The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-20


seen the ugliest thing in our village.
And to prove the truth of my asser-
ton, we are going to take you home
by the longest way around. Your
trunk will go direct by the stage"
The air was fresh, the carriage COM
Portable, 1 leaned back prepared to
enjoy every minute of my outing. l
noticed that Meg's attire was as taste
full as it had always been, and that
while her husband wore the conven-
tional summer negligee shirt, his
linen was spotless and his clothes
perfect in fit. His hat was lifted
frequently, for we passed carriage
after carriage containing gentlemen
who had come out on the same train
with myself.
"These are our summer commut-
ers," explained John Hope. 81 usu-
ally reach home by this train, but to-
day | came out earlier, that l might
have the pleasure of taking you and
Meg on this drive"
We soon left the village with its
small houses behind us; then we
passed some handsome residences,
and, still following an excellent road,
began to climb a long hill. When
we reached the summit, l decided
that the view was we'll worth the as
cent. Below us lay fertile, cultivated
fields, dot, d here and there with
farm houses, small stretches of wood
land, and one or two church spires.
Beyond the plain was range after
range of wooded hills.
"Since you like that view," said
Meg, eve will take you home. For
l am anxious to see what you think
of the secluded corner Ct the globe
in which we are hidden"
eff it is all as pleasant as this, |
shall surely approve of your choice"
1 replied, truthfully.
The horses heads were turned
homewards, and we were swiftly car
ried through shaded hemlock woods,
fragrant with resinous odors and mu-
steal with songs of thrushes. Most
of the road led down hill, until sud-
den turn brought us out into the
open. and once more we began to
climp a wooded ascent. At the top
of this the horses turned into gate
and followed winding road through
a grove of chestnuts.
"This is home" said Meg, softly,
as the road swept around to the front
of house-rambling, roomy and pic
turesque.
I caught my breath with surprise.
The grove through which we had
passed was at the back OF the house.
In front, where we now stood, lawn
sloped down to silver lake that
rippled into gold under the light
of the sinking sun. Between us and
the lawn stretched beds of roses that
shook their fragrance out on the even
ing breeze until the whole air was
rich with perfume. The porch was
EMPOWERED by honeysuckle; to the
left lay the leafy orchard, from which
robins and orioles chanted vespers;
beyond and around all reached the
calm, softly purple hills. Two SEN
fences leaped naturally to my lips as
| gazed. / said them in half whis-
per:
"'The garden of the Lord AS the
mountains are round about Jerusa-
lem."
Meg turned and kissed me impul-
sively.
81 am satisfied" she said, with
happy catch in her voice. 81 knew
you would love it. And now you
must come in and see the baby"
my DEAR" said Meg, after dinner
that same evening, tomorrow after
noon give a clover tea in your
honor"
"a clover teal 1t sounds delightful,
but where did you get the idea?"
"Out of this massive brain, partly;
but l was emboldened to launch out
into new and essentially rural en-
tertainment by an incident in Mrs.
WhitneY's Hitherto" which l have
been reading for the dozenth time.
Do you remember the outdoor fete
Anstiss gave at the farmi"
l had very hazy recollection of it.
Meg produced the book.
This description is what decided
me to be as brave as Anstiss, and at
tempt to entertain my friends as city
people cannot do. Anstiss says of
her party in the meadows under the
clear heavens:
equals whistled out in the fields;
a single whippoorwill in the skirt of
Al L