Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-08
SUMMER VISITORS.

had just come into possession of n small house
out Of town, n cottage two stories in height
and about twelve feet square, with a small
cabbage garden in the rear and grape vine
and cherry tree in the front yard We had
never owned any property before and we
couldn't help feeling little proud of this,
though, like Morleena kenwigs, we had been
taught that it was Sinful
Come down and pay us a visit" we had
said to every one with whom we shook hands,
as we bade farewell TO the city; come and
sec our little place in strawberry time. And
every one had answered:
ave shall be delighted"
Our parlor with its Indian mating and
white curtains and spider-legged chairs was
model of airy comfort. There were always
flowers in glasses on the mantel and there
was bird in cage in the window. Peggy,
the girl" did the work. and my wife was
always fresh and bright in her white muslns
and knots of ribbons and flowers. She was
growing plump, too, and Mrs. Turtledove
looked well when she was plump. | was
thinking of these things with satisfaction as
opened the gate of my garden one night and
almost stumbled over Mrs Turtledove, who,
with glass dish in her hand, was bending
over the strawberry bed.
ooh, Timonl" she exclaimed, as I saluted
her, "do help me, please. I'm trying to get
enough ripe berries for tea. After Dragging
so don't want Miss Mittens to go back to the
city and say she ddnt have any. Miss Nit
tens came down by the noon train, dear"
odd sheg' said l. "Ah, well, pleased to see
her, I'm sure"
ayes, of course, Timon," said my wife, very
slowly. "And | hope there's milk enough.
/ Gba ,,,s IN 1itn o, IL
is in the country"
Now, we did not keep a COW, and we had
almost been obliged to go on our knees to
Farmer Fish to induce him to spare us his
quart day. He always liked to send full
cans down by the train" lie said, and he and
Mrs. Fish never touched milk themselves.
We had even suspected the good Fish Of
watering this quart OF ours; perhaps, being q
benevolent man, he thought that it might be
too rich for us 1t is always right to think
the very best of people, you know.
81 wish We had a cow" said /; perhaps
Peggy could milk her if"
"Hallo, old fellow" cried n voice behind
me. "Been chasing you ever since you left
the train. Anyone would know you had
pretty wife at home, by the way you walked.
I've taken advantage Of your charming invi-
tation and run down to stop awhile How
do you do, Mrs. Turtledovei | can see that
! farm life agrees with you, by your cheeks"
And we both shook hands with Muligan.
Fred Mulligan, whom l remembered with n
sort of qualm, put up at the Fifth Avenue
hotel as general thing, and was one of the
most particular men about his eating"
However, at least | could make him well
como, SO l ushered him into the house, spring
overcoat, slender umbrella, Russian leather
parlor, went ont into the kitchen to open the
sardno box-Peggy had way Of making
chowdcr of the sardines in the process-and to
assure Mrs. Turtledove that the snail quanti-
ties of berries She had collected would be
Aplenty'
We were rather a merry party us we sat
down to tea that night. Mr.. Mulligan and
Miss Mittens had discovered that they had
met before at Saratoga, and were already
very intimate.
Thoy complimented us in chorus.
"How delightful to be country people, isn't
itT said Mr. Mulligan.
Indeed it is said Miss 3Iittens Mature
casting their most precious things at their
feet as one may say-howers and fruit and
and breezes, you know I fairly pined for
the country, and | hate hotels and strange
boarding houses; So since | actually have a
sister in dear Mrs, Turtledove. | thought I'd
throw myself on her charity for the summer"
"Just as | felt said MuliSnn. said l;
There is Turtledove ready to welcome Inc
with open arms. Why not so to himr"
I'm glad to he rural while | am here"
said Miss Mittens 81 don't mean to drink
tea or coffee | mean to live on milk and
fruit here"
"And II said Mullgan; "no champagne
for mo when can have milk"
l felt very glad indeed to hear that he did
not want champagne,
But oh, my dear" sobbed Mrs. Turtledove
little while after the meal was over, catch
ing me i'll "A quiet corner, "to think Of our first
Strawberries, and you not to have even one
tinty-tonty one The one tried to swallow
choked me when l thought of that And
don't you think Mr.. Fish would sell us more
milk while they stayl"
/ declared that did not mind about the
berries; that | would make Fish sell us milk
at any price. By the way, he did give in at
last, and we gave him two shillings a quart
There was no competition in the neighbor-
hood.
"And I'll bring berries down from town
tomorrow" | said. They are plentier there
than they are in tho country"
"Mlss Mittens has the spare room, and Mr..
Mulligan will have hall bedroom" said my
wife. Ale looks altogether too grand for it,
but l can't help it,"
Then wo went back to entertain our guests,
and we were really getting on iinely-what
with the piano and duets-when there came
the sound of humping and scraping at the
carriage steps, A voice cried:
halo, Turtledovel Folks for you'll"
And out we rushed to find the garden full
of the Rev, Mr.. Calliope and his family-Mrs
Calliope, Miss Calliope and Master Calliope
MIR. Calliope was our pastor, and we had
given him a remarkable hearty invitation.
"As my congregation insisted on giving
we vacation" said Mr.. Calliope, 1--WE are
com
saw they were, and was wondering