Year: 1878

same room with OlSi HOO' ,"c
cooking-stove, and the butter melting
into oil before ones eyes. l declare, II
takes away my appetite completely. -.


"Tush, child! don't be so dainty


replied her father, "this thing OF not
being able to eat because the butter Is a
little mushy, and the smell Of grease
and cooking, is all a notion. When l
was a bow. YOU hardly heard OF farm
er's house with dining-room in 1t.
don't believe in such double-plated nom
sense. myself. A dinner is dinner no
matter where it is. Billy" addressing
the bov. "did you give Barby that mes
sage the Horner girls sent to herr"


"When was going to mill this.
morning, they hailed me, and SAID to
present their respects to you, and 1or
Won to come over to their house this al
ternoon, and stay to supper. | allowed
they was going to have qulltln', for
thew said may be they wouldn't get
through till late, and you could make
YOUR arrangements to stay all nlght. 1
told 'em you'd be along about three
o'clock" recited the boy, as if repeat
ing lesson.


3Of course 1 will" said Barbara in
glee. showing a dimple in each red
Cheek. "I'1 get every thing ready for
YOUR supper before l leave, and all you
will have to do is to set the table, Billy;
The fresh bread is in the can, and l will
skim the cream for your coffee, and
leave it in the cellar; will wash up
the dishes when l get back" D."


At six O'Clock that evening, as old
Mr.. Heath came toward the house, ne,
wondering, beheld strange carriage
standing before his own gate. A
strange gentleman was in the act Of
fastening the horses, while an elderly
lady walked toward the house.


"Ah! cousin JOSIAH" she called, as
she caught q glimpse of the farmer who
was cautiously peering around the cor
ner Of the house. "1Ou didn't expect
a visit from us, did you? We started to
90 to the eastern part Of the State by
1rivate conveyance, and finding we
passed right by your door, we con-
cluded to stop and take meal with you
at least" And reaching out her hand
tU Farmer Heath, who by this time had
come forward, she shook his hand with
g hearty grasp.


The old gentleman could do no less
than to return her greetings with as
much cordiality as he could muster,
while fearful visions of the evening meal
he was expected to furnish fOated
through his perpleXed mind. "Come
| in! come in, Nary" he said, barbara
is not home just now, but III try to
make YOU comfortable as possible, +" and
he led the way to the parlOr, where the
warm western sun was beating against
the windows, making the closed room
seem like a bake-Oven.


Now of all people in the world, Farm
er Heath stood most in awe OF his
present visitor. In his youthful days he
had been a suitor for her hand and
heart, and although rejected, he had
ever cherished tor her the highest re-
spect. She had soon after married and
removed to another part of the country,
while he had taken a wife, settled down
quietly in the old neighborhood, and
they had seen but little of each other
since, meeting only at intervals of many
years. He had always been anxious to
appear well in her estimation, and had
often pictured to himself visit from
her when her entertainment would be
of such a nature as to make her regret
that she had not accepted him instead
of her present husband, and now, Of all
times, to have her drop in on them /!
Barbara three miles away, nobody to
send for her except that lazy Billy, who
at this moment was probably making
willow whistles down at the swamp, in
stead of doing the evening milking as
he had been bidden; time was flying,
these people hungry, and if there was
any thing done he himself must do it.


His situation was, indeed, pitlable,
and his attempt to appear easy and put
on light nOnchaLHnt manner, as II he
had hosts of servants at his command,
who were now preparing a sumptuous
repast, was painfully ludicrous. At last,
after few words of explanation, he
left the husband and wife alone togeth-
er, and proceeded to the kitchen. Soon
a blazing fire was cracking in the big
cook stove, the tea-kettle steaming
bri8kly, and the skillet ready to fry the
ham.


He then went down to the lane in the
vain hope "that rascal Billy" would
be in sight, and could be pressed into
service as a " help" But no glimpse
!. Of that youth gladdened his eyes, and
vowing vengeance on him when he
should get hold of him, he came back
I to the hot kitchen, and drew out the lit
/ tie breakfast-table that served Barbara
as a general workable. "Cousin
josiah" said his lady guest, opening
the door at this moment and coming
irtO the kitchen, " | would like to have