Dorothy at Skyrie

y departed. They had awaited the outcome of the Sands-Chester t

is flocks and herds were the largest in the county. His flour mill did a thriving business. Some said that its thrift was due, in part, to the amount of toll extracted from his neighbors' grists; but this, of course, was a heresy unproved. Nor did many of even these d

the several steeds which were now "put through their paces" were far and away beyond the balance left in the Chesters' power

ding himself still unsuccessful, relieve

r speed 'at puts my sorrel here out of the runnin'. Lively, Hannah is, an' no mistake. Old Olly's head's leveler than this mountain-s

l its household felt the need of rest. They sat without speaking, for a time, till a low from the ba

vexation, mother Mar

pig, a cow, a horse, and a man. Well, the man should have been our first to secure.

the end of his crutch among the weeds along the wide stone where his chair had been p

whose fancy had been unduly stirred by the sight of Bucephalus. She had then and there decided that she, too, would become a fin

in a tone of relief. "Yet, for your sake, J

necessary 'm

onged. If only that unfortunate advertisement had done the same! They would not then have been so annoyed by an overflow of traders nor been render

ke that old pail I use to scrub from and carry them a drink. Take but

t for-a cow? Real Quakerish it sounds to me. What shall you name your dear little pig? May I call my darling c

d of the first water!" cried f

he contents of her depleted pocket-book an

an was not-was not quite so generous as he seemed. A calf requires milk. A calf that 'r

g, my dear? No matter! So long as that lowing mother and child were not cruel

on his right to do small ones; but it always hurt his wife's pride to see her once

morning from a passing huckster. She felt that they could talk as they worked, and indeed there was much to discuss. Until her return

own farm. Now, how to begin? Shall I sit by the roadside and ask every man who passes by if he wants to hire himself out

he strong, idle, colored men loafing the streets of

Probably he would be discontented if we got one. We'll have to depend o

les on to boil. "Also, I consider that we have accomplished sufficient for one morning. Let's rest on i

it of a nap while she sets the table, and the sooner I'm called to it the better. No trouble with our appetites since we came to Skyrie," rejoined the ex-pos

possessions of live stock, tethered by the barn. All seemed going well. Hannah had ceased to low and lay upon the g

muddy bed, and from having been well fed, earlier in t

Martha great pleasure, till Doroth

t nice Quaker man said 'twice a

; then she looked up and, as if in reply

ody more welcome. You

a right smart o' curiosity over how you came out with your advertisement. More'n that, here's a letter she had Ephraim fetch up-mounting, when he druv down

r us and tell her that-that-Jim, would you like to change 'bosses' and c

red the lad, with unflattering

f course, you wouldn't. The comforts and conveniences of our little home can't compare with Deerhurst. Only--" said the lady, somewhat s

r mother's discomfiture, but though his face flushed to find himself thus misunderstood

an' it might grow plenty of them posies Dorothy's so tickled with. If it could be stocked now-Mis' Stott used to say that keepin' lots o' cattle was to be looked at both ways; what they leave on the land in manure fetches it up, an' what they eat offen it fetches it dow

t Jim she was familiar with and she disliked his plainness of sp

e named her Jewel. Maybe, though, I'll change that to 'Daisy.' I've read stories where cows

a power of work. They run over fences an' fall into hollers, an' Mis' Stott she used to say, sometimes, she didn't know but they did eat their own heads off; meanin' their keep cost more t

er on people's happiness as you can! You-you're as hateful as you can

othy. Then and there, something sharp and bitter had stolen into Jim's big heart and had sent him speeding out of sight-eager to hide himself and his uncouthness from these more fortunate folk, whose contrast to himself was so painful. Dorothy-why, eve

e. You-you didn't

he faced about, while a swift recollection of all that she owed to him sent the tear

rrid to me. I don't like to have my things made fun of-I never

face grew intensely red and he did not return the kiss. On the cont

at ails yo

med to her child's impulsiveness to heed it, and she had resolved to act upon the principle that "half a loaf is better than no bread." In other words, she would impr

that, the gardener she's had so long is so old an' sot in his ways he don't get more'n half out the soil 't he'd ought to. I'm goin' to show him what Maryland folks can do! That truck o' his'n? Why, bless your heart, he couldn't

ng or sleeping, and you must. It's your chance. You must, Jim dear. You know you're to be President-or something big-and you're to make me ver

'fore dark. Is there any old lumber 'round, 't you can spare?" as

e cellar, that Alfaretta Babcoc

aid a queer unknown voice, so near and so suddenly that mother Martha screa