Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-16
OLD HILLACRE HOME.

Simeon.
Does the ga! expect to live on grass
an YARDS, like the COW brutes'" grum-
bled Cousin Gideon.
"She better Of took the $500 Squire
Stafford offered her." said Uncle Sim
con, sagely. Its more'n the old place
Is wuth, half rocks, an the rest growed
up with mullen stalks an hoar -houn'
an wild chamOmile.
AN $500 would Of sot her an Steve
Kimble up real NICE" pursued Aunt
Melzena, briskly stirring away at q huge
kettle of soft soap.
And so the chorus went on among the
Mellen and Hillacre relations far and
near, and all because Mollie Hillacre,
self willed girl, refused to part with the
old homestead and its twenty acres Of
sterile soil, which had become hers oil
the death Of Grandpa Hillacre, some
months previous.
Among all the clan there was no one
to take NOllie's side Of the question but
old Uncle Dabnsy Mellen, who occupied
the adjoining farm.
"Mollie amt nobody's fool, I kin tell
ye," he would say, nodding his head
wisely. AN ef she hangs onter the old
homestead she II make 1t pay, one way or
anuther, or my name amt Dsbney Mel
len"
| 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 entirely!
"As she makes her bed, 50 she must
lay in it," declared Uncle Simeon,
tritely. "An' if she comes to grief she
needn't 'spect us TO help her out"
of course not, " echoed the rest
But stil Mollie persisted in taking
her own head, in spite Of their predic.
tons and prognostications
Even Steve Kimble Mollie's affianced
lover, sided against her. He was Q dis
tant cousin on the Mellen side
What could we ever do here, Mollier
he argued. ~ couldn't make a livin'
on the old worn out ground Tain't ft
fur nothin' but black eyed peas Why, it
wouldn't grow q bushel O. wheat to the
acre! An look at the ole sheep pastur'.
The amt skeersely blade o. grass on IL
all summer. But IL We had $500 I could
Set mp store at the cross roads, an we'd
soon be Settin' rich"
"But love the old place. Steve" " per
| sisted MolGe. ~ was born here, you
know. and'-
'Shucksi what If you was," inter
rupted Steve impstiently. Well. you
kin have your choice, Mollie. II you
think more O. the ole place than you do
of me, why keep it. But you can't have
both, that's all"
Steve" cried Mollie, "do you mean
IT,
Yes" returned Steve sullenly, 'I do
mean it"
There's your ring, then, q" said Mollie,
quietly. and good evening""
And she walked proudly up the grass
grown walk to the house, while Steve
slung himself ansrily away.
Here was fresh food for the gossips,
for the news Of Mollie's broken engage
ment soon spread abroad, and the
tongues wssged and heads were shaken
more vigorously than before
But Aoilie paid no heed to their fault
finding
Il must contrive some way to make .
living she told herself, and why not
try keeping boarders' II the place is
worth 500 to Squire Stafford. it's worth
that much t0 me. The old house has
rooms enough TO quarter q regiment, and
II the furniture is old fashioned, it's
well preserved, and / must make it do
keeper Mrs. Hull to stay and help me
and she has not made any engagement
yet And now for the ways and means
The place is rocky an d worn out, to be
sure; but III have the old stable torn
away-it's ready to tumble down any
way-and take that place for my garden.
and shed will do for the cow. can
raise vegetables enough with Q little |
outside help, to pay for most of my gro
certes, and the old orchard and the berry |
patch, trimmed up little, will bring |
quite a crop Of fruit"
And having laid her plans like q skill |
ful general, Mollie went to work with a |
Will
Mrs. Hullfs services were soon secured, |
and the old house put in apple pie order |
The windows were secured, curtains |
taken down, washed and ironed and put |
up again. Carpets were taken up,
cleaned, and put down again. The old /
fashioned, ponderous furniture was
rubbed with turpentine till you could |
see yourself in the tall bed posts and !
chair backs and the mirrors and brass
fire irons were polished till they shone
again. Uncle Dabney Mellen, with his
hired hand, came and pulled down the
ricsety stable, chopped up the old logs
into firewood, and plowed and narrowed
the garden, besides helping Mollie to
plant it.
And when all was ready few Judi
cious advertisements brought Mollie the
requisite 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 vine
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 the shadswy val
leys, bounded by the far blue tinted hori-
Eon. And there was Miss Tuition, . good
placid faced maiden lady, who
was quietly content with everything
about her.
Besides these already mentioned, Mol
lies boarders numbered a sallow faced
young gentleman, who had sought the
in quest of health, and q brisk,
wide awake geologist, Professor Tall
man, whose chief delight and occupa-
ton was in gathering specimens"
The garden throve luxuriantly, and
once week Mollie took her early peas
and cucumbers, mountain sweet corn
and caul;fowers to the neighboring vii
age Of Sweetbriar, where she readily
iisposel Of them, bringing back their
value in coffee, tea, sugar and other nee
sssary commodities.
Uncle Dabney's horse and wagon was
always at Mollie's service on Saturday to
convey herself and her truck" to mar
zet, which proved quite q convenience to
he young householder.
The old orchard, too, which had been }
veil trimmed and cared for, showed its
gratitude by producing quite a crop of
harvest sweetings and northern spies,
afforded Mrs. Hull ample means for the
exercise Of her culinary skill in the con-
'truction of her luxurious pan dow
lies" apple cobblers and the like, while !
he milk from Buttercup, the little Jersey
,ow, furnished butter for the table and
ream for the tea and for the big bowl of
aspberries or biackberries which figured
laily at the evening meal