Middletown transcript., 1901-03-16
!. Farmer Els Vacation -.
BY ALICE BROWN.

elderberry wine"
Like her husband, she was vaguely
excited she began to feel as if life would
be all holidays. At noon they stopped
under the shadow of an elm tree which,
from its foothold in field, completely
arched the road, and there they ate a
lunch of pie and doughnuts, while the
horses, freed from their headstalls, plac-
idly munched generous feed of oats near
by. Hattie and her mother accepted
this picnicking with an apologetic amuse-
ment, and when one or two passers-by
looked at them, they smiled little at
vacancy, with the air of wishing it under
stood that they were by no means ac-
customed to such irregularities.
al guess they think we're gipsies,"
said Hattie, as one carriage rolled past.
"Well, they need MT trouble them
selves" returned her mother, rising with
difficulty to brush the crumbs from her
capacious lap. 81 guess I've got as good
an extension-table at home as any of en-"
But Eli ate sparingly, and with pre-
occupied and solemn look.
Land, father p said bis wife, you
amt eat no morn a bird I" And he
answered
81 guess Pll go over to that well and
get drink of water. l drink more'n /
eat when amt workin'" But when he
came back, carefully bearing tin pail
brimming with cool, clear water, his face
expressed strong disapprobation, and he
smacked his lips scornfully
dreadful fiat water |" he said. 'sTastes
as if it comes out O. the cistern." But
the others could find no fault with it,
and Serene drained the pail.
Pretty good call it," he said, and
Mrs. Pike reioined:
/" You always was pretty particular
about water, father"
But Eli still shook his head, and ejacu-
lated Brackish, brackish p as he began
to put the bit in Dolls patient mouth.
He was thinking, with passion of
loyalty, of the clear, ice-cold water at
home, which had never been shut out by
a pump from the purifying airs of heaven,
but lay where the splashing bucket and
chain broke every day the image of the
fern and moss. His throat grew parched
and dry with longing. When they were
within three miles of the sea, it seemed
to them that they could taste the saltness
of the incoming breeze the road was
ankle deep in dust; the garden flowers
were glaring in their brightness. 1t was
a new world. And when at last they
emerged from the marsh-bordered road
upon ridge of sand, and turned sudden |
corner, Mrs. Pike faced her husband in |
triumph.
"There, father" she cried. "There
It isp'
But Eli's eyes were fixed on the dash
board in front of him. He looked pale. |
"Why, father" said she. impatiently,
amt you goin' to look! It's the sea p'
" Yes, yes," said Eli, quietly; "byme- |
by, Pm goin' to put the horses up fnst.'
"Well, 1 never !'' said Mrs. Pike; and |
as they drew up on the sandy tract where
Serene had previously arranged place |
for their tents, she added almost fretfully,
turning to Hattie, +" 1 dunno what's come
over your father. There's the water, and
he won't even cast his eyes at it"
But Hattie understood her father, by
some intuition of love, though not of
likeness.
"Don't you bother him, ma," she
said. "He'll make up his mind to it
pretty soon. Here, let's lift out these
little things, while they're unharnessin',
and then they can get at the tents"
Mrs. Pixies mind was diverted by the
exigencies of labor, and she said no
more but after the horses had been put
up at a neighboring house, and Serene,
red-faced with exertion, had superin-
tended the tent raising, Hattie slipped
her arm through her fathers, and led
him away.
"Come, pa," she said in a whisper;
" les you and me climb over on them
rocks"
Eli went, and when they had picked
their way over sand and pools to a head
land where the water thundered below,
and salt spray dashed up in mist to their
feet, he turned and looked at the sea.
He faced it as soul might face Almighty
Greatness, only to be stricken blind there
after for his eyes filled painfully with
slow, hot tears. Hattie did not look at
him, but after while she shouted in his
Ear, above the outcry of the surf;
Here, pa, take my handkerchief.
1on't know how't is about you, but this
spray gets in my eyes,"
Eli took it obediently, but he did not
speak he only looked at the sea. The
TWO sat there, chilled and content, until
Iix o'clock, when Mrs. Pike came calling [
20 them from the beach with dramatic |
shouts of Ia
"Supper's ready! Sereno's built a
ourn-fre, and I've made some tea !" ]
Then they slowly made their way back to 1
he tents, and sat down to the evening [
neal. Serene was content, and Mrs.
Pike bustling and triumphant the mere
lct of preparing food had made her feel &
1t home
Well, father, what think ?" she
asked, smiling exuberantly as she passed
him his mug of tea. "Does it come up i
10 what you expected ?''
Eli turned upon her his mild, dazed
Eyes.
81 guess it does," he said gently. Il
That night they sat upon the shore
while the moon rose and laid in the
water her majestic pathway of light. Eli
vas the last to leave the rocks, and he lay
lown on his hard couch in the tent with
,ut speaking.
81 wouldn't say much to father"
IL L ~ |