on a lonely mountain side.
where no n ever came except on spe-
ial business.
The Plymouth Rock chickens were
afely shut up where foxes could not
each them nor minks steal in to bleed
heir young lives away; the cows-two
inc young Alderneys-were chewing
heir cuds back of the old red barn. and
lary Miller had flung a handful of ce-
ar sticks on the hearth, where their
cented blaze illuminated the old
ltchen with a leaping brightness beau
lful to see.
Because it's just possible that the
may be DAMP" she said, "after
eng uninhabited so long. There. I
lother, isn't that cheerful? And isn't
nice u old rag carpet should fit this
DOR so exactly" with a satisfied down
ard glance. "And do you see those I
ger lilies? l found, them down by the !
arden wall-oh, such a red wilderness {
themi Old Mrs. Dabney set them
ut herself, they say. 1t seems only yes
she added thoughtfully, "thatI !
past here and saw old Mrs. Dab !
ey sitting in the big chair by the fire. !
where" !
Mrs. Miller uttered a little shrek and I
rasped her daughters arm at this mo- {
Ient, Mary stopped short, with an !
pallor overspreading her cheek.
For as she spoke the door opposite !
nd opened, and a very little old WON |