Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-05-21
Yes, said the old lady '1yes!.
Well hev our New Years by ourselves

Oluo uleT1uO gown tlaLi SO6 00Q re-
trimmed for New Years Day, and
donned instead, the brown Merrimac
calico that made her look like robin
redbreast; and just about the time
that her three cousins were quarreling
for the possession of the biggest dress
ing glass to edo" their hair, she and
her grandmother were adjusting the
ancient spinning wheel in the stone
barn chamber, and piling wood in
the cavernous recess OF the huge fire.
place. ....
They had q very pleasant New Years
Day after all, though the tears came
to Aileen's blue eyes once or twice,
when the carriage rolled by over the
hard-ftozen road towards the house.
And at dusk she lighted the cheerful
candles, and sat down to *prepare
erandma's supper, with fresh corn
cakes, baked in tho hot embers, &C.
cording to the receipt of Aunt Felicia,
the colored cook, fragrant coffee and
sweet apples, roasted, and eaten with
cream.
But Captain Dulany, riding his
Morgan horse, Hotspur, through the
pine woods, drew rein close by the old
stone barn, whence he had not seen
the red lights cleaning out for ten
years. -
"What can it be-" he asked himself.
eve children used to play at ghost
up there OF autumn evening, when the
Vladimir family lived there. Or per-
haps the careless servants have set
something on fire."
He jumped off his horse, flung the
reins over q projecting pine bough and
went in to see what the meaning of
this unwonted illumination might be.
The door stood wide open-the
whole room was aglow with warm,
ruddy light, Grandma, enthroned in a
big splint-chair before the blaze, was
drinking her coffee, and Aileen sat
spinning at the old wheel, with cheeks
softly redeemed and blue eyes spark
!lng-a very picture of health and
beauty.
Both started at the sudden appari.
tion Of the captain on the threshold.
Il beg your pardon!" said Captain
Dulany, hitting his hat. II saw the
light shining out, and l was afraid that
something had happened"
'Something has happened" said
Aileen, laughingly. II have learned to
spin. And grandma and l are having
q picnic. Will you come in, Captain
Dulany"
swell, since your coffee smells so
good, I think l WILL" said the gallant
young officer.
His cup-which for lack of more ex-
pensive china happened to be a mug
was scarcely poured out, before their
numbers were augmented by Mr.. Fer
rars and young DR.. Fenchurd, who
had seen the lights, and had also OBJ.
served "Hotspur" fastened to the
fence.
MAY we venture to intruder" said
they, peeping over the stair-rail.
"Oh, certalnly!"Icaid grandma, smil-
ing
And Aileen distributed handleless
cup and bountiful slices. of golden
brown corncake, yet steaming from
the fire to her guests.
eve are hardly prepared to enter
tain so large q company" said she
composedly; but we can, at all events,
give you a sincere welcome"
Two-three-half a. dozen more
dropped in. Old Pomp was summon
ed to pour fresh pine cones on the
blaze and bring more coffee and corn
cake.
He grinned from ear to ear.
"Pow'fu] like de good old times, -
said he to Aunt Felicia, when he re-
turned to his cabin. "De berry cream
oh de gentry enjoyin' de corn-pones
an coffee like dey was our old marse' 8
folks. Amt muffin like corn-pone for
rale good flavor. dat dey amt. An
the young lady from de Norf, she's as
pretty as a peach. Reckon de capting
tinks so, too. He, he oe!''
And old Pomp shook his sides with
an inaudible chuckle of glee.
Later in the evening the gentlemen
went up to the house, where stood the
three Misses Harrington in shipper
ing row.
But their call there was insipid, and
several OF them returned to the" Stone
Barn. to finish their evening.
Adrian Dulany remained the latest
OF al so late, in fact, that it was he
who escorted grandma-who had DIS
creetly fallen asleep in her big chair
some time ago-and Aileen to the
house under whispering pine boughs,
by the light OF a big round moon.
The three cousins whose list of calls
had long since ended, were yawning in
the parlor.
"Dear mel" cried Selma, as the little
group came in. "Where have YOU
been all day, Aileen?"
"ln the old stone barn chamber,
learning to spin," said Aileen laughing
and coloring.
Juanita looked sharply at her.
What change had subtly crept over
her voice and manner? Then she
looked at Captain Adrian's bright face.
"Take good care of her." said the
young officer, tenderly removing the
heavy shawl from Aileen's shoulder.
:'She has promised to be my wife, be-
fore a great many weeks"
1t was not until Dulany had gone
that the full cannonade of questions
burst on Aileen's devoted head.
Girls, girls! don't all speak at once, +"
said grandma. otis just exactly as
I've always told you. The right one
will be sure to come along if you sit in
the chimney corner and wait. And
that was just what Aileen was. doing
this evening"
And that night when the frost white
stars OF midnight climbed the sky:
"Good-by, sweet New Years Day
the happiest Ihave ever known!"
HerOism of an English Medicla
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