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 was 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 
