Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-12-25

''She amt pleasant if she
y one is meddlin'. I'll tell
Aileen-you and Ill go out
r chamber over the stun barn,
sPomp to build us up real
a' Of pine logs in the old chin
iere's a carpet loom there and
lin wheel and all the fxin's
show you how used to spin
\ "'"i1en l was gal, and weave rag
|carpet."
"Will you?" said Aileen, with
frightening eyes. "0h, grandma, how
very, very nice that will bel And can
l roast chestnuts and apples in the
ashes ?-and will you tell me about
your sailor-lover that was drowned be-
fore you ever saw my Grandfather
Harrington ?"
Yes" said the old lady-"yesl
Wen hey our New Years by our
selves-me and you. child"
So Aileen put away the pretty, little,
blue merino gown that she had re
trimmed for New Years Day, and
donned instead the brown Merrimac
calico that made her look like a robin
redbreast; and just about the time
that her three cousins were quarreling
for the possession of the biggest dress
ing-glass to "do" their hair, she and
her grandmother were adjusting the
ancient spinning wheel in the stone
barn chamber, and piling wood in the
lcavernous recess of the huge fireplace.
They had very pleasant New Years
after all. though the tears came
q Aileen's blue eyes once Or twice,
\ hard-frozen road toward the house.
And at dusk she lighted the cheer
ful candles, and sat down TO prepare
grandmas supper. with fresh corn
cakes baked in the hot embers, ac-
cording to the recipe of Aunt Felicia,
the colored cook, fragrant coffee, and
sweet apples, roasted, and eaten with
cream.
But Captain Dulaly, riding his
Morgan horse, Hotspur. throu Oh the
pine woods. drew rein close by the old
stone barn, whence he had not seen
the rel lights cleaning out for
ten years.
"What can it be?" he asked him
self. 1--WE children used to play at
ghost up there of an autumn evening,
when the Vladimir family lived there.
Or perhaps the careless servants have
set something on fire"
He jumped off his horse, flung the
reins over a projecting pine bough
and went in to see what the meaning
Of this unwonted illumination might
II The door stood wide open-the whole
room was aglow with a warm, ruddy
light. Grandma, enthroned in big
d aplint-chair before the blaze, was
hiking her coffee, and Aileen sat
ARing at the old wheel, with cheeks
redeemed and blue eyes spark
u very picture of health and
started at the sudden appari-
4 the captain on the threshold.
beg your pardon" said Captain
), lifting his hat. 81 saw the
hining out, and ] was afraid
aething had happened.
lething has happened" said
laughingly. Il have learned
And grandma and l are hav-
.cnic. Win you come in, Cap
pny?"
since your coffee smells so
think l will" said the gallant
officer
cup-which for lack of more ex-
I've china happened to be mug
scarcely poured out, before their
kSrs were augmented by Mr. Fer
young Doctor Fenchurd, who
the lights, and had also OBJ
k"Hotspur" fastened to the
we venture to intruder" said
ping in over the stair-rail.
.ertainlyp' said grandma, smil-
Aileen distributed handlele
and bountiful slices of golden
corn cake. yet steaming from
TO her guests.
re hardly prepared to enter
large company" said she,
y; "but we can. at all events,
sincere welcome"
hree-half a dozen more
Old Pomp was summoned to
pine-cones on the blaze and
coffee and corn-cake.
from ear to ear.
he de good old times .
ant Felicia, when he re-
- abin. "De berry cream
joyin' de corn-pones an