Four Miles from Tarrytown

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. T was a rainy evening. The day had been fine, but as the light faded the rain began to fall--in gentle drops at first, but by the time Mr. Morris and his family had gathered about the supper-table it descended in floods. Oh, what a dismal night! sighed Gracie. But how jolly to have candles on the teatable! replied Esther, cheerfully. And I know of something jollier than candles. It's the ' Canty hearth where cronies meet, An' the darling o' our e'e, That mak's to us a warl' complete, Oh, the ingle-side's for me.' What does she mean, mother? asked the child, with a puzzled look in her eyes. She means grandmother's ' Wee bit ingle, blinkin' bonnily, ' laughed her mother. I saw grandfather bringing in a great armful of dry wood just before the rain fell. Oh, a great blazing fire in grandmother's room! cried the child, clapping her hands. And apples to roast and chestnuts to pop, echoed Philo, if we only had them! But popcorn will do. Can't we leave Mollie to wash the dishes just for once, asked Esther, so we may have a good long evening? The milk was strained long ago, and she's sitting by the kitchen fire this minute, looking at her own face in the teakettle and wondering, --and wondering, -- And wondering, interrupted Philo, whether Eben Wood's youngest son can get over here through all this rain to-night! Yes, mother, we'll go in a body to the Old Dominion, take possession of it, coax grandfather to tell us a story, and grandmother to sing us a song. How'll that do, Sophie? It seems to me you're rather quiet this evening, said Uncle Morris, turning to his niece at the close of his remark. You know I didn't get my letter from home to-day, uncle, answered she, and I was feeling, like Gracie, just the least mite dis...