The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-01-29
The Old Cherry Farm.
BY HELEN WHITNEY CLARK.

'iSech reediklis thing to dol" de.
slnred Aunt Lurainey Milford. 81
sh'u'd say Hazel wasn't in her sane
ssnses"
Tho Milford connection. far and
near, were terribly exercised over the
fact That Hazel Heatherton had in
vested six hundred dollars for the old
Cberry Farm.
San old place that amt wurth
shucks" they asserted.
When Uncle Hezekiah Milford
died, leaving thousand dollars to
each of his two unmarried nieces, the
two girls were looked upon as heir
esses by the numerous kin-folk 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 Mulford to live with
her. their discomfort knew no
bounds.
S'She might of invested her legacy
safe with me-" complained Uncle
zeke, ''an' 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.
''Tnat ole place won't grow nothin'
but pusley an cockle- burs," groaned
Aunt Lurainey. ''She'll starve to
death on it, shore"
Itn 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 all manner
81 hl-fortune for Hazel. All, that is,
with the exception of Cousin John
huiford and his wife, Arvilla.
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.
"lt's pretty place, averred Cous-
IN John. can Hazel will have a
home there if she amt got nothin'
else Her an Aunt Comfort II live
- happy as COWS in a clover-f field"
But the other relatives shook their
heads and drew long faces over Ha-
zel's future prospects.
< -She might OF bought lot in town
il she must have property" they
grumbled.
But Hazel only laughed at their
Sorsbodings.
81 never had home Of my own."
she said, ''and I guess the old place
viii support me and Aunt Comfort as
veil as the robins that live up in the
cherry trees"
And when the three rooms OF the
cottage wern secured as clean as soap
and water could make them, the walls
nswly whitened, and the rooms filed
With pretty household furniture Hazel
hsd bought, and which Cousin John
brought out with his oxteam, the
young mistress of Cherry Farm felt a
serene content in her possessions that
I'll the ill-natured forebodings of the
Milford clan failed to disturb.
''Thar You air, Hazel-snug as a
bug in rug said Cousin John,
mopping his face with his red cotton
handkerchief, as he started the lum-
herring oxen on their homeward way.
An when you git yer plunder all put
70 rights. me an Arvilly'll come an
make You a visit."
'sBe sure you do" cried Hazel
brightly. Sand when the cherries
are ripe, Arvilla can have all she wants
- put up"
Nslzsna Mulford, Uncle Hezekiah's
Gthsr lega1se, was no less loud in her
dsnunciation OF Hazel's investment.
''How does she ever expect to git
narried I'd like to know" she com
nented, ''away off in that lonely old
place. with nobody but poky Aun