West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-05-31

village up in New England.
Charles L. narny. head of the great
jewelrs house, was a, Poland Spring House
enjoying the Maine mountains aud climate.
and one afternoon went for long walk. lie
didn', find the COW pastures aud black
berry plots as smooth walking as it is in
Genital Park, hut it was beautiful. lie
went on and on.
Al last he stopped to take his bearings
IL was lost. Nothing lut stretches Of
sweet fern, dotted here aud there by giant
ball ,histles, covered the vast hillsides
around him.
Mr.. Tiffany did what any sensible man
would have done. He steered 10y the sun,
and after an hour and half of struggling
through blackberry brambles aud over beds
Of ferns and ground hemlock he came out
ON rocky road AT the top of the next hill
was tiny village with white houses
against the blue of the sky.
Weary and worn he walked up to the
place. Ills clothes were torn. lie did not
look like the grea, New York jeweler. The
blackberry prickers bad scratched his hands
and face. Blu, he enjoyed the adventure.
II was new experience. lie hadn't the
least idea where he was.
Once in the village he recognized the
peculiar dress Of the women and the long hair
of the men. Il was the Shaker village two or
three miles from Poland Spring House
Over the door Of one of the houses was
'frrustees' Office. Visitors arc Always
Welcome" Seeing n cool-looking we'll
with an old-fashioned sweep, he went up TO
the door with the intention of asking for a
drink.
Aunt Aurelia, one Of the sweet-faced ten
der-hearted eldresses of the village, an
swered the bell The sight of the weary,
travel-slaned stranger told its own story.
No knight of the road was ever turned away
from that hospitable door. And before the
rich New Yorker realized that he was taken
for one in distress he was seated in the
quiet sitting room and the women in the
Shaker kitchen below were hurriedly pre-
pairing lunch in Aunt Aurelia's private
dining room.
The sister herself came in with a dust
broom and pitcher of iced lemonade.
Once or twice Mr.. Tiffany was about to ex-
plain who he was and to say that he was a
guest at the Poland Spring House, but she
gave him no chance.
'It is a dreadful thing to be out Of work,
sir, but thee should thank God thee has thy
strength and health" said Aunt Aurella as
he slipped his lemonade in refreshing
mouthfuls.
al am not exactly out of work, my good
woman. but if there is anything can do to
help the community
"Nay, nay Thou art tired, and the
men have finished the hayiug Thou shalt
rest little, and then 60 thy way again"
Mr.. Tiffany began to enjoy the ex.
perience. y glance at the little mirror in
the room explained why she took him for
wanderer A little after, in spite of his
protests, he was sitting in the dining room
down Stairs, with the Shaker sister bus,ling
around the room.
Mr.. Tiffany has enjoyed many good meals
in the course Of his active life lie knows,
for instance. what dinner can be at the
Holland House or the Waldorf. Astoria.
Bu, in all his life he has never enjoyed
lunch as he did that one.
Perhaps the romance Of II added TO the
flavor Of the. meal. The fact that every
thing served came from the farm Of the
Shakers was another thing. The light
bread. he was told, was made of -four
ground out in their own mill. The honey
was from tho row Of hives down among the
clover in the orchard the preserves from
the dark cellars the berries from the sunny
gardens, where the little Shaker lassies in
their demure sunbonnets worked all day
pulling weeds and killing time.
Az last the guest could eat no more and
rose with a sigh Of regret From the back
window Of the room could be seen the
woodshcd and a pile Of wood
"Who splits all that wood ?" asked Mr..
Tiffany.
ooh, the boys do It. There was a poor
old fellow along here a month ago who
split nearly a cord in one day We gave
him suit Of clothes for it,"
Mr. Tiffany glanced al his soft hands and
hesiiaicd. ~ am not much ON splitting
wood, he admitted, "but-"
"Nay, nay, thou AIT too tired and have
been too far to-day. Come up TO the sitting
room and rest, and then go thy way"
Sister Aurelia led Passing the kitchen
door she whispered 10 one Of the sisters.
When Mr.. Tiffany finally set out on his
journey over the hills, Sister Aurelia quietly
pushed paper box into his hands. lie
took it wonderiugly
81 hope that ihce'll find work soon" she
said chccffuly.
'T hope 10, said he. lifting his hat.
"Some Of these poor stfsgglcrs are real
gentlemen, Ada" said Aurelia, as she
closed The door Of The trustees building and
went back 90 hcg duties.
Mr Tiffany went down The road briskiy.
huggiog the pasieboard box and wondering
what was 10 u. Up on a side hil Shaker
farmer was shouting 20 his oxen. over the
fence in the grave yard where generations of
Shaker sisters and brothers sleep side by
side, lot Of girls 10 drab dresses and broad.
trimmed hats were playing al keeping house.
iie hurried by them, buggiug his box. AZ
last. oui Of sight Of the houses. he sat down
on a siope and opened the box.
Three ham sandwiches. four doughnnts.