Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-12-06

bo Of use TO him.
Jones, onhis sido was no, less pre-OceuPicd
The few words LET fall by the cuiaic relaIiN,
to his brothers health weighed upon hl
mind. The moro he thought upon Tom
illness the more his alarm increased, ii,
feared IL would become dangerous, and wal
uneasy at the little care he took Of himself
lie knew Tom had always been imprudcn,
not Ouly taking no precautions against the at
,scks To which be was subject, but, when ihey
did come, appearing To look upon them a. I
CUES, whom, though unwelcome, IL would b,
too ,roublcsoms to at,emp, to jlslOdgc. Any
precautions that he did take were always fore,
ed upon him by Jones, who was himself q
b., Of doctor. lie was consulted by the
villagers about their own corns, and their
childrea's Whooping coughs and chilblains,
and coneocicJ drinks renowned Jh.Jlgh tho
village. llehad acquired this medical knoWl.
edge from his wifc's brother, who was doc.
tor, aud every year sPcn, few days 4, the
farm. Jones saw, be could by letter, bring
him To Sellack. where he might sec his
brother and Judge Of the state Of his health.
But how would h.s visit be received by the
latter Would he look upon I, a. an s,temp,
NJ a rcconcilia,ion-as sn indirect advance :
Jones could not bear the thought.
Thus the nigh, was passed by both trOihcn
ia uncertainty and joub,
Meanwhile George aud Fanny awoke before
day-Jrc4k, foil Of the ceremony IN which they
were To play 50 conspicuous part. Dressed
10 their best, they repaired to the church with
their respective families, who for this day
wrrc To occupy the seats of honor near the
communiou.,ablcs Jones and Tom had al.
WY. carefully avoided each other IN the
church, and /, was, with no small emotion,
that they found ihcms'l,c, eide by side IN ihc
sane pew. The face. of both lushcd, as
both at Grs, ius,incti,cly drew back, and then,
as II ac,ua,cd by the same feelings, again ad.
yancci
"lIc is ~, +" ,aid Jones to himself
"lIe is IN trouble" thought Tom.
AuI they both took their allotted seats.
H. the mean time, George and Fanny, Who
had seldom mr, since the quarrel between tho
families. were kucclrug side b, side, now and
then exchanging irw w,ri, and smiles
The Basham, Inadc every effort NJ, to look at
each other, bot their cycs found a common ob-
Get in the two children, and sometime, me,
Is II hy some irresistible attraction, the
youos creatures were kind Of neutral ground,
a living Iiuk OF chain, inseus,bly drawing
them To each other. Every JOYOUS smile Of
George and Fanny was like q sunbeam play
ing upon their hearts hatred, and melting it
away. Nsnly did false shame and pride at
temp, to resist the genial Influence. Nature
was ,uoogcr than the ,,rUng.
And now each OF them stole glance At hls
brother.
"Wha; 4 carc.vom look be has w. siid
Ton TO himself
How delicate Doc looks thought Jones.
And thee thoughts passed a, the same in-
s,.a' through their minds, they stole a glance
at each other
At this monrn, the cvraic began To deliver
las sermon, which, according To the custom
Of the good u,u, was short; bu, before lelv.
ing the pulri, he pointed to George and Fan
nv, q, they s,oad holding ;h- baskets Of
loa,cs.
You arc aware" con,luuoI tlc curI,c,
that ono OF my predecessor, established, a,
Sellack, thu, annual distribution, ior which
be len a provision IN Iis Will. He intention
was no doubt, to encourage YOU 10 h'c to-
gc,hcr in harmouy, pace and love and It -
no less the will Of tie God Of love, who pu,
thu, care iOr YOU iaIo bis heart, and therefore
ny brethren, when the, children go TVuui
the church presenting YOU tAciT baskets and
repeating according to the direction of the
,cs,a,or, Peace aud good Ncighbooi, ''
therefore Il is ! would cNhort each ono Of you
to examine his own heart, and when each one
puts forth his hand to take hi, share of the
common bread, to DO so as pledge ofmuiual
forgiveness"
With these words the curaie quilted the
pulpit, and George aad Fanny began the dis
tribuuOn
Ancr going the rounds to the members OF
the chapter, they stopped a, the bench occu
pied BY their parents, and, as they presented
the baskets, repeated in due course the words
peace and good Neighborhood."
Tho brothers were evidently confused
They looked up, and Tom saw the fuuowed
brow OF Jones, and Jones the Palhd checks Of
Tom both wcro deeply affected.
"Peace and good NcIghborhOOd,' was Ut
tered in half whisper, aud their hands met
in the basket.
And now the ceremony over, the two iami'
lies len the church; the brothers walked cul
together, though no word was exchanged I'LL
they reached the churchyard.
"Methinks we have both just made pro
mise TO God, said Tom, but without raising
his c.es. "And for my part, desire no bet
ter than to keep IT,"
you cannot desire 1t mors than | 10,
said Jones ''and II you do wish 1t, will yOu
prove it BY letting the children dine together
a, my house next Sunday"
with all my heart" said Tom.
"And what is to prevent you coming with
them, Tom, 1t can do YOU no harm, and may
do YOU some good, as by that time my brother