Old Caravan Days

n borders of Columbus lived a cousin Padgett in such a country place as had long been the talk of the entire fami

previous, her son Tip's design to cast their future lots in the West, he said he should take it very ill if they did not sp

purpose to take care of them. His parlors were covered with carpets in which immense bouquets of flowers were wrought, and he had furniture not only of horsehair, but of flowered red velvet also. I suppose in these days cousin Padgett's house would be considered the extreme of expensive ugliness, and a violation of all laws of beauty. B

ers in those days. So he could not be blamed for his absence when they came by. Zene

d aunt Corinne,

od a bit!"

sted that the party should turn back. His wife and daughters had only driven into the city that morning. Cousin Padgett was a charming, hearty man, with a ring of black whiskers extending under his face from ear to ear, and the more

rought water. And when a start was made, he told the children he still expected a visit from them, a

head through her blue glasses: she had received the parting good wishes of a kinsman; family ties had very strong significance when this cou

ies of the journey, grandma considered it time to take off her Leghorn bonnet and replace it with the brown barege one drawn over wire. So Bobaday drew out a bandbox from under the back seat and helped grandma make the change. The seat-curtain dropped

ttom of that pocket," said aunt Corinne,

le face containing investigating hazel eyes. Her brown hair was cut square off and held back from her brow by a round comb. Her skin was of the most delicate pink color, flushing to rosy bloom in her cheeks. She was a long, rather than a tall girl, with slim fingers and slim feet, and an

the prospect ahead, she happened to look suddenly backward under the looped-up curt

rry a bunch of some kind on his back. He had been running noiselessly behind the carriage, occasionally hanging by hi

s a beggar been hangin' on! Ma Padgett, a little old man wi

: A QUEER LIT

for the little old man looked funny b

rinne, "and he ought to hu

ildly, after she had leaned out at the side and brought her blue

bank to rest; she watched him grow a mere bu

e disreputable name of "beggars." A beggar-man or beggar-woman represented to the minds of aunt Corinne and her nephew such possible enemies as chained lions or tigers. If an "old beggar" got a chance at you there was no telling in what p

him start out of a culvert to give her cold shivers with his revengeful grimaces. The culverts were solid arches of masonry which carried the 'pike unbroken in even a line across the many runs an

relieved, as they rumbled across one and entere

of the tavern, and this signified that the carriage-load might confidently expect entertainment. The tavern was a sprawle

when they stopped, and helped his guests alight, w

s ride, until, glancing down the 'pike over their late route, she saw