FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART XI. 675 



pictures of the horse-barns, sheep and swine building, poultry palace 

 and the beautiful halls for agricultural displays, he grew excited. 



"I vum, mother, I'm going to that fair," he said as his white-haired, 

 placid-faced wife entered the room. 



"I wouldn't swear," said grandma severely, then with marked inter- 

 est. "The fair at D. M.? Mary told me yesterday that John was going 

 to take up some hogs, and said if we wanted to visit your brother, this 

 would be a good chance, as the railroads were giving cheap rates." 



"Let's go," cried grandpa; "you see it begins the 17th of August and 

 lasts a whole week. There won't be much work doing on the farm. " 



"The 17th of August," mused grandma, "is the anniversary' of our 

 wedding. We were married forty years ago, and then we went to St. 

 Louis and stayed two whole days. Do you remember it, father?" 



"Remember it? I reckon I do, and this will be our second wed- 

 ding trip. I was proud of you then, mother, and thought your red cheeks 

 and curly brown hair the prettiest in the world, but you are better 

 looking now." 



"Don't be a fool," retorted grandma, giving him a push. 



It was finally all arranged. John, the son-in-law, was to see the old 

 people safely to the city, where, after a visit of a day or two, they could 

 attend the fair as much as they chose. 



Frank, the unmarried son, would remain at home and "see to things," 

 and many were the directions that the careful housewife gave him 

 regarding the chickens and flowers and milk; "and don't forget to feed 

 the dog and cat every meal, for you know they get hungry as well as 

 you do." 



Frank promised and laughingly said: "If you meet my sweetheart 

 up at the fair be good to her." 



Grandma's face sobered. This sweetheart was the cause of so many 

 sad thoughts, for the dear old lady couldn't see why Frank should have 

 remained single until past thirty and then fall in love with a city 'girl. 



Nothing Frank could say made the matter any easier for grandma, 

 and though she had never seen the girl, Elizabeth Graham by name, the 

 thoughts of a city girl in the old farm home seemed sadly out of place, 

 that dear, homely, comfortable home, with its many duties and pleasures 

 that had so fully satisfied Mrs. Hadley. "I'll tell you what, Frank, if I 

 see her I'll kiss her for you," said his father, who was in high spirits. 

 "You never will get any sense," commented his wife. 



How little it takes to give pleasure, after all, if the mind is only in a 

 receptive mood, and we are willing to be pleased; and so it was with this 

 couple. The ride on the cars past farm houses and villages, the bustling, 

 noisy crowd at the depot, the streets full of people, all hurrying some- 

 where, were items of much interest. The big buildings that lined either 

 side of the street, and the gaily dressed windows were duly noticed, but 

 best of all w^as the fair. 



After a long ride on the street car, they reached the fair grounds, 

 and hand in hand jostled with the crowd, until finally they were inside, 

 with a long day before them to spend in seeing the many interesting 

 things. 



