Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-03-01

posed his daughter, laughing, ell to
bits. l have had my dinner
'Nonsense,' said Trotty; Two dim
ners in one day! II ant possible. You
might as well tell me that two New
Years Days will come together, or
that had a gold head all my hfe, and
never changed it,"
Il have had my dinner, father, for all
that said Meg, coming nearer to him.
'And if you'll 60 on with yours, l'll
tell you how and where; and how your
dinner came to be brought; and-and
something else BESIDES
Toby still appeared incredulous; but
she looked into his face with her clear
eyes, and laying her hand upon his
shoulder, motioned him to 60 on while
the meat was hot. So Trotty took up
his knife and forh again, and went to
WORK. But much more slowly than
before, and shaking his head, as if he
were not at all pleased with himself.
q had my dinner, father said Meg,
after little hesitation, 'with--with
Richard, His dinner time was early ;and
as he brought bis dinner with him
when he came TO see me, we've had
it together. father.
Trotty took little beer, and smacked
his lips. Then he said, 'Oh! because
she waited.
Then Richard says, father Meg
resumed. Then stopped.
what does Richard say, Mcg?' asked
Toby. Richard says, father Anoth.
cr stoppage.
Richards long time saying it,
said Toby.
'IIe says then, father Meg contin-
ucd, lifting up her eyes at last, and
speaking in a tremble, but quite plain
ly; another year is nearly gone, and
where is the use of waiting on from
year to year, when it is SO unlikly we
shall be any better olfthan we are now?
He says we arc poor now, father, and
we shall be poor then; but we arc
young now, and years will maze US old
before we know it. He says that if
we wait-peoplc in our condition-un-
til we see our way quite clearly, the
way will be a narrow one indecd-thc
common way-thc Grave, father
A bolder man than Trotty Vcck
must at these words, have drawn upon
his boldncss largely to deny it. Trot,
ty held his peace.
FsAnd how hard, father, to grow old,
and die, and think we might have
cheered and helped each other! How
hard in all our lives to love each other,
and to grieve. apart to see each other
working, changing. growing old and
grey. Even if | got better of it, and
forgot him, (Which | never could), oh
father dear, how hard to have heart
so fall as mine is now, and live to have
it slowly drained out drop by drop,
without the recollection of one happy
moment Of a woman'3 life, to stay be-
hind and comfort NE, and make me
better
Trotty set quite still. Meg dried
her eyes, and said more gaily that is
TO say, with here laugh, and there
sob, and here laugh and sob together:
So Richard says, father, as his work
was yesterday made certain for some
time TO come, and as love him and
have loved him full three years-ah!
longer than that, if he knew it will !
marry him on New Years Day; the
best and happiest day, he says in the
whole year, and one that is almost sure
to bring good fortune with it. It's "A
short notice, father-isn'tit? but havn't
my fortune to be settled, or my wed.
ding dresses to be made, like the great
ladies, ather-have | {? And he said
so much, and said it in bis own way; so
strong and earnest, all the time so kind
and gentle that | said I'd come and
talk to you, father. And as they paid
the money for that work of mine this
morning, Unexpectedly, ! am sure >
and as you have Jared very poorly for a
whole week, and as couldn't help
wishing there should be something TO
make this day a sort Of holiday TO you
as well as a dear and happy day to me,
father, made little treat and brought
it to surprise you.
And see how he leaves II to cool on
the steps : said another voice.
1t was the voice Of the same Rich
ard, who had come upon them unob-
served, and stood before the father and
1..,kAz. l~~l... H.,