A country girl

Chapter I. The Newbury Harvest Home

It was a beautiful afternoon in September.

Edna Carey sat on the back porch of the old farm-house peeling peaches for her mother, who was in the kitchen canning and preserving.

Edna was not paring very rapidly. Evidently her mind was not on her work, for every few minutes she would pause and gaze absently at the pleasant view before her. At the grape arbor laden with its luscious fruit, at the meadow beyond where the cows were contentedly grazing, at the golden rod up and down the road and along the hillside, and at the peach and apple orchards in the distance.

Edna had lived all the twenty-three years of her life on this farm and had always been happy and contented.

She had attended school at the little old school-house in Blackberry Hollow until she was eighteen, and since then she had lived quietly at home with her parents, her brother and little sisters.

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Until the past few months she had been perfectly contented with her lot in life.

She had enjoyed doing housework, sewing, and whatever she could do in and out of the house.

Then there were the pleasant drives to church on Sunday morning and to Sunday-school at the school-house in the afternoon.

Then often of an afternoon through the week she would run across the fields to see her old schoolmate and friend Gertie Wade, who for the past few years had taught school in the neighboring district, which was about a mile from her home. And then of course Gertie often came to see her, generally of a Saturday afternoon. And sometimes Gertie would be going to Harrisville on an errand and would stop for Edna, and the two girls would have a pleasant drive together.

But of late this had all been changed. Gertie was engaged to be married to a young blacksmith, who called upon her so frequently that Gertie’s thoughts seemed entirely taken up with him, and she seemed to have forgotten even Edna, the playmate of her childhood and the most intimate friend of her girlhood.

She never came to visit Edna any more, and Edna of course did not like to do all the visiting, particularly as Gertie seemed so very busy whenever she went there, either cooking, baking, or sewing, that Edna feared she interrupted her.

Then, too, Edna and Gertie had always confided in each other, telling each other their little secrets, their joys and sorrows, and had been at all times the best of friends.

But to return to this particular September afternoon.

Edna was feeling rather more lonely than usual, for that morning the last of their summer visitors had returned to their city homes. Edna had enjoyed having them there, as she loved to hear them talk of their amusements in the city, their friends, etc.

But now they were all gone and Edna was feeling very sorrowful, which was very unusual for her.

“How I do wish something real nice would happen,” she said to herself. “Nothing of any importance ever has happened to me, and I feel so tired and miserable I don’t know what to do.”

Just then her brother Arthur approached her and said:

“Edna, put away those peaches till to-morrow and hurry and get supper early, and we will go to the harvest home at Newbury.”

“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Edna, “we have been to so many harvest homes this summer, Arthur, that really I don’t feel like going to another.”

“Oh, yes, you do. I met Ethel Grey this afternoon and she said you must certainly go, as she wished to see you for a particular reason.”

“Very well, then. I’ll go if mother is to go too.”

“Then those young ones will want to go, and I don’t want to bother with them.”

Just then Mrs. Carey appeared in the doorway and wanted to know what they were talking about.

“Why, I have been telling Edna about the har-

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vest home to-night, and I want her to go with me. I saw Ethel this afternoon and she expressed a great desire to see Edna there. I should like you to go too, mother, hut then Minnie and Lottie will want to go and they are such a bother. Here they come now. Make them get supper while you and Edna get ready. ”

Just then the two girls came running up the steps exclaiming:

“We want a watermelon, mamma. Are there any down cellar? I must have one right away.”

“Go and put away your books and hats first,” said Mrs. Carey.

“And then go get supper ready. The melon can wait awhile, I guess,” said Arthur.

“Get supper! What for? It is not time yet,” said Minnie. “Oh, I know — you are goingto the harvest home at Newbury. I heard the girls at school talking about it. Fm going too — Fm going too!” she exclaimed, dancing around her mother.

“Not this time. You went enough during vacation to satisfy any school-girl, and now that school has begun the best thing you can do is to stay at home and learn your lessons.”

“No such thing. I can get my lessons well enough in school, and I have as much right to go as Edna has. She is an old maid anyhow, and does not need to go. She never has anything to say to any of the young men, while every one else of her age either has a beau or is married; but Edna — why, I’ll be married myself before she is,” said she, looking saucily at Edna.

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Edna looked indignant, but said nothing, and Minnie and Lottie were sent into the house to get supper while Edna helped her mother finish canning.

At the table Minnie began coaxing her mother to let her go, and her father hearing her said :

“She may as well go, as there will be plenty of room in the carriage, and how is it with you, Lottie V’

“Oh, I will stay at home with you, papa. I have a hard arithmetic lesson for to-morrow.”

“That is just what Minnie should do,” said Arthur; “there is no sense in her having to go everywhere we older ones do. To-morrow she will not half know her lessons, and it is high time she began to learn something.”

“Don’t you worry. I know as much as you do now, and I am going to-night too, and I’ll have more fun than either you or Edna, just see if I don’t,” said Minnie.

“You may go this time, then after this you must stay at home more, for I know you cannot have perfect lessons at school after being up half ; the night before,” said her mother.

Then they arose from the table, Arthur going to the barn and his mother and sisters going to their rooms to dress, save Lottie, who was left to wash the dishes.

A few minutes later Edna came down again dressed in a very pretty white dress and white hat. Going to the garden to look for some flowers, she selected some heliotrope, which grew

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in abundance in the flower beds, and fastened a spray of it on her dress and some in her hair.

It was a five-mile drive to Newbury, and about sunset when they reached the grounds where the festival was held.

There was such a crowd of people there that for some time Edna could not find any one she knew.

But Minnie found one of her school-boy friends at once and was off with him before her mother could restrain her.

Presently Edna found her friend Mrs. Grey — Ethel as they called her. She was a very pretty woman about twenty-eight years old. She and her husband had lived in Harrisville, where the Careys attended church, ever since they were married. Her husband was second cousin to Edna, but Edna had only just begun to get acquainted with her, for when she was a few years younger she did not care for the companionship of those older than herself, but when she had become acquainted with Ethel at a Christian Endeavor sociable they had become very fond of each other.

She was soon chatting with her and presently j exclaimed :

‘ ‘Ethel, who is that gentleman mother is talking with?”

“Why, that is Mr. Atherton ; don’t you remember him? He used to preach as a supply in our church several years ago, before Mr. Wilson came.”

“Oh, yes, I am sure I ought to remember him; he used to stay at our house over Sunday quite often. I remember, too, how shy of him I was.”

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“I don’t see why yon should have felt that way, for I think he has always been very friendly in his manner,” said Ethel, laughing.

“ I know it, but I stood in awe of him because he knew so very much and I so little, and he was so refined and polished and I felt that I appeared just the opposite. I wonder if he has forgotten me. I hope he has.”

“You have no need to wish that, 1 am sure, and I don’t believe he has forgotten you, either, for he seems to remember every one.”

Presently Mrs. Oarey and Mr. Atherton drew near where Ethel and Edna were sitting and Mrs. Carey said :

“Edna, do you not remember Mr. Atherton?”

They were soon talking pleasantly together. Edna felt a little shy at first, but she soon forgot herself in listening to Mr. Atherton.

When Edna was seventeen years old she was tall, awkward, and bashful for one of her years. Her shyness caused her to appear more awkward than she would have been had she been able to think less of herself.

Mr. Atherton, then a young man at the university, had been rather a frequent visitor at their house, for their church was then without a pastor, and as Mr. Carey was one of the elders of the church and Mrs. Carey was much interested in church affairs, they often entertained the ministers who preached as supplies.

As we have said, Edna was then a bashful school-girl who wore her dresses much shorter than girls of her age usually wear them, and her hair in a long braid down her back, was fond of having company in the house, but generally kept out of the way as much as possible, leaving her mother to entertain her visitors while she did the housework.

She had admired Mr. Atherton, as he was very lively and entertaining, always telling some interesting story of his college life, and Edna had admired, although she stood in awe of him.

Since that time they had neither seen nor heard of him.

During the years that had passed since then Edna had improved very much in every way. She had lost much of her awkwardness, wore more becoming dresses, and arranged her hair in a becoming manner.

She read and studied all the spare time she had, and during the winter months she had quite a good deal. She had taken a few piano lessons and could play hymns, songs, accompaniments, and a few easy marches and waltzes.

Edna was pleasant and agreeable to all the young people of the neighborhood when they met at sociables, picnics, etc., but her own particular school friends had all left, excepting Gertie, either for homes of their own, or to teach school, or to earn their own living in some other way.

She, however, encouraged the attentions of the young men, which amused her little sister Minnie very much, and she often said to her:

“Edna, I’ll be married myself before you are. You surely are cut out for an old maid."

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But to return to the harvest home. There was an entertainment to be held in the church, and Ethel, Edna, her mother, and Mr. Atherton all went in together. Edna looked around for Minnie and saw her with Harry Clark, her favorite schoolmate, and several other girls and boys. The entertainment consisted of recitations and music and was very interesting, especially to Ethel and Edna, as they were both very fond of music.

When it was over they went outside again, for the church was crowded and very warm.

Outside there was a large tent where the supper-tables, ice cream and confectionery stands stood.

“Miss Carey/ * said Mr. Atherton, “are you as fond of music as you used to be?”

“Yes, I am,” Edna replied, smiling; “but how did you know that I was particularly fond of it?”

“I remember hearing you say so one time several years ago when I had the pleasure of staying at your home.”

“I do not remember ever saying so to you; indeed, if I remember correctly, I had very little to say to you on any subject. Sometimes you would try to draw me into conversation, but it was of no use. I generally made my escape on the plea of some important household matter.”

Mr. Atherton laughed and said:

“I know you used to be very shy of me and I never could tell the reason, for I never thought there was anything very awe-inspiring about me.”

Edna laughed too as she said:

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“I think I felt shy of any one at that time whom I considered well educated, and those who were not I cared little or nothing about. ”

He then said:

“Will you not come and have supper with me?”

“Oh, thank you, but I have had my supper.”

“So have I, but it is so long since that I feel as though I could eat another; so come along and be company for me.”

They were soon seated at one of the prettily arranged tables, and Edna at once forgot her slight embarrassment in listening to Mr. Atherton’s conversation, which was always intelligent and refined.

And so the evening passed swiftly away, and when the time came to go home Mr. Atherton said:

“Your mother has kindly invited me to take tea at your house to-morrow evening, and I think I shall avail myself of the pleasure.”

“I am sure we shall all be glad to have your company,” Edna, replied, blushing.

After searching for Minnie for some time they started for home.

“Minnie, where have you been all the time? I have scarcely seen you at all,” said Mrs. Carey.

“Oh, I have been having such a good time, mamma. You know you all warned me that it would be the last time I should go out of an evening for a long time to come, and so I just made up my mind to have all the fun I could while I had the chance.”

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Chapter II. A Visitor At The Farm-house

The next morning Minnie did not appear until the others were through breakfast; then she came down cross and sleepy.

“Well, miss,” said Arthur teasingly, “do you think you will know your lessons this morning?”

“It’s none of your business whether I do or not,” she replied sharply.

“Miss Hayes will think it her business, though, and you had better be careful or you will be put back into the primary class.”

Minnie did not deign to reply to" this and Arthur went out to his work.

Mrs. Carey and Edna were very busy all the forenoon canning more peaches and pears and preparing dainty dishes for supper.

Shortly after four o’clock in the afternoon Mr. Atherton arrived, and a few minutes later Minnie and Lottie came noisily in at the kitchen door, and not finding any one there or in the sitting-room rushed into the parlor, much to Edna’s annoyance.

“Oh, I thought there must be company here!” exclaimed Minnie, not in the least embarrassed.

“These little girls must be Minnie and Lottie, I guess,” said Mr. Atherton, smiling. “I wonder whether you remember me, Miss Minnie?”

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“I do not think I would have known you had not some one last night told me who you were, and I can just remember your being here sometimes when I was a little bit of a girl, and now just see how tall I am,” said Minnie, straightening up and throwing her shoulders back.

“Yes, I see you have grown very much taller. How old are you?”

“I am 'twelve and Lottie is eleven.”

“And how do you get along at school? Nearly ready to graduate, I suppose, and expecting soon to enter normal school or college,” he continued, laughing.

“There, now, you are making fun of me just as you used to do. No, I am not ready to graduate; no one ever does at our school; they just keep on going till they are too old or are old enough to stay at home and be young ladies.”

“Well, what then?”

“Oh, then after awhile they either get married, or go off and teach in some primary school, or dressmake or something.”

“And which of those things do you propose to do?”

“Oh, I don’t know. When I get to be fifteen or sixteen I should love to go to boarding-school and have a grand time, but I don’t suppose papa will let me go, for he wouldn’t let Edna. Anyway that is a long way off, and I mean to have all the fun I can now.”

“Come now, Minnie, you and Lottie come and help me get supper,” said their mother, rising.

And both girls unwillingly followed her from the room.

“And how was it with yon, Miss Carey— were yon as anxious to go to boarding-school as Minnie says she is?” said Mr. Atherton, turning to Edna as the door closed after the retreating figures of Mrs. Carey and the two children.

“Yes, I was quite anxious to go, but not for just the reason that Minnie is, perhaps, but I thought it would be a great advantage to me in many ways but papa would not listen to it, particularly asl did not intend to teach. My teacher took a great deal of interest in me and urged me to prepare myself for teaching, and I did go to the teachers’ examination and received a certificate, but I have never taught, as I always thought that I could not bear being talked of and found fault with by the parents of the children as they do in the country schools.”

“Did you allow a little thing like that to keep you from engaging in so grand and noble an occupation as teaching?” said he, smiling.

“I do not call that a little thing,” Edna replied, blushing. “If you knew what trouble some of the teachers have with the parents you would not laugh, I know. And that is not the only reason why I could not teach. Mother did not seem anxious to have me do so and was glad to have my help at home, and at home I hava been nearly all the time.”

“Have you been reading anything lately?”

“Yes, I read quite a good deal, but not as much

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as I should like, as there is so much to do all the time.”

When supper was over Minnie was anxious to show their visitor her pets, so he took his hat and went out with her and they were gone all the time Edna and her mother were washing the supper dishes.

This annoyed Edna very much, for at supper Mr. Atherton had been telling them of places he had visited, people he had met, etc., and all this had interested Edna very much, and she was anxious to hear more of it.

She had thought, “When supper is over and father and Arthur are at the barn, Minnie and Lottie can wash the dishes while mother and I talk with Mr. Atherton.” Then when he went off with her sister she said:

“That is just like Minnie: she thinks that everyone who comes here is her company, whether they happen to be older than she or not.”

“Never mind, they will be back in a few minutes,” said Mrs. Carey.

When the dishes were washed and put away, Mrs. Carey and Edna went out on the front porch and sat there talking for some time. Presently Mrs. Carey said:

“Edna, suppose we invite Mr. Atherton to spend a few days of his vacation here, or should you not like it on account of the extra work?”

“Oh, I should not mind that in the least, mother, and I should enjoy having Mr. Atherton here, as I love to hear him talk ; but perhaps he has other places to go and will not care to come.”

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“Perhaps so, but I’ll ask him, anyway; hut I must see your father first and hear what he says. I am almost sure that he will be willing, for I know he has always been very fond of him. He used to say that he was glad to have Arthur know such men as Mr. Atherton.”

Just then the young man joined them, Minnie and Lottie running along after him.

They all enjoyed the evening and were sorry when their visitor arose and said it was time for him to go.

Mrs. Carey then invited him to spend a few days at her house, but he declined, saying that his vacation was about over, but that he had some business affairs at Newbury to attend to and would be obliged to be there again in a few weeks, and should be happy to visit them then.

This arrangement suited Mrs. Carey just as well and the matter was satisfactorily settled.

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Chapter III. Picking Wild Grapes

The next morning when Minnie and Lottie had gone to school, Edna and her mother began peeling tomatoes to can. Edna was very busy for some time and did not talk over her work as usual.

She peeled great panfuls of the large red tomatoes, and then having put them on the stove she had to keep bending over the hot fire to stir them, then put them in the cans. She generally enjoyed this kind of work, but this morning she felt rather impatient, she scarcely knew the reason why.

She was busy in the kitchen until dinner-time.

Mrs. Carey was inclined to talk over the events of the past evening, but Edna replied only in monosyllables, taking no interest whatever in what her mother said.

When dinner was over and the rooms tidied up, Edna and her mother changed their dresses and sat down to their sewing.

Edna sat and sewed for some time, then suddenly said:

“Mother, I think I’ll take a basket and go and pick those wild grapes. It is quite time they were picked.”

“Oh, never mind the grapes now. You are tired, I know, and the girls can pick them when they come from school.”

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“I know they could, but I am not tired and think I’ll go myself.”

So putting on her bonnet and taking a large basket she started across the meadow until she reached the shallow winding brook where the wild grapevine grew and where the grapes hung in abundance.

The shadows were already lengthening, and the meadow looked very pretty in the soft light.

“How pleasant it is out here. I believe I have been cross to dear mother all day. She would have enjoyed being out here. I wish I had asked her to come, but perhaps she will when the children come from school. I believe I am lonely and that is why I have felt so stupid and cross all day. I never used to feel so and was always indignant if any one said to me, ‘How lonely you must be, having no sister near your own age.’ Gertie never comes to see me any more, but I don’t care, I am not going to her house again till she does. What a nice time we had last night, but I really believe that is what has made me feel so miserable to-day. Hearing Mr. Atherton speak of so many interesting things he has seen and heard has just made me feel that I am living a useless kind of life, being of no use to myself .nor any one else. But, there, I am not going to think any more such silly thoughts as that, and I am going to be just as cheerful and pleasant as I used to be, even though I do feel lonely sometimes. Here comes mother and the children now. I have not picked many grapes, but never mind,

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there is time enough yet before sunset, and we’ll have a good time together too.”

“Oh, Edna, we want some grapes,” said Lottie; “how nice they smell, don’t they? There are some lovely ones ’way out on the branches of that tree; just see how easily I can get them.”

“Oh, no, Lottie, you will fall,” said Mrs. Carey.

But Lottie was already at the top of the little tree and reaching as far out as she dared.

Minnie began chatting about the doings and sayings at school, eating grapes as fast as she could meanwhile, but this tended to make Edna feel a little sad, for it reminded her of the happy times she enjoyed at the same dear old school-house, as she sometimes called it.

So the beautiful September days passed quickly by with plenty of work, a little reading now and then, and an occasional drive.

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Chapter IV. A Surprise

One afternoon a few weeks later Edna was at home alone. Not liking the loneliness of the house she took a book and went out to the hammock, which was under two large trees in the front yard. When tired of reading she closed her book and lay there dreaming and listening to the dropping of the hickory nuts in the meadow not far away.

It was a perfect afternoon : the trees were turning yellow and brown, the hills in the distance looked soft and hazy, and the air was so still that the least sound could be heard.

So Edna lay there dreaming, and although the air was so still that she could hear the slight noise the nuts made as they fell to the ground, she was so lost in her dreams that she did not hear the gate open and shut and some one cross the yard, * until raising her eyes she saw some one standing ; before her.

Edna was startled for a minute and could not think who it was, then exclaimed :

“Oh, Mr. Atherton, how you frightened me. I did not hear you come in. You must have stepped very softly.”

Mr. Atherton laughed and said:

“You were day-dreaming, I guess. I am sorry

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if I frightened yon. Now let me hear some of your dreams. I know by the expression of your face that they were interesting.”

“Oh, no, not at all. That is, not to you, and I never tell my dreams to any one.”

“Do you not? Well, I am sorry. Tell me then what you have been reading and perhaps I can tell from that in what direction your thoughts lay.”

“Longfellow’s ‘ Evangeline,’ ” she replied, handing him the book.

He took it and read part of it so beautifully that she begged him to go on.

He read until he was tired, then paused and glancing over the fields said :

“What a fine large hickory tree that is over there. Suppose we go and pick up some of the nuts before the squirrels get them all. I used to think it fine fun when I was a boy.”

“I should like to, very well indeed, but I promised mother that I would not leave the house.”

“Well, that is too bad, but I am sure that : awhile ago it made no difference whether you left it or not ; you were so lost in dreamland that any one might have come and carried the house away and you would not have known it.”

Edna laughed and blushed, but did not reply to this, then suddenly excused herself and ran into the house, soon returning with a fruit basket of grapes.

“How beautiful they are, but is it not late for grapes?” said Mr. Atherton,

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“Oh, no, we have some very nice ones yet. I think they are sweeter and nicer now than when they first began to ripen, and I thought you might be thirsty and would like some.”

‘ * Indeed I was feeling very thirsty. I have had quite a walk and was about to ask for some water.”

Edna was wishing she could get him talking of the books he read, as she was anxious to buy some new ones to read during the autumn and winter evenings. She desired to get the best_and scarcely knew just what she wanted.

Presently he looked up from the grapes he was eating and said :

“Miss Carey, have you ever taken up a regular course of reading? Now, I should think that you would have some spare time for reading during the winter, or do you read poetry and novels all the time?” asked he, smiling.

Edna blushed and said to herself, “He must have read my thoughts,” then aloud she said:

“No, sir, I never have, but I should like to, I think, only I do not know where to begin.”

“Have you heard of the Chautauqua Circle?”

“I have seen something about it in the papers, but I have never heard any one speak of it. Tell me about it, please.”