Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-01-30

CAS Wuy. &AO 0SOCCo "a IhO oSA4OOA
deestrict are trying to find boardin
place for Miss Grab, the new teacher.
The jerks folks would take her for two
dollars week and let her do her own
washin and ironin, but their victuals is
pretty poor, and the trustees would be
willin to pay twenty shillins Mebbe
she'd be company for you nights, miss.
If you'd furnish a room in your part of
the house wouldn't mind givin meals
and we'd go shares on the school money.
She's got young man that comes Sun
days over from Spring Village to take
her buggy ridin, but he's quiet, and
don't believe you'd mind him morn a
chair. There goes Miss Crab now on
her way to the school house, and you can
take squirt at her if you choose"
Agnes glanced out of the little win
dow, and after surveying the young per
son, who seemed to run to cheap artif-
Gals and dollar jewelry, she declined to
take Miss Crab as boarder.
Mrs. Burns went out of the room
somewhat miffed, for she had already
felt the welcome ten shillings q week
warming her pocket. And, moreover
she had hoped to wind the inexperienced
town bred girl round her little finger,
! young lady would bend her to her will
! and ride roughshod over Burns as we'll
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, AMI the sunny slope and
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
q slow worker and had only his two
clumsy hands to aid him. Quick as a
fash Agnes had settled it in her own
mind that she must have boy to set to
work on the strawberry bed. The big
patch of early peas looked well, and there
was now a 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 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
| av6 Of tho Tho horn oy16 old
sheds were as slovenly as such place !
usually are before the light of scienc I.
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 a
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
|
probable cost of a new top to the crazy
old structure
Her saddle horse, Selim, Weighed in the
stall when he heard her step, and stretch
ed his glossy neck and looked about with
fiery, untamed eye. He was a coal
black animal, beautiful in form, and
with a dash of Arab blood in his veins.
Agnes had been able to retain him among
| L.. II L, Id L.
Of the last gifts her father had ever made
her. Though thoroughbred to the last
fiber, Selim was gentle under the saddle
and feet as the wind He had never
known the indignity of a 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 Selim, how will y GU 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 a means of greater
freedom in sweeping over logs and
bitches
THAT gal will break her neck vet, s"
said Burns, as he stood looking after her
as she few over the fields, making the
| H. - -
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