Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-12-01
'sThis is the place." answered the
"This !" echoed Haller.

She left him in a seven -by-nine
apartment under the caves, where he
could not stand upright except just
in the middle cf the room, and where
the three paned window was built |
close to the floor.
"Humph," soliloquized the @sthet-
ic, looking ruefully about him. This
isn't what | expected"
Mary Haven had scarcely got down
stairs and resumed the manufacture
of raspberry pies, when shouts and
cries in various keys announced the
coming of Mrs. Johnson and her
four children on the blackboard wag
on from the nearest stage station.
ssIs this Cousin Hugh's house, ma 2"
inquired Adelaide, the eldest, dis
contentedly.
sit amt nothin' but a shanty!'
proclaimed Alexander Gustayus, the
second hopeful.
"There amt no paint on it," said
Helen Louise.
"Lemme get out" shrieked Juli-
eta, "and play in the lovely black
mud where the frog toad is sitting"
Mrs. Johnson sailed in with scar
let face and a most perturbed look on
it, saying:
"Tm afraid Cousin Mary, that we
shall Inconvenience you. I'm sure
there don't seem to be much accom-
mediation for us here"
"Oh, there is plenty OF room up in
the garret, such as it is" said the
hostess smilingly. "Of course one
expects to lead gypsy life in a
place like this, and the lake will be
so nice for the little dears to play in,
if only they are careful. for it is very
deep; and it is so lucky you are here.
Cousin Johnson, 10 help me with the
pies and bread, for am not an ex-
perienced housekceper, and"
II thought that you kept two or
three servants" interrupted Mrs.
johnson frigidly.
81 have only one Young girl just
at present." said Mrs. Haven, "and
of course when there's so much COM
pany there's a great deal to do. Oh,
there comes an old lady with a sweet
little dog"
Goodness me. if it amt that old
Asat Sadie with her inevitable dog, J"
groaned Mrs. Johnson, as fat, el
derly lady toiled up the path in a
scarlet shawl and black lace hat.
''Bless me ]" said Aunt Sadie,
purple with heat and dripping with
perspiratlon, ''you don't mean to say,
Niece Haven, that this 'ere's the place
Pve heard of, on lake-what' the
name of it?''
cit is where we live at present, :"
said Mrs. Haven.
''Pm downright sorry | left the
tavern at the railroad," said Aunt
Sadie, sadly, Il amt used to these
upholstered houses, and Pm most
sure that Trip will catch cold.''
Uncle jerks was the last one to
come, shrewd, brown faced old man
in a gray suit, with keen eyes like an
eagle. He looked around him, and
seemed to take in the situation.
"No servants, eh !" said be.
"Well, it's lucky l came. I'm pret-
ty handy to fetch water and split
kindlings and help around the house,
and you're pretty slim, my dear, to
do all the work of this house with
only young gal to help you. So
Hugh hasn't done real well in busi-
ness? I've little money uninvested,
and | don't know as | could do better
than to lend it to my sisters son.
Thus he spoke CHEEKY and kind,
while Mrs. Prout famed herself on
the porch while Cousin Herbert
fought mosquitoes and gnats.
Mrs. johnson followed her children
around in ceaseless terror lest they
should be drowned and Aunt Sadie
felt her dogs pulse and groaned over
the heat.
One night at the cottage settled
the question to stay or not to stay,
in the minds of the visitors.
81 never slept in such hot place
in my life," said Mrs. Johnson, with
a sigh.
'sThe bed wasn't long enough fol
me to stretch in, and the caves touch
ed my forehead" said Cousin Her
bert sadly.
"The owls in the woods hooted all
the night said Aunt Sadie, "and
kept dear little Trip barking until he
was quite hoarse.''
81 wouldn't stay here if you would
pay me thousand dollars a week,
said Mrs. Prout, thinking of her pink
party dress and her new twelve but
ton kid gloves.
'sWell," said Uncle jerks dryly
''it amt just the location | shonlt
have selected for summer residence
but | amt going off to leave Hugl
and bis wife while I can be useful t.
them.'
So the company parted with vari
Gus adieux and insincere protesta
} tions of regard, and then only Uncl'