Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-09-01
COUNTRY COUSINS.

Little Lillian was as happy as bird
when mama said Aunt Ruth could
take her to grandmama's lovely farm
house for the whole month of August.
She knew she would have Aunt Ruth's
little boy end girl, Harold and Lucy,
her own cousins, to play with and
that the children would be allowed to
romp and frolic In the fields and
meadows every day and all day long.
In the city, Lillian was never per-
mitted to go out in the sire eft unless
mamma or nurse, or some other
grown-up person was with her, and
and she had to walk on the pavement
then, and watch for street cars and
horses and bicycles and other possible
dangers. So it was no wonder she
clapped her little hands and fairly
danced for joy when the glad tidings
were made known to her of a visit to
her country cousins.
First, there was an exciting journey
by train, the first little Lillian had ever
| taken. 1t was so funny to see houses
and trees racing past the car window,
and to hear the conductor singing out
the names of the stations and to
watch the passengers getting on and
off with their huge queer bundles, of
every shape and size. Then it was
very nice and "comfy" to sit close to
Aunt Ruth and hold her hand tight,
tight, and feel just as safe as if she
were in her own little white cot at
home.
After while, a certain little basket
was opened and Aunt Ruth drew
forth delicious little sandwiches and
some sweet biscuits and a banana,
and box of chocolate creams and a
bottle of sweet milk. 1t was east
indeed, but Lillian never could re-
member what happened after. The
next thing she knew she was in some
body's arms, being lifted into car
riage, and there was the widest blue
sky over her head that she had ever
seen, and nothing but green fields and
big shady trees everywhere around
When she had quite wakened out oil
the deep sleep into which she hao
fallen, she found herself bowling along
pleasant country road bordered with
daisies and many other pretty flowers
whose names she did not know. Ir
very short time, the carriage passed
through wide gateway and along 6
winding drive, when suddenly a big
brick house came in sight and two
little children on the verandah were
shouting "Here they are grandma
they've Gomez
1t was Harold and Lucy waiting
eagerly to welcome the little visitor
from town. Lillian had to submit to ;
great deal of kissing from grandms
| and Aunt Mary and all the rest of tn,
, family before she could go off will
the children to play. But at last sh,
was in the sweet-scented meadow
) knee-deep in clover and tall grass
} and full of delight at being allowed t,
pick as many flowers as she chose.
= The days that followed were fille'
full of happiness for Lillian. Brigh
and early in the morning the children
were out at play, riding in the wheel
8 barrow, raking the hay, climbing int
@ the cherry trees, sitting on the fence
or playing "RiDg Rosy" with iittl
friends from the neighboring farm
:, houses. 1t was all so bright an
n beautiful that Lillian wished it coul
o. last forever. She grew brown an
: rosy and plump, and when the da
Ii came to say good bye to her kin
grandmama and dear little cousins
II you would hardly have thought it wa
, the same child who had come to ther
a month before so pale and fragil
looking that Harold and Lucy wer
y almost afraid to touch her. All tn
d way home Lillian felt sorry for leavin
"a the dear old farmhouse, and it wa
not until she arrived ather own door
y step in town and saw her darlin
+ mother and "dear dad" standing ther
q waiting for their pet, that her fac
!, beamed with joyful smiles once NOR,
- o, how she Rugged them both an
70 chung to them and followed the
" round the house, and when, ate
d supper, they asked her would she Lib
- to go back to "grandmama'su tt
70 morrow, she shook her little golde
Ie head and said mo, no, l like hon
e. the best. "-Erchdnge.