, 1885-10-04
OLD HILLACRE HOME.

Simeon.
Does the gal expect to live on grass
an YARDS like the cow brutesl gsumblel
Cousin Gideon.
"she better Of took the 500 Squire
Stafford offered her, - said Uncle Simeon.
sagely. -lts more'n the ole place is
wuth. half rocks. an the rest growcd up
with mullen stalks an hoarhoun IN
wild chamomile. F"
An $500 would Of sot her an Sieve
kimble up real nice. " pursued Aunt
Mclzena. briskly stirring away ut a huge
kettle Of soft SOAP.
And so the chorus went on among the
Mellen and Hillacre relations. far and
near and all because Mollie Ilillncre. self
willed girl, refused to part with the old
homestead and its twenty acres Of sterile
soil. which had become hers on the death
Of Grandpa Hillacre some months preyi
GUS.
Among all the clan there was no ore to
take Mollic's side of the question but old
Uncle ! abney Mcllen who occupied the
ad dining farm.
~Mollic amt nobody's fool, ! kin tell
ye. " he would say. nodding his head
wisely. An ef she hangs onicr the old
homestead she'll make It pay. one way or
anuther. or my name amt nabney Mel
den. -
But the other relatives only shook their
heads forebodingly and declared that "a
willful woman must have her own way
and they washed their hands Of her en-
tirelyi
AS she makes her bed. so-she mus,
lay in II. " declared Uncle Simeon. tritely.
An If she comes to grief she needn't
spect us 10 help her out
-Df course not. - echoed the resi-
But still Moilic persisted in ~lakiug her
own head in spite Of their predictions
and representations.
Even Steve Kimble, Mollics afianced
lover, sided against her. lie was a distant
cousin on The Mellen side
-What could we ever do here. Mollieer
he argued Il couldn't make n livin' on
the old wore-out ground faint fit fur
nothin but black.eyed peas. Why. it
wouldn't grow a bushel o. wheat to tho
acre. An look at the ole sheep pastur'.
The amt skecrscly a blade o grass on II
all summer. But If we had $500. / could
set up a store at the crossroads. an we'd
soon be "A gittin' rich.
But | love the old place, Steve. ; per.
sisted Mollie Il was born here you
know, and
"shucks' what If you was. - interrupted
your chico. Moilie If you think more
o the ole place than you do Of mo. why
keep IT, But you can't have both. that's
all.
"steve, - cried Mollie. ~do YOU mean
it,"
yes, - returned Steve. sul'enly, 81 I do
mean it,
There's your ring, then, - said Mollie.
quietly, land good evening. -
And she walked proudly up the grass
grown walk 10 the house. while Steve
slung himself angrily away.
Here was fresh food for the gossips. for
the news OF Mollie's broken engagement
soon spread abroad. and the tongues
wagged and heads were shaken more Wig
orously than ever.
But Mollie paid no heed to their fault
finding.
81 must contrive some way to make a
living. " she told herself, aand why not
try keeping boarderss If the place is
worth 500 TO Squire Stafford its worth
that much 10 me. The old house has
rooms enough 10 quarter n regiment.
and If the furniture is old fashioned.
it's well preserved. and | must make it do.
think | can get %grandpa's old house.
keeper. Mrs. Hull. 10 stay and help me.
as she has not made any engagement yet
And now for ways and means, The
place is rocky. and worn out. TO be sure.
but I'll have the old stable torn awav-
its ready to tumble down anyway-and
take that place for my garden, and a shed
will do for the COW. ] can raise vegeta
bles enough. with a little outside help. to
pay for most Of my groceries. and the old
orchard and the berry patch. trimmed
up a little, will bring quite a crop Of
fruit -
And having laid her plans, like a skill
full general. Mollie went TO work with q
will.
Mrs. Hulls services were soon secured.
and the old house put into ~apple pie
order. The windows were secured. cur
tains taken down. washed aud ironed, and
put up again. Carpets were taken up.
cleaned, aud put down again. The old.
fashioned, ponderous furniture was
rubbed with turpentine till you could sec
yourself in the tall bed posts and chair
backs. n the mirrors and brass fire-irons
were polished till they shone again, Uncle
Dabney Mellen. with his hired hand.
came and pulled down the rickety stable.
chopped up the old logs into fire wood.
and plowed and narrowed the garden. be.
sides helping Mollie to plant it,
And when all was ready a few judici
u advertisements brought Mollic the re
quisite number Of boarders.
There were Mr.. and Mrs. Smythe, a
wealthy elderly couple, who were
charmed with the big rooms. the old
fashioned. claw legged tables and chairs.
the %yine.hung porches and verandas and
the wholesome country fare. There was
Mrs Fenshawe, a gushing widow. who
went into raptures over the beautiful
view Of crested hill tops and shadowy
valleys. bounded by the far. blue tinted
horizon And there was Miss Tuition. a
good natured, placid faced maiden lady.
who was quietly content with everything
about her.
Besides those already mentioned.
Mollie's boardors numbered "a sallow
faced young gentleman, who had sought
the country in quest Of health. and O.
brisk. w~ide-awake reologist, ! rofessor
Tallman. whose chief delight AMI cccu-
patton was in gathering Specimens
The garden throve luXuriantly, and
ono a week Mollie took her carly peas
and cucumbers, mountain sweet corn aud
caulilowers 10 the noighboring village of
sweetbriar. where she readily disposed
Of them bringing back their value in
coffee. tea. sugar. and other necessary
commodities.
Uncle Dabney's horse and wagon was
always at Mollie's service ON saturdays to
convey herself and her struck to mar.
ket. which proved quite a convenience TO
the young householder.
The old orchard, too, which had been
well trimmed and cared for. showed its
gratitude by producing quite "A crop of
Harvest Sweetings and Northern Spies. at
fording Mrs Hull ample means for the
exercise of her culinary skill in the con
struction Of luxurious pan -dowdics. - ap.
pie cobblers, aud the like, while the milk
from ~Buttercup. " the little Jersey COW,
furnished butter for the table and cream
for the ten and for the big bowl Of rasp
berries or blackberries which figured
daily at the evening meal
But while affairs continued to 20 swim.
mingly for Mollie, the croakers found
fresh cause for gossip In that very fact. -
They live mighty fine, an set T. tip
strength. viEor and Elasticity.
Recovering from typhoid fever. it