Josiah in New York; or, A coupon from the Fresh Air Fund

OR,
A COUPON FROM THE FRESH AIR FUND.
BY JAMES OTIS,
AUTHOR OF “TOBY TYLER,” “LITTLE JOE,” “JACK THE HUNCHBACK,” ETC.
BOSTON: A. I. BRADLEY & CO. 1893.
Copyright, 1893, BY A. I. Bradley & Co.
All Rights Reserved.
JOSIAH IN NEW YORK; OR, A COUPON FROM THE FRESH AIR FUND.
On this particular day an almanac would not have been needed to prove to the visitor at the Shindle Farm that winter was near at hand.
The wide-spreading trees leading from the road to the low-studded house, which made up in breadth what it lacked in height, had already put on their autumnal dress of crimson, gold, and brown, embroidered here and there with green left over from the last summer’s wardrobe. The enormous barn was crowded to overflowing with fruits of the harvest. Mows were heaped high with sweet-scented hay, and the corn-bins filled almost to bursting. The granaries seemed to groan under their heavy burdens, and the sleek cattle, noting the lack of grass in the pastures, looked into the building now and then with an air of satisfaction because of the ample supply of food housed for their especial benefit.
The broad fields, so lately beautified with waving grass, golden grain, and nodding plumes of vegetables, were waiting for the mantle of snow with which they were to be covered until spring should come again.
The yellow pumpkins, dotting the brown earth like nuggets of gold, were all that remained uncared for among the varied fruits of Farmer Shindle’s industry.