Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-06-20
The Old Trees Secret.

we not, Charlie p We had gone all
over the roomy, old-fashioned
house, my little wife and /, from
the dusty, cobbed garret to the
neglected cellars, and we now
stood together at the back of the
garden, critically surveying its ap-
pearance.
1t was a low two-story house,
built in the shape of a 7, with a
cluster of tall chimneys in the
middle and the three gables hidden
in ivy. 1t had once stood quite
out of the town, which had since
gradually crept toward it,, until
what had been a road was now be-
come street of struggling cottages
and villas, extending to the high
wall inclosing the grounds. The
lawn was shaded with old trees,
and the garden choked up with
thickets of lilac and SNOWFALL. The
old lady, Mrs. Gage, who had for
forty years resided here, leading a
very secluded and invalid life, had
taken no pains to keep the place
in order, and she and the property
had decayed together, until recent
" she had died, and the house was
for sale.
1T looks dreadfully gloomy and
neglected. said Cecie, gazing up at
the back windows. Mrs. Moss,
next door, says that for twenty
years no one has occupied those
upper rooms; and see how the ivy
has bound together those shutters
on the left. But it is a beautiful
old house, and know that we can
make it bright and cheerful. And
then the garden-what a delight it
will be to the children and to our
selves, too. We will take it, won't
we Charlier
There was no resting her plead
ing, coaxing manner. So that very
evening l went to see the agent,
and before the week had elapsed
the house was ours.
With what zeal and enjoyment
we entered upon the transformation
of our new abode. The masses of
i've were torn down from the gables
or judiciously trimmed; every door
and window was thrown wide to
the fresh air and sunlight; and
paint and paper, muslin curtains,
and bright carpets and India mat
ting made the house delightful to
behold.
This much accomplished, we
turned our attention to the garden.
1t was already June, and the sea-
son too advanced for much I'M
provement; but we pulled down
the rotted arbors, thinned out the
thickets of roses and lilacs, and |
caused little round table and
some rustic garden seats to be
placed under an old tree at the
further end of the central walk
Here, on returning from my office
on the warm, sunny evenings, We
would sit-Cecie engaged with
some light stitching, and, with
cigar, books and papers, reading
to her, while our little ones rar
| wild up and down the garden
walk.
This is thoroughly delightful,'
remarked, one evening. How Ii
it, Cecie, that we have managed t(
live eight years of housekeeping
life without a gardenT
'Yes,' she answered, radiantly
lit is delightful. Living so much
in the open air one seem to take &
new and fresh growth, like the
flowers. Only and here she
glanced uneasily around-'Only
Charlie, l thiDk-I fancy-that this
is not exactly the spot for our a
| fresco boudOir.'
why not? 1t faces the walk, il
commands a view of the house and
the whole garden. And these
branches hanging so low anc
clothed in ivy, make a nice canopy
above us. What is it that you OBJ
lject tor
Il scarcely know. But somehow
l have never liked this tree
1t was a very old tree unde1
which we sat, with a huge gnarled
4 -. . . .
trunk growing in a sloping posi-
ton near the garden wall, ant
covered with ivy. About eight fee
4 from the ground the trunk separs
ted into three branches, and here
the ivy had matted itself in an i'm
pervious mass, conceaiing th'
decayed branches with the excep
= ton Of the extremities, which her
and there protruded from the greer
mass, white and bare.
'Tbey look like skeleton fingers,
said Cecie, glancing up, and !
gives me the horrs. l think tb'
} tree ought to be cut down. 1t al