St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-11-30
A. SUMNER VACATION.
How Barbara's Love Of Advent.
ure Was 0ratifled

1--WE might just as we'll have beer
standing behind the counter in New
York all these ten days." sighed Bar
bara Hale. for all the Out-of-the-way
adventures we've hadr'
''Who wants out-of-the-way advent
ures?" said Dorcas Dunn. scornfully.
Behind the counter. indeedr'
chimed in Mary Vannecker. Can
you breathe in clover-scented air like
this behind the counter? Can you &c,
the mountain view like this from
Sixth avenue? What more would the
girl want should like to know"
Barbara sighed once moro and shook
her head.
lit is all SO tame" she said. II
isn't what l expected at all"
The three girls-Barbara- DOrcas
and Mary-wers sitting on a hill under
the shade of grand old cedar tree
Barbara. who had once taken a quar-
ter's lessons in drawing, had sketch
board on her lap and was trying-with
but little success. it must be owned
to reproduce the lovely ribbon-like
curves of the river that wound its way
through the valley below.
MarS had her needle-work In her
lap and DOrcas, with her hands
claspe>. under her head. had long given
up all attempt to read the paper-cov-
cred novel that she had brought with
her.
1.-The sky and the sunshine are 90
much better" she said.
They were three shop-girls-bright
ambitious. spirited young things. full
of life and aspirations. even though
they were kept down by the force of
circumstances; and they dubbed to-
gether their slender resources in order
to enjoy their vacation to better ad-
vantage.
Dorcas, the business member of the
firm. had bought an excursion ticket
first, and travelled out to Schepp's val
ley to see what could be done. But it
is needless to say that the hotel and
clearinghouse prices were far beyond
their simple means.
lis there no place, said she. where
We could obtain one room and the very
simplest fare for less money!"
'.You might try Old Man Norris"
said the portly dame who kept the VAL
ley House. 'It's a quiet place. and
Mrs. Morris she amt no great of a
cook. but there's them as has boarded
there. I'm told"
where is it?" eagerly asked Dor
cas-.
And the landlady went to the door
to point out a slender blue thread of
smoke that was curling up heaven
ward from a mass of woods on a dis
tant hill. and once more Dorcas set
forth on her pilgrimage, this time with
success.
She engaged enc room. The board.
to be sure, was plain. the beds a coarse
husk mattress. with a blanket spread
on the floor for Dorcas herself. the
furniture homemade and implanted.
But there was a grove of pine woods |
In the rear; the blackbirds piped their |
silver flutes all day long. and the bees
darted in and out of the red lilies by |
he garden wall. and our three hero
ines believed themselves to be in par
ldise.
But even as Barbara thus bewailed
herself. a portentous shadow swept
across the sun, and looking around
hey saw that a mass of livid purple
.hunder clouds had piled themselves
,p along the western sky. while distant
and now and then sud-
len fash, announced the coming of q
torn.
Dorcas sprang to her feet. Barbara
,egan hurriedly to fold up her sketch
M apparatus. Mary put her thimble
md scissors in her pocket
I'VE must get home as quickly as
,ossible!' cried all three.
But in availing themselves of q short
ut across . patch of woods they got
lost The sun set behind
he purple battlement Of clouds. the
usk fell quickly in these dense woods,
nd the rain began to patter down in
uge drops.
Barbara, the aspirant after advent.
re. began to cry. /
I'VE are lostw she said.
sLost? Nonsensew said brave Dor
AZ. when ! can see the railway track
Inning down below. Who ever got
,st close to a railway line? Let's make
,r the track"
"And get run over" lamented Bar