The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-02-02


looked after the farm, terdod her nswe
and her dairy and managed her hoal
hold 10 her own fashion. keeping her court
as calmly ss the sun, while her childrcn r
volyed about her contentedly, like attic
dant satellites. Old DR.. Hunter declar,
them the only ,eaeg people 10 town VII
hsd symmatriesl education. aud his Be
the only one Of their contemporaries n |
hod candle to thCm. SasAn dda't eve
except Bob
There had been slight perturbatio
OF the orbits when Tom and Nary both q,
ellntd % gp TO college. IL hsd been
dream OF susan's owl youth OF which III
old deacon had made short work. Bul IN
hsd counted on Il Tor the children, TN Tat
declared he had no head piece, a1d woul
rather be 3 good carpenter than poor min
isttr. And Mary added that what wa
good tDtugh fer Auntie was good enougl
Tor her Susan shrewdly suspected ais,
good elongh for Bch Hunter, who four,
his way out TO the farm so often durin,
his vacations. But John declared for Har
ward and the lss school. and llstle Katie
great ambition was TO be teacher aud b,
and by dean Of some college, or even presl
dent, who could tells 50 Susan was cor
tent.
Fourteen years slipped by, and Susar
was ai-the very bloom Of youth, her chill
dren INSISTED, when she talked Of her years
fom WIS master carpenter with plenty OF
worI engaged to tbs deares. girl In the
worlc, aud ssoat 10 begin buildirg ! 10 own
house 90 he farm nearest the town. Mary
was Mrs, Robert Hunter, aud the LapI lest
Of young matrons. Aad both John and
Katie we're on the evs OF graduation. Then
Susan bad an inspiration.
Well ~ abroad this summer, she an.
nounced. John ana Katie and Not
Tom, because his Elsie Is more than all
Europe; nor Mary, because her BIB is,
II possible, little more yet. But we
three are slil ffes and independent clt'z us
and well take long vacation, Why
shouldn't Tom marry at once and keep
this hou.e, while we are hunting the lsht
iogale and listening to skylsiks over the
English downsf | want to see the d Won.
shire lanes, and the cathedral towns, the
highlands Of my ancestors, and the ht ath.
er OF the moors.
Aud C!oveliy street, prompted Katie
ecstaticslly as she paused, the Doone coun-
try, and perhaps even Swilzs srland and
Rome. Aun,ie, 1t will be iast heavenly.
SO Tom brought bis Elsie to the farm,
and Sa.an and her two children sailed way
and began their pilgrimage. Now hey
were Ia 4 Eilobuig sm)Dg the haunts OF
row ia the highlands, al d again
wandering about the continent. The year
slipped by so rapidly that the second sum
ner found them still iourneying; Tens
house was done and those a. home were
growing impatient.
Then when the heather WAS again pur-
pie on The moors, they went down once
more ib,o Devonshire, for a farewell
glimpse, j 5hn was to establish himself 10
Boston before the winter, and kstie's posi-.
ion 10 g. Summary was awaiting hel.
)nce 10 while Susan thought little APP
Of the farm when all her nes-
lings had flown. They had gone out up
N the moor together one glorious afternoon
md while John and Katie climbed higher,
susan sat down to rest awhile, with Billy,
he landadys eldest, as guard and CON-
,snion and al the peace ard beauty Of the
Gene was In her heart as she waited.
$ le sat there still when they came down
oward the sunset, but a stranger was with
Ter, very old friend she said, as she IL
reduced Them. And presently as they
ii walked on together toward their lodg-
ogs. Katie noticed that auntic's friend
vas precptably lame, and looked III and
worm. Billy had gone on ahead some time
efore, and Katie wondered.
She went / ito Sussn's room as usual for |
goodnight talk, and they spoke OF all
heir hSppy wanderings, now so nearly
yer. lts been almost too perfect, sighed |
,atie at last. ! want some hard work |
ow, "to keep the balance true" But
ball be thankful for It all my days, auntie,
What memories for wlntry weather.
Yes-Su:an Answered slowly. EN-
hinking tf home when all my birds are
own NJ children have made me very
Apply. There IL nothing | would have
ih.rent, u. | shall miss them sorely,
hough T,m and Mary are 60 near, and
GU and John will have vacations.
Dear auntie, fGid Katie fondly, We owe
verylhing in the world to you. How
.ood you rave been to US all But now
GU are going to be lonely, ] am afraid
wish-Sussn smiled little. Katie, che
aid presently, when was your age, / had
lover. We qaarreled and he went away.
was young AMI pfoud-no one should
now that eated.
Then my mothers illness came and for
We lotg years my hands ard heart we've
lll. was glad then tba, | was free.
anne to bclhye thst II WAS bfst. when
be died std fa,hers ibsumstIsm eiippled
i'm, | h. 4 tie farm TO luuk after, and lii.
e TINY fsf d,eams. have no. been un.
appy, btt ! have ntver--iorgotten. To.
ay met Lin. He has been great travel.
r, wandering the world over all these
ears, til The accident that crippled him,
nd seht Tin ncre 70 relt. Wear old peo.
le now he itb't strong, nor very well ofi,
fear, but te tEs 10. forgotten, AZ | have
OF. AID ,ftt now-Kstie, even now be
in aIvs H., tte tsppipess that no one tlse
! this Noill vsr ccuid 4 woman /,
ever too old o. i0Te, or to be loved.
Katie kisied her ,Jitly. Dear asniie, !
u - glad, ths hispefei as she said good
lshi.
Mrs GDd.b's VI Il fell late that yest.