Part 14 (2/2)

There were many things to interest city-bred folk on a place like Four Oaks. Everything was new to them, and they wanted to see the workings of the factory farm in all its detail. They made friends with the men who had charge of the stock, and spent much time in the stables. Polly and I saw them occasionally, but they did not need much attention from us. We have never found it necessary to entertain our friends on the farm. They seem to do that for themselves. We simply live our lives with them, and they live theirs with us. This works well both for the guests and for the hosts.

The great event of the holiday week was a New Year Eve dance at the Country Club. Every member was expected to appear in person or by proxy, as this was the greatest of many functions of the year.

Sunday was warm and sloppy, and little could be done out of doors. Part of the household were for church, and the rest lounged until luncheon; then Polly read ”Sonny” until twilight, and Laura played strange music in the half-dark.

The next day the men went into town to look about, and to lunch with some college chums. As they would not return until five, the ladies had the day to themselves. They read a little, slept a little, and talked much, and were glad when five o'clock and the men came. Tea was so hot and fragrant, the house so cosey, and the girls so pretty, that Jack said:--

”What chumps we men were to waste the whole day in town!”

”And what do you expect of men, Mr. Jack?” said Jessie.

”Yes, I know, the old story of pearls and swine, but there are pearls and pearls.”

”Do you mean that there are more pearls than swine, Mr. Jack? For, if you do, I will take issue with you.”

”If I am a swine, I will be an aesthetic one and wear the pearl that comes my way,” said Jack, looking steadily into the eyes of the high-headed girl.

”Will you have one lump or two?”

”One,” said Jack, as he took his cup.

The last day of the year came all too quickly for both young and old at Four Oaks. Polly and I went into hiding in the office in the afternoon to make up the accounts for the year. As Polly had spent the larger lump sum, I could face her with greater boldness than on the previous occasion. Here is an excerpt from the farm ledger:--

Expended in 1896 $43,309 Interest on previous account 2,200 _______ Total $45,509 Receipts 5,105 _______ Net expense $40,404 Previous account 44,000 _______ $84,404

The farm owes me a little more than $84,000. ”Not so good as I hoped, and not so bad as I feared,” said Polly. ”We will win out all right, Mr.

Headman, though it does seem a lot of money.”

”Like the Irishman's pig,” quoth I. ”Pat said, 'It didn't weigh nearly as much as I expected, but I never thought it would.'”

There was little to depress us in the past, and nothing in the present, so we joined the young people for the dance at the Club.

CHAPTER x.x.xVI

OUR FRIENDS

After our guests had departed, to college or school or home, the house was left almost deserted. We did not shut it up, however. Fires were bright on all hearths, and lamps were kept burning. We did not mean to lose the cheeriness of the house, though much of the family had departed. For a wonder, the days did not seem lonesome. After the fist break was over, we did not find time to think of our solitude, and as the weeks pa.s.sed we wondered what new wings had caused them to fly so swiftly. Each day had its interests of work or study or social function.

Stormy days and unbroken evenings were given to reading. We consumed many books, both old and new, and we were not forgotten by our friends.

The dull days of winter did not drag; indeed, they were accepted with real pleasure. Our lives had hitherto been too much filled with the hurry and bustle inseparable from the fas.h.i.+onable existence-struggle of a large city to permit us to settle down with quiet nerves to the real happiness of home. So much of enjoyment accompanies and depends upon tranquillity of mind, that we are apt to miss half of it in the turmoil of work-strife and social-strife that fill the best years of most men and women.

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