The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-30
SUMMER VISITORS.


We-that is, Mrs. Turtledove and
myself-had just come into possession
Of small house out of town, a cottage
two stories in height and about twelve
feet square, with small cabbage gar
den in the rear and grape vine and a
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 visit" we
had said to every one with whom we
shook hands, as we hade farewell to
the city; ''come in and see our little
place in strawberry time" And every
one had answered.
1--WE 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 mantle. and there was bird in a
cage in the window. Peggy, the ''girl. !"
did the work, and my wife was always
fresh and bright in her white muslins
and knots of ribbons and flowers. She
was growing plump. too. and Mrs.
Turtledove looked well when she was
plump. 1 was thinking of these things
with satisfact on as l opened the gate
of my garden one night and almost
stumbled over Mrs. Turtledove, who,
with glass dish in her hand, was bend
ing over the strawberry bed.
"Oh, Timon" she exclaimed, AS l
saluted her, lido help me. please. I'm
trying to get enough ripe berries for
tea. After Dragging so, l don't want
Miss Mittens to go back to the city and
say she didn't have any. Miss Mittens
came down by the noon train, dear"
Did she?' said l. ':Ah, we'll,
pleased to see her, I'm sure"
Eyes. of course. Timon," said my
wife, very slowly. land hope there's
milk enough. She says she's going to
live on milk. now she is in the coun-
try"
Now, we did not keep a COW, and
we had almost been obliged to 60 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," he said. and he and Mrs.
Fish never touched milk themselves.
We had even suspected the good Fish
of watering this quart of ours; per-
haps, being 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.
Il wish we had cow said l; "per-
haps Peggy could milk her if"
'.Hallo, old fellow!' cried a 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 invitation
and run down and stop awhile. How
do you do, Mrs. Turtledove? l can see
that farm life agrees with you, by your
cheeks"
And we both shook hands with Null
ligan, Fred Mulligan, whom / remem-
Der with sort of qualm, put up at the
Fifth Avenue hotel as general thing,
and was one of the most particular
man about ''his eating"
However, at least l could make him
welcome, so l ushered him into the
the house, spring overcoat, slender UNI
brella, Russian leather travelling bag
and all, and leaving him in the parlor,
went out iuto the kitchen to open the
sardine box-Peggy had way of max
ing chowder of the sardine in the prog
ress--and to assure Mrs. Turtledove that
the small quantity of berries she had
collected would be plenty"
We were rather merry party as we
vat down to tea that night Mr.. Null
Iigan and Miss Mittens had discovered
that they had met before at Saratoga,
and were already very intimate.
They complimented us in chorus.
"How delightful to be country peo-
pie, isn't it?" said Mr.. Mulligan.
s'Indeed it is, said Miss M1ttens.
mature casting her most precious
things at their feet, as one may say
flowers and fruit and-breezes. you
know. 1 fairly pined for the country,
and I hate hotels and strange boarding
houses; so, since I actually have sis
ter in dear Mrs. Turtledove, / thought
I'd throw myself on her charity for the
summer"
"Just as Ifelt," said Mulligan. Said
I: There is Turtledove ready to well
come me with open arms. Why not 60
to him?''
I'm glad to be rural while am
here" said Miss Mittens, Il don't
mean to drink tea or coffee. Imean to
live on milk and fruit here"
"And l." said Mulligan. mo cham
payne for me when I can have milk. "
I felt very glad indeed to hear that he
did not want champagne.
''But, Oh, my DEAR sobbed Mrs.
Turtledove, q little while after the
meal was over, catching me in quiet
corner, ''to think of our first strawber-
ries, and you not to have seen even one
tiny -tonty one. The one I tried to
swallow choked me when l thought OF
that. And don't you think Mr.. Fish
would sell us more milk while they
stay?'
declared that l did not mind about
the berries; that I would make
Fish sell US milk at any price. BY the
way, he did give in at last, and we gave
him two shillings quart. There was
no competition in. the neighborhood.
"And I'll bring berries down from
korru - ,,,orrox,, - co;.l sJThov oro