The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-04


old place." was the answer of the strong
young farmer, off we were not so niser-
ably poor. Now my father and mother
are getting old, the other boys have left
home, and l am here trying to make a
living for us three. While we live COM
fortably from the farm and garden, it is
next to impossible to get enough ahead
to return anything to the soil, and if any
large expenses should come upon us
there would be no way but to borrow
money. Country life, as you see it, sir, is
| pleasant; but you can not realize the
| hard times we have if we lose head of
stock, if the tobacco gets cut by the hail,
or spots upon the stringers, OF the oats
come out thin. IL one only had little
ready money to buy machines and make
| improvements"
The sentence was finished with a sigh.
John Penfield was silent, but thought
with glow at his heart how glad he
life of monotony and privation as her
mother had known. For it must be
confessed that Penfeld had done just
what the doctor had predicted, and was
madly in love with the pretty maid
whom he saw always so bright and
lovable, at work, in the early morning,
in the milk room, straining the new milk,
skimming that which was a day old,
pouring the smooth cream into the
churn and taking out the cool, waxy
butter which he had churned for her, as
she washed the pans with the greatest
care and stacked them in shining pyra-
mid in the sun outside the door. Then his
reward was always trimming bowl of
the sweet buttermilk, which he had to
learn to like and was now SO fond of, and
which was delivered to him with firm
little hand and smile that showed the
white teeth that hid behind the rosy lips
OF the dairymaid.
The gentleman had found that Miss
Jennie had good education, and every
one knows that nothing could be more
| delightful under the circumstances than
leading her along into the fair fields of
the best literature. Boxes of books were
ordered, came by express to the hill farm,
and were read aloud under the trees by
John, while the young lady and her
mother sat near with their sewing in
hand Naturally, good Mrs. Brown was
tired first and went into the house to
prepare supper, while the others, not
missing her in the least, talked of the peo-
pie in the books and of life in the city,
which had such charm for the country
girl. When she clasped her hands so
prettily and exclaimed how she longed
to see something of all the brilliant
| gaieties Of New York society, Penfield
had nearly said something imprudent,
but was restrained by the next friendly
and naive remark of the young lady,
which smacked too much Of sisterly
frankness to suit his lovers heart. He
waited, thinking that there was no hurry;
she was learning all the time, and that
he should teach her to love him soon
enough. But, IS the long summer days
wore on and Penfield was we'll, or would
| be when that little miserable hacking
cough should cease, he one day began to
realize that the fellows at the office would
be wanting to take their vacations, and
that it would be no more than fair that
| he should return to business after his
long absence. Then his eyes shone and
| a great throb came into his throat as he
decided to tell Jennie of his love, and
take her to his heart and never let her &C
again from him.
Where is Miss Jennie?" he inquired
Of Mrs. Brown, as he came into the cool,
clean kitchen, where the matron sat with
her knitting, serene in fresh calico
dress and neat, white apron.
az dunno where she is this afternoon"
was the reply, as Mrs. Brown looked
around thoughtfully. Yes, come TO
think, L did see her going down to the
i trees by the foot of the barn lot. 1 dun
no whether she is there yet or not" she
added; "but as your time amt much
more valuable than a settin' hens, per-
baps you might go down there and see."
Mrs. Browns ample bust shook with
silent laughter as she heard the neat re-
tort of her boarder, and he went smiling
into the field. John Pentield was smiling
| with dreamy look in his eyes as he
strobe across the stubble and gained the
side OF the tangled hedges Of blackberry
vines along the fence, for he was thinking
how dainty she would look in some of the
fieecy embroidered mulls which he would
buy her, and he saw vision of her COM
! ing out upon the broad piazza of New
port cottage to meet him in some other
summer not many years distant. She
was so quick to observe and so clever to
initiate that he knew she wonld speedily
fall into the ways of cultivated society.
She could not be awkward, and had so
much sense in her little head that she
would never say shocking things.
Not finding her upon the seat which
he had rugged under the largest tree, he
was about to turn back to the house
when he was startled by voices just be-
yond the stone wall. A sob, and a MUIR
muring voice which he recognized as
Jennie's, arrested his feet and then
deep voice which was very familiar to
him replied in tenderest tones: " Ny
darling. we Tpust he brave. Now father