The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-09-18

eioy ohoWou WIG poht w ooop, ohu eiiSy
all sang, and made charming picture.
Agatha played her banjo and leaned
gracefully against Lily, whose gay
Japanese parasol made bright spot
against the dark foliage, and Edith
leaned on her pole. They sang in
manner calculated to draw the fish out
of the water, providing that those flnny
jewels were gifted with musical and
artistic tastes, and presently Edith,
who was captain and lookout also,
heard the sound Of oars.
They're coming; sing that first
verse again.
In few moments skiff containing
three handsome young men came down
the stream, but the unconscious girls
sang on, with downcast eyes, until
Edith dropped her pole, tottered until
the boat rocked, and exclaimed;
"Oh, girls, what shall we dot The
pole is gone"
The singing stopped, the girls
screamed and reached over the side Of
the boat, apparently trying to get the
pole, but really, 1t Is sad to relate,
pushing it out of sight under the lily
pads until 1t floated almost to shore. OF
course these distressed damsels were
promptly rescued by the three young
men, and delightful acquaintance be-
gan. 1t soon appeared that Frank
Lawrence, the eldest, knew Papa An
drews quite well--by name, and had
often been in the city of Riverineet,
and that Robert Soners and Charles
Rich knew cousin Tom, whom the
sisters had not seen for a couple OF
years, but whose acquaintance made a
formal introduction to these young men
quite supertluous, since he was a
most proper person, married and well
to do, living in Chesterfield, where
the young men lived. When Papa
Andrews came up on Saturday evening,
he was pleased to find his daughter
happy at their cheap boarding place in
the society of Cousin TOMS friends. "
There were many boating parties and
picnics, limited to seven people, OF
whom Aunt Clara was the merest no
body, the bare shadow of chaperon
for the attentive young people always
settled her in hammock with mos
quito net over her while they strolled
around The young men described the
village as the stupidest of places, afford
ing neither cigars nor candy, but boxes
of these indispensables were sent fol
to the city, so the young people did not
visit the village, the mail being brought
by one of the gentlemen, as they took
turns in going down for supplies.
There were long evenings on the
porch, when it rained or had rained
and left the grass too wet for walks
and tennis, and there were coy whist
parties, when two of the young people
had to take turns waiting on the porch
while the other four played. The fish
ing was indeed first class, but, as the
prudent Edith observed to her younger
| sisters, it was the catching that con
cerned them most seriously, and when
on comparing notes, after three weeks
stay, they found that kisses had beer
respectfully but earnestly begged for
the fair fishers felt justified in calling
them "nibbles,' and in putting fortf
extra caution and skill in landing thei
prizes.
I'VE must be very careful, now; {
kiss begged for is an extremely promis
ing nibble, but kiss taken or given il
letting him run away with your bait,
said Edith.
Charlie called me dearest" muir
INJURED Agatha.
Robert called me darling" sale
Lily.
THAT all goes for nothing. Pv,
known men to actually propose and b.
accepted and then get up quarre
when they were tired OF the girl. W
can't be too careful l wish we knew
more about them. have mind t,
write to Cousin Tom" said Edith, tn
wise virgin.
but Cousin Tom has gone to som
place in Canada" objected Lily.
LET us say we're going home ant
see how they take it, " suggested Agatha
"You know papa said on Monday tina
he was getting tired of the empt
house."
This suggestion seemed good, ant
that evening each maiden observed t
her attendant in a gently regretfu
tone that these pleasant days woul
soon be at an end, for papa wishe
them to come home. The result wa
pleasing, but not entirely satisfactory
Frank and Robert and Charlie de
clared that their summer joy would en-
as soon as Edith, Lily and Agatha de
parted, and they Immediately propose
to fill the few remaining days with pleas
ant amusements But they propose
nothing else.
81 suppose this sort of thing goes o
all over the world" sighed Lily, whe
| oiO SiSociS "CiC OiiSO l1OiC III Souiiti.
Not in Europe. There the chapt
rons attend to business They hav
all the anxiety, and the girls just sta
quiet and let themselves be married,
answered Edith
"Oh, l wish things were manage
that way in this country 1t is such
nuisance to have to chase after he
and not know what they intend. The
are so deceiving," walled Agatha
IF we American girls sat down an
waited, we should all be old maids
I've seen that sort of thing tried
nice, good, bright girls, and they jul
totally failed Since we're in Americ
we have TO manage in the America
way" said Edith decidedly.
II wish that something would hal
pen. In books the horses run away, {
girls fall into the water, or thunde
storms drive people together In une,
q G