The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-03-06
The Old Cherry Farm.
by HELEN WHITNEY CLARK.

"Soch a reediklis thing to DOR de-
clared Aunt Lurainey Milford. 81
sh'u'd say Hazel wasn't in her sane
Senses
The Milford connection. far and
near, were terribly exercised over the
fact that Hazel Heatherton had in
vested six hundred dollars for the old
Cherry Farm.
can old place that amt wurth
shueks, they asserted.
When Uncle Hezokiah Milford
died, leaving a thousand dollars to
each Of his two unmarried nieces, the
two girls were looked upon as heir
esses by the numerous kin-foll living
in and around the little village OF
Dripping Springs.
But when Hazel in spite of all OPP
position, insisted on investing six
hundred dollars OF her legacy in the
farm, as already stated, and invited
Aunt Comfort milford to live with
her, their discomfort knew no
bounds.
"She might Of invested her legacy
safe with me, complained Uncle
zeke, can I'd of give her five per
cent intrust on it. She could O. lived
good on that; but no, she must go
an spend her money fust thing fore
Uncle Hezekiah was fairly cold in his
grave"
"That ole place won't grow nothin'
but pusley an cockle-burs," groaned
Aunt Lurainey. "She'll starve to
death on it. shore"
It'll be a Judgement on her, if she
does" declared Uncle Zeke, grimly
shaking his head as he lighted his
cob-pipe with a coal from the fire.
place
And the rest of the kin-folks agreed
with him, and prophesied ali manner
of ill-fortune for Hazel. All, that is,
with the exception of Cousin John
Milford and his wife, Arvllla.
They pushed her in her unpopular
proceeding. Cousin John even went
and mended the roof of the leaky but
picturesque little cottage, which stood
on grassy hillside, sheltered by the
sweeping branches of half dozen or
more black-heart cherry-trees which
had given the place its name.
"It's pretty place, averred Cous-
in John. San Hazel will have a
home there if she amt got nothin'
else. Her an Aunt Comfort IL live
as happy as COWS in a clover-feld."
But the other relatives shook their
heads and drew long faces over Ha'
zels future prospects.
''She might of bought lot in town
if she must have property" they
grumbled.
But Hazel only laughed at their
forebodings.
ST never had home of my own, -
she said, "and I guess the old place
will support me and Aunt Comfort at
well as the robins that live up in the
cherry trees.
And when the three rooms of the
cottage we're secured as clean as soar
and water could make them, the walls
newly whitened, and the rooms filled
with pretty household furniture Haze
had bought, and which Cousin Johr
brought out with his oxteam, tn,
young mistress of Cherry Farm felt
serene content in her possessions tina
all the ill-natured forebodings Of tn
Milford clan failed to disturb.
"Thar you mir, Hazel-snug as
bug in rug said Cousin John
hopping his face with his red cottol
handkerchief, as he started the lum
bering oxen on their homeward way
sAn' when you git yer plumber all pu
to rights, me an Aryilly'll come al
make you Welt. +"
'Be sure you do" cried Haze
brightly. "And when the cherrie
are ripe, Arvilla can have all she want
to put up"
MeIzena Milford, Uncle Hezekiah
other legatee, was no less loud in he
aenunciation of Hazel's investment