230 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 



given up keeping hotel, but if we could put up with 

 their homely fare, we should come in and let the boy 

 take care of the horse." First, ^' the little girl must 

 have a glass of milk ;" then said the motherly woman, 

 " There is a large airy room up stairs, with a bed and 

 sofa, where you can all take a nice little nap to rest 

 yourselves for dinner." The room was sweet and tidy, 

 and when called to dinner, we were all as fresh as in 

 early morning, and twice as hungry. 



It only grieved us that the good couple should find it 

 in their hearts to make apologies for such a dinner as 

 they set before us. Tender, juicy, sugar-cured ham and 

 fresh eggs ; the lightest of home-made bread, with sweet 

 grass butter yellow as gold ; peas and lettuce just from 

 the garden ; cool cucumbers that were growing on the 

 vines ten minutes before ; a cup of coffee, fragrant and 

 the color of amber ; oolong tea in which the strength 

 and aroma emulated each other. This would seem 

 enough to satisfy even a connoisseur of the table, but 

 the dinner w^as not to be finished without red raspber- 

 ries with thick cream, and a generous strawberry short- 

 cake. The pleasant, cordial manner of providing the 

 entertainment corresponded with the wholesome things 

 provided. 



We lingered till late in the afternoon, and left regret- 

 fully this pleasant, restful old country tavern ; nor is it 

 strange that we have driven over that hilly road, con- 

 siderably out of our route several times since, to enjoy 

 the entertainment provided by this real landlord and 

 landlady ? They compliment us with the remark that 



