The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-10-11

1 son. VINO seemed 70 run TO cle&p artlil-
cials aud dollar jewelry, she declined to
take Miss Crab as boarder.
| Mrs. Burns went out Of the room
somewhat 1niffed, for she had already
felt the welcome ten shillings a ,reek
warming her pocket. And, moreover.
she Ind hoped to wind the inexperienced
| town bred girl round her little finger,
whereas it was soon manifest that the
young lady would bend her to her will
and ride roughshod over Burns as well
There was an imperative thrill in the
tones Of her voice that had to be obeyed.
She brought in breakfast for Agnes
meekly enough and found her husband
down on his knees knocking the bricks
out Of the fireplace.
Agnes hastily swallowed her coffee
with her hat on and went out forthwith
to view the truck garden Her father
had established this industry two years
before he died, and the sunny slope aud
sandy soil had given fair return for
the outlay. There was half an acre
in asparagus, now beginning to bear
royalty, another half acre IN straw
berries, white with blossoms but weedy
and neglected in part, as Burns was but
a slow worker and had only his two
clumsy hands to aid him. Quick as a
flash Agnes had settled it in her own
mind that she must have a boy to set to
work on the strawberry bed The big
patchof early peas looked wen, and there
was now handsome show of lettuce
under frames. The garden was in better
condition than she had hoped to find it,
and Agnes exulted. She felt rise within
her an infinite faith in her own practical
ability. New energy and life seemed to
flow to the tips Of her capable fingers.
She was her fathers child, with gift for
getting a lever under the world and not
of the race Of drones and idlers, to which
most of her family belonged.
Now for the chicken yard and the
barn. She meant to have the whole
business thoroughly mastered before the
end of the week. The barn and old
sheds were as slovenly as such places
usually are before the light of science
has shone in on the benighted brain Of
the agriculturist. A few forlorn barn
yard fowls pecked in the refuse and reek
of the Enclosure where two Attorney
cows were penned after milking, and
little white and tan calf, with the sweet
milk dripping from its innocent nose,
was rubbing against its mothers soft
coat. Agnes had been studying book
on hen culture, and had planned a
chicken house on improved principles
for which Burns had been drawing lum
Der, and the new pine boards piled about
gave a fresh resinous SMELL The old
red barn had not been repaired for years,
and water came through the patched
roof Agnes looked at it all with a
critical glance, and reflected on the
probable cost of a new top to the crazy
old structure.
Her saddle horse, Selin, Weighed in the
stall when he heard her step, and stretch
ed his glossy neck and looked about with
a fiery, untamed eye He was coal
black animal, beautiful in form, and
with dash of Arab blood in his veins.
Agnes had been able to retain him among
her personal effects, as he had been one
of the last gifts her father had ever made
her. Though thoroughbred to the last
fiber, Selim was gentle under the saddle
and fleet as the wind. He had never
known the indignity Of harness. Now,
as Agnes approached, Selim whinnied
and stretched out his slender neck to be
caressed. She patted his nose and laid
her cheek on his satin hide, and spoke
softly to him in language that he under
stood.
Poor Se1i1n, how viii you like being
harnessed to the market cart to drag
loads into Littlefeld; you proud. sensi-
tive, thin skinned creature, and yet it is
what you are coming to my bonny nag.
But today is our own and you shall
carry me like bird over the land"
John Burns came out at her Indian
whoop and Selim was saddled. Instantly
Agnes leaped upon his back. scorning all
assistance and not in the least minding
the short skirt Of her blue serge, in fact,
rather exulting in it as means of greater
freedom in sweeping over logs and
bitches.
.'That gal viii break her neck yet"
said Burns, as he stood looking after her
as she few over the fields, making the
smallest matter of brook or stone
wall
YOU'D better be seein after that in
cumbater," said his wife, who had come
out to place some milk pans on edge in
the sun. "She expects the chickens to
be peepin by tonight"
Il can't be out in the lot and in
the stable and in the sparrowgrass
patch. and milkin and chorin all in
the same breath. grumbled Burns. Let
her manage the fool things for herself,
and I'll bet my hat them aigs viii all be
added in less than no time
Meantime, Agnes was taking in great
breaths Of inspiration and freedom as
she bounded away ON Seliln's back and
noted the tender young green of the
fields, or followed water course, Dor.
dered by the blossoned white thorn into
the deep woods She felt she had never
seen the spring as she saw it that day
threading narrow path near the
brawling brook, where the light glirn-
mered on smooth beds of white rock and
spotted the trunks of trees as they leaned
above the pools, sliding in green and
gold sheets over pebbly bottom, and
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