The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-12

Bucolic Delights not Always Agreeable
Either in summer or Winter.

For The 1imesl
Most people 60 to the country in summer.
They go to get rested up to get fresh air
and to get ont OF the hustle. rustic and hustle
of the city life. They come home in the fall
with ch.lls and ticks. My last opportunity 10
view the broad face of nature was in mid
winter, In summer my pAilanthrOpic mind
is KEEP, busy telling the fOrtunates who can
not leave town how the hot sun and decOn-
posing crabs and sea-weed are killing those
who have sought the torrid sands Of the sea-
shore. and how the chgoes and sour butter
milk are torturng those who are willing the
time away beneath the shade OF some singing
pine thcket.
Bro mdrld Grimes had so often pressed me
with an invitation to go OUT with him and
ENJOY the hunting, which there WAS nothing
else ~ do at that season, that one afternoon
found rs Jogging along 10 the thump. thump
of q loose board IN the cart and to The dane
ing OF q box half filed with sawdust from
which protrided the neck of an ominous-
looking black bottle. Cold great guns. 1t
soon began o. rain. and though feeling niseT-
able ! tried to take the situation with that
perfect indifference tnat made Grimes a hero
in NY estimation Colds the devil" he
mGttered by way Of an excuse for drawing
the bottle from the box "jiavr warmer"
be asked PAST over, / replied. with
shiyer and compressed lips Arctic waves
were playing up and down my back and to
Keep i'm seaJ on the springng board | had
taken several turns around the trap stick
with one le2, while the other hung down and
danglcd 80 as 10 cause my sock T. settle over
the shoe TOP. thus leaving exposed to the
mercies Of the wind and rain an arid extent of
atteuudted SHIN.
We arrived at length. and sliding from our
cramped position, Grimes started IN search of
a lantern shouting for me to keep out Of
Their win OF ther dogs" After preparing TO
climb back in the cart at the first bark of
dog reasoned that there wasn't animal heat
enough in me to attract the notice of a dog
and stood feeling my nose. which / knew had
taken on Il lovely tinge of purple, and exc
cutting sort OF baTn-dOOr zig until Grimes
came ,ack with the light. / made great
ado about unhitching on my side Of the horse,
until. ike an avalanche Of bricks, the back
band chain came rafting across my head,
breaking q hole through the brim Of my hat,
That nearly broke my heart. 1t had been
presented 10 me some years before by com
mittee Of the old Maids Prospective So"
bv way OF compensation for notice ] had
written The Times Of one OF their meetings.
beginning. "A brilliant assemblage of grace
and beauty" | then and there took mental
oath % get ont of this country as soon as pos
slDe though ] must take some pains and
hide sny discontinue from those good pee
pie.
The girls had retired when we entered the
house, though good Mrs q. was very solicit
Gus concerning my health.
We'll. / declar" she exclaimed. yer as
blues goose an thin's a hay-fork" Luke,
IA younger brother of Broomfeld. sat with
br al grin on bis face. his bare feet toasting
before the fire. and his great toes working to-
gether like a, pair OF garden shears. We had
a supper of frozen milk, frozen sauce and cold
sweet potatoes.
Before lying down that night searched in
all my pockets III the vain hope of finding
half-dollar, for knew that no excuse might
offer would induce Grimes to get me back to
the city so soon. and some other means must
be devised. About o'clock A. Nj. we were
seated at breakfast :. Ann Eliza looked plump
and shiny, but Mary Jane was sallow and APP
peared TO have acquired stoop since had
seen her last Yes" said Mrs g., as In an
OF my thoughts. MARY James been
llin' since las summer. She was pestered
with some kind OF collie, an long towards fall
andis. and what with one thing an another
she amt Strengthened out yet"
The same day over at "Widower brakes"
IS the nearest neighbor of the Grimes was
,alled, wrote an epitaph for his wife's new
leadboard. and. as he insisted on my takinga |
DIG for chanting such high praises of the |
dear departed was not long in bargaining |
With darAey TO take me back forthwith to |