The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-03-18
T w .
NJ IR DAS
BY Clinton
Dangerfield
Copyright, 1902, by the 5. S. Mcclure
Company


city boys delight to whole month in
the country.
That he had never seen his aunt or
uncle before did not trouble him IN the
least. He had been brought up in II
wholesome belief In the kindness of
human ma Ire in gen, raj and showed
ii 50 frankly that people Invariably
turned their lest side toward this sun
ny faced lad Of ten.
His uncle came hurrying down the
box trimmed path To meet him.
Pm glad ter see We, real glad" he
declared warmly lid n come myself
stead of sendin' Lucas. but I've had
the rheumatic considerable lately"
The boy paused second ut the door
step 10 remark on the beauty of two
full lenyed and rruited apple trees
which grew. almost mt the threshold.
one on cach side But to his surprise
his uncle scowled slightly and hurried
him into the house.
Only the CHEEKY voice of the fire
welcomed him Herbert turned ques-
tioningly to his uncle.
Aunt? Is she well?"
Jonas Alwyn showed momen'ary
confusion before the boys clear
glance Then he said hastily:
We'll oh, yes; but she Amt to home
Jest now won't be fer several days"
Time sped swiftly. There WAS SO
much TO see and to do. True, his I'M
cles disposition varied from extreme
cheeriness to fits of moody abstraction.
He proved TO be SO skillful n cook that
he filled his nephew with wonder.
IN bet aunt's pancakes don't beat
yours" he remarked one morning. his
mouth full u light cakes and sirup
making the compliment triie indis
tinct.
Jonas started, then pushed away his
coffee as though something had affect
ed his appetite.
They're a sight better" he said so
gloomily that Herbert laughed out
right.
Il didn't think you'd be sensitive on
the subject. uncle. When she comes,
I'll tell her what you said. Have you
heard from her lately2'
Not to say lately"
Mother thought she was here when
you wrote" went on Herbert.
His uncle roseaeXcltedly.
"Ye don't mean It," he declared We
hemently. "No; We don't mean it.,
cause We don't know nawthin' about
1t. But she amt set foot In this house
for eight year come next November"
Herbert rose, pale in his turn.
I'm sorry" he faltcred Il never
i<new-mother doesn't know-that any
thing had-gone wrong"
"Eyerything's gone wrong" said his
uncle miserably. Suddenly he clutchcd
his nephew and hurried him to the
door, then down In the pathway, where
he faced him about before the two
fruit trees.
This one" said his uncle, waving
his right hand much as If he were In
Producing duchess, lis Miranda Sweet,
and this one" n wave to the left and
frOwn. lis Miranda Sour.
Herbert smothered Il desire to laugh.
"Oh. Named after my aunt?'
Jest so, Them two are seedlin's.
an | planted 'em the spring she went
away. It's mighty queer that they
come true ter the names | give EN-!
As ter her goin'-that wuz Il misunder-
standin'. She's got prop'ty of ier own,
about eZ much eZ | own, an she's
llvin' on it ten miles away. | amt
lie choked little-"I amt seen her
sence that spring mornin' when she
an me had it out In the kitchen. |
watched her bunnit 80 round the turn,
an'-an' | amt heard n word OF her
'cept what the neighbors let drop"
Since she's only ten miles away"
said Herbert with all the stralghtfor-
ward confidence of youth, II should
misunderstanding"
That's jest what can't do" re-
turned his uncle with extreme moOdl-
ness Every time | start an I've
started more'n onct, suthln pulls me
back. do b'lleve It's Miranda Sour"
Miranda Sour"
when she went away, | named
them two seedlln's fer her Miranda
Sweet" his voice faltered, ito mind
me Of how purity she looked the day
she an me stood up before the preach.
or. She was the pink cheekedest and
sOftest eyed gal in the hull village
then.
II named that tfee Miranda Sour,
the old man went Oh doggedly, TO
mind me how set an contrary your
aunt kin de when she's inclination
that away. That tree has got all of
Mirandas aggrayatiDest ways the
very way them leaves fiirt at We is
Jest perzactly like the fling Miranda
could give them skirts OF herp when
she was swishin' past ye an wouldn't
listen to reason"
Herbert hit Miranda Sour sharp
GLOW with stick,
y wish a worm would gnaw you. |
wish hurricane would blow YOU
down"
mo sich luck" said Jonas in tones
which expressed certain mournful
pride In his forecasting. mo SIGH
luck. She'll keep on a-growln', an
Miranda an me will keep on gittln'
furder an furder apart"
Herbert looked round furtlvely, then
sided up to his uncle.
"Cpt her down." he whispered, one
eye on Miranda Sour TO see II she over
heard.
'Cut her down. exclaimed Jonas
angrily "Cut down an apple tree ez
cost me all that trouble! BY gum, I'll
do nawthin' Of the kind. It's all yer
aunt's fault that them trees is there.
an there they kin stay fer me-"
Preoccupied himself Jonas never de-
tected the purpose throbbing In Her
bert's whole being nor even observed
the guilty GLANCE that bis nephew stole
at him when the boy asked with as
sumed calm II he might go fishing in
stead Of accompanying Jonas to mill,
Jest az so like" said his uncle,
somewhat surprised, "Aln't no good
tishil' round here, but s'pose throw,
In the liae IN the water'll satisfy ye."