The Van Buren press., 1893-07-01

sir. Woul
you keer to come along"
Dea Stones stout little horse and
rocmy carriage stood before the farm
house gate, and as he addressed me Mrs.
Stone appeircdin the low doorway and,
herround face beaming good-naturedly,
declared that ride, us the morning was
SO fine, "would do you jest power
o. good" needed very little urging,
and was soon comfortably seated by
my genial host, driving swiftly along
the woody road.
How delightful to weary, broken
down man is the fresh, fair country!
Already felt at home with these folk,
though the week had not yet passed
since came among them in obedience
to the doctors peremptory command.
Careful nursing, good food, and, best OF
oil, the warm, personal interest that
the deacon and his wife took in my
well-being, had ''set me up wonderful
ly," as the saying goes. Sweet with
the breath of summer, warm winds
swept past us over waving meadows
and sunny hillsides, thrushes fluted
from the heart of distant trees, and
farmhouses here and there CLEANED
Whitley in the sunshine as we flew past
them and followed the old road, wind
ing
AS old roads will.
Here to q farmhouse
And there to mill,
till suddenly, at the turning OF way
side lane, the deacon drew rain, and
waited for the woman and little child
coming along it, look of pleasure
lighting up his honest, gray eyes.
"Hullo, Huldy" he shouted, cheer
ily, chow air ye? Amos, too, is gittin'
putty spry, amt hep"
Her laughing reply came back to us,
and picking up the child, boy of some
two or three summers, she came for
ward to shake hands with the deacon,
and was accordingly presented to
"Mis' Cones"
Such pretty picture of womanhood!
A supple, young figure, in close-fittlng'
blue cotton dress, with snowy ker-
chief clasping the firm, white throat,
and the soft light falling family
through those close, green leaves upon
the masses Of gold-brown hair that
crowned her we'll poised head, and the
little curls straying idly across her
broad. low brow. One arm was thrown
about the little chap, who nestled close
to her rounded chin, his yellow curls
stirred slightly by the breezes and
ROSY thumb In his wee mouth. How
her dark eyes lighted up and the sem
sitive lips smiled on him, as with the
look of shy bird, safe on his mothers
tender breast, he watched us.
"Ef Jeff wants to see the fines thing
ont Wit. he had better jist pack you an
mar. an Amos, enter that new kerridge
of his'n an drive over to my place.
not the fines mowin' machine fer miles
roun', Huldy, en- mind ye don't 1urgit
ia tell him" the deacon said to her.
Smilinrly she promised, when the dea-
con interrupted her. "You amt one 10
furpit the road to stones farm, air ye.
Huidy?" he questioned, in evidently
such n teasing manner that the rich red
flooded royalty her round smoo'h
cheeks.
"No.r and she looked up frankly at
him "You were always our best friend
in those days, deacon" she answered
with such sweet simplicity that the OLD
mans face grew bright with pleasure
ss he watched her.
"Wal, wal, ye know allus did have
,,yful soft sort of spot in my OLD
haart for the gals" and he laughed in
sa,;sted manner. Then after few
;nnni,ies regarding ''the folks" on
both sides, and the hope expressed tnat
.hs ~ ,yonld he ''over to Mendham for the