Year: 1874

the place without any directions, it looked so comfortable and home-like. fastened my horse at the gate and then went into the house by the kitchen door. l expected to take Aunt Nancy all by surprise, but she wasn't there: No one but girl, sitting in low chair stringing apples. A great tub of quar- ters stood by her side, and the table was filled up with those she had already strung. I felt kind of awkward like and began to whirl my hat around in my hands, for I was so taken aback that didn't know just what to say.

 "sDid you wish to see MT. Gale ?" said she, looking up.

 "'I am his nephew, Ezekiel Gale,' I managed to stammer out, land came up from Massachusetts to make him a visit

 "'Oh, did you?' said she, jumping up and putting down her pan of apples. Why, you must be very tired. Sit down here by the fre-it's quite frosty tonight !; and let me take your hat. MT. and Mrs. Gale have gone to Green ough, but they will be back this even- ing. I am Content Sab1n.'

 "I said l guessed would go out and put up my horse. was glad of a chance to go cut into the open air and get my breath, for she was just the neatest girl I had ever set eyes on and, although l was accounted quite beau at home, she fustered me so that I hadn't word to say for myself. When l went back into the house she had drawn out little square table, which was covered with 8 white cloth and spread with raised biscuits, cold boiled ham, apple-sauce, and pumpkin pie. She sat down opposite to pour out my tea, and I could hardly eat my supper. good as it was, for watching her. She did look just like picture, that's fact. She had on linsey- woolsey petticoat and blue check short gown her brown hair was braided back just as smooth and shiny as could be; and she had blue eyes, plump, rosy cheeks, and neck and arms as white aSmilk.'

 "'I am sorry MT. and Mrs. Gale are away,' said she, for I hadn't had the grace to speak 8 civil word yet, and pleased. But, dear me, although I had come so far to see my relations, I was beginning to wish that they would 1 might just sit in that warm little room all the rest of my life, with the tea-ket- tie singing, the cat purring on the hearth, and Content pouring tea for me and looking at her. found my tongue after while, too, so that when Uncle Jerry and Aunt Nancy came home we sat by the fire as sociable as though we had known each other all our lives.

 "Well, I stayed and stayed there till my folks began to think I never was coming home. I helped Uncle Jerry get in the late crops, and I had kind of 9 knack with saw and hammer which made me very useful about the house to Aunt Nancy. Then in the evening I sometimes took Content to a husking or an apple-bee. Finally my father sent for me, and that night, coming home from husking at Dea- con Handford's-L mind how the moon shone down through the pine trees thai shaded the road-Content promised to go back to the Bay State with me when came up in the spring."

 Uncle Ezekiel grew thoughtful. He seemed to be living over again that golden October evening, but Genevra clasped her hands together and said in that pretty little affected way she has

 "What did she say when you pro. posed to her? Oh, I should like tc know so much"

 Uncle Ezekiel reused up:

 "She gave me simple, straight. forward answer" replied he, "an6 didn't ogle or put on airs, as you would have done in her place, aiss."

 Wewere familiar with Uncle Ezekiels blunt ways, but we all thought that he was too hard upon Genevra so we changed the subject to the last importa tions by Stewart, and he fell into dozt in his easy chair by the grate.