The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-09-01

81. tift RI p ~ fet'F 3
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4 great pretensions as you and |,
Miss Caryer-feel easy and ct home, as
'twere." ~ 1gg,ss. tt u n
~ don't know what you call great pre-.
. TENSIONS" said Mrs. Carver. "Iscalcu.
late that Ezekiel Carver wife can hold
her head as high as any other woman in
the parish, let the other be who she willi
except neither the DOCTORS wife nor the
minister's wife," t9i aii
,i 81 say SO, TOO. Mr.. Carver is d purity
mice sort Of man in most things s7-equal
to the gineral run, | should say" p9 ~;
"The general run! What am Ito un .
derstand by that, Aunt Tabitha!" rY 'I,,l s,t
4 "Why, jest as | say: Mr.. Carver, in
my opinion, is.on q par with the rest oi
Al&he nejghbors; and, take 'emssll In all,
lthey are real good neighbors. They ain't
parfect, and we don't expect parfection in
Z this world nisHA Ap " A1g 7'Fl Hl assRa
Z "Well, Imust say,gif my husband is to
be placed on level with every poor, mean
fellow in the place. that he has got down
to pretty low notch. One thing is Ger.
tain, and that is, he pays the highest tax
of anybody in the parish. and has always
held some kind OF office ever since we
were married. Somatines he has been
first selectman, sometimes constable, some.
times deacon, sometimes captain, some.
times one thing, and sometimes another. :"
Aunt Tabitha smiled, but did not speak.
There was something in the smile which
did not suit Mrs. Carver, though to Lizzie
it appeared quite a commonplace kind Of
smile. na"faif Hi
81 don't know what am to understand
by your laughing at what | say" said Mrs.
Carver, reddening. "lf there is any hid.
den meaning in it-anything which you
would meanly insinuate, yet have not the
courage TO speak out. say It's false; for,
| II ever there was jealous, wide. awake
man, that man is Ezekiel Carver"
"Well, guess nobody disputed it. I'm
sure don't" 80 ''l. "
| "What did you laugh for, then. when |
was enumerating the responsible Offices he
has filled?" = * "'fR " fg' r
''Oh. nothin'in partlcular-nothin', only
some nonesense that popped into my
head" ~ st, u, ,.,,..,a "a l-7
"You needn't try to make me believe
you were not laughing at anything in par.
ticular; for that is what you nor any other
living person can do, if you should try till
you were blind. Nothing in partieularlF
II know what you were thinking Of; but
fthere isn't word Of truth in it. What
if he did fall off Of his horsecomin2 home
from training last fall!-itwas because the
horse stumbled; for Ezekiel Carver never
allows himself to drink anything stronger
than tea and coffee. You wouldn't be-
lieve such scandalous story, if you didn't
owe him grudge." ea ta. ssdH
.'Land o. massy, Miss Carver! what
should owe him grudge for!" 81
"You pretend you don't know, do you!"'
81 sartainly don't"
swell, 1t is as plain as the nose in your
face. | should think" sea3 r
well, that's purity plain to be seen.
III allow; but, large as il is, can't smell
out why | should owe Mr.. Carver
grudge."
"Why, when we were girls, he happen.
ed to take fancy to me instead of you."
"You think that's the reason, then, do
youl Well, all can say is, you are mis-.
taken; for never seed the day that I'd
ave had Zeke Carver, If he'd been made
of Guinea goold." st H =
'.I've heard of-sour grapes before to.
day. He was above your reach. Ezekiel
Carver was, and the whole parish ought
to be thankful that he was. A pretty
deacon's wife you would have made!"
"About as purity as the gineral run. !
mistrust. But there, Miss Carver, we
won't quarrel about it,"
"You needn't be afraid. You are too
mean for me 10 quarrel with"
Without taking any notice of this last
remark, Aunt Tabitha turned to Lizzie,
and asked her if Paul, be fore he went out,
told her where he was goingi |
"He said" replied Lizzie, "that he and
a number of young men were going to
meet at Franklin Hall this evening, to de.
eide whom to vote for for town officers and
representatives next year." /
"Oh." said Aunt Tabitba, "they are
holdin' kind of corkus, them" .Ail.i4l
"Do tell If there's caucus this even.
ingl" said Mrs. Carver. "Idon't believe |
that Mr.. Carver knew word about it,"
"None, except some Of the young men
were going to meet," said Lizzie. "There.
thatis Paul's step; they've got through in
good season." 'saainR l'7 fle
Paul, the next moment. entered, with a
smiling countenance. lie shook hands |
with Mrs. Carver, and appeared quite glad
TO see her. eft "
"You have been holding caucus this
evening. understand" said she, rather
gloomily. l'' s,''sS-
"Yss; few Of us young men, just .out
Of our time,' thought We would assert our
dignity by meeting together, and agreeing |
whom 10 yota for AZ next toWn. .lmeetinr. for |