The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-05-26
Letting The Old Homestead.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


"I dunno's I've any objection TO LET
you hev the old place." said Simeon
Lilton, as he stood leaning on his
hoe. me and Elvira were cal
culatin' TO go TO Hebron and live
with our married daughter. When
folks gets to be old like US, forty
acre farms most too big to handle.
But don't deny that | hate to leave
it wuss than the toothache." A."
Down under the hill the young
leaves OF the naples were breaking
out into n cloud of green mist, the
aspens shook their woolly tassels,
and a little brook, half hidden by
tangled briers, made merry gurglc
on its way to Linden Lake.
"Hebron's nice place" medit-
atively remarked Simeon, as he flung
a clod at q marauding crow pcrched
on the nearest tree, "but faint like
the open country rs me and Elvira
has always been used to-"
"Then | may become your ten
anti" said Philip Pindar, taking out
month, for year certain, with the
refusal for longer term in case you
do not yourself wish TO return
"Them's my terms" succinctly
spoke the old farmer, wiping his
leathery forehead with spotted
cotton handkerchief.
II looked at the house yesterday, "
added Pinder, "and with few alter
ations-"
Il don't calculate TO pay for no
alterations" shrewdly spoke up old
Simeon.
"At my expense, of course" said
Pindar.
"Dunno's I've any objection to
that"
"With few trifing alterations, "
went on Pinder, cit can be adapted
to my needs. It's pretty place-a
very pretty place!'
IL s'pose you'll be pullin' down
the old wellsweep and cuttin' away
the apple trees ?" said Lilton, un-
easily. Folks is so fnicky."
"By no means. The well-sweep is
worth ten dollars n year to me in
picturesqueness. No money would
induce me to pull it down. But
shall certainly lay water pipes and
drain tiles through the orchard, and
make whatever improvements ar,
necessary. Here's the rent for the
first month to bind the bargain, and
the paper will be ready for your sig
nature rs soon rs | take possession y
II don't want no papers," saiC
Lilton." I'm one OF them rs theil
word is as good as their bond any da,
in the week !"
Business Is businessw good-hu
moredly spoke Mr.. Pindar, rs he re
pocketed his leather wallet and
strolled away toward the railwa,
station, while old Simeon renewed
his labors with the hoe and rake.
There sha. { no city feller hay,
it to say as Sim Lilton left the farm
in bad condition." said he.
Consequently, he was very tire,
when, after liberal ablutions in tn
wooG-shed and severe toweling o
his old gray head, he came in TO an
swer the MONDAY summons Of tn
dinner hour.
'Well, Elviry," said he, beginning
on the corned beef and cabbage
i've done a good stroke o busines
this mornin'."
Mrs. Lilton looked into the teapot
clapped the lid down and set it o.
the tray ready to pour the Refreshing
beverage.
"Well," said she, in a brisk, bird
like way that she had, "ef you'v
beat me in that line, you've don
pretty well, that's all I've got t
sayv'
''Hain't sold the old chist o. draws
hev YEP" queried Lilton, with hi
knife, well laden with greasy cal
bage, on the way to his mouth.
"Better'n n that !" said Mrs. Liltor
exultantly. "I've let the place !"
"What !"
"I've--let-the-place reiterate
the old woman, with great distinc
ness and some asperity. ITO yer
nice young lady with two littl
sisters, as is thinking of CROWN
roses and carnations for n New Ior
florist, And here's the first month
rent, so there shan't be no backil
out OF the bargain on either side,
laying down clean ten-dollar moi