The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-27

but 1t will never do. DO you suppose Fred
Summerfeld, to say nothing of myself, could
leave his business and come down here to stay
year after year, content with knowing this mans
cow had calved, or that woman's baby had got
the measles? No, you must make up your mind
to go to him. With your nursing, he would
soon be well, and strong as ever"
go to Boston to live What is to become
of my farm?"
"Pll buy it; on this condition, that you take
me and all my property in exchanged" Then,
seeing the good woman's puzzled look, he went
on" Confound it! you are a sensible woman
and don't expect me to talk nonsense. l came
down here on purpose to ask You to be my
wife-to help me make home for those chill
dren-for there's Eleanor, poor grill We
might as well live for somebody else as our
selves; and you know me well enough to be-
lieve / would speak to no woman in this way
whom did not thoroughly esteem and regard"
"Wifel" gasped Aunt Huldah, in astonish-
ment.
Yes," he returned, with a smile I" 1t is a
good old English word, and plain one. Will
you be kind enough to g i've me as plain an an
swer?"
But for the first time, probably in her life,
Aunt Huldah was in no condition to give the
required answer.
"Wfel" she repeated, "and 1 past sixty
What would Phoebe Smith, and Deacon Morse's
wife, and Lois Barker, say?"
"Never mind. Give me sensible answer,
and let Phoebe Smith and the rest of them go
to the devil" said Mr.. Bigelow, impatiently.
Sand you'll promise to leave off swearing ?"
she asked.
"No, by Jupiter! I'll make no promises
that i am not quite certain l shall keep; but
I'll try, if that will content you."
The answer Mr.. Bigelow won from the old
lady we leave to be inferred from the above
query we can only say that the landlady Of
the Strangers Home" where that gentleman
had ordered dinner, lost, first her patience, and
then her temper, at his long delay; and the
sight of the nice steak and trout getting cold,
In spite of Goals and covers, was a sufficient ex-
cuse for one who prided herself 80 much on
her dinners. But then he was friend of the
new minister, and this thought came across
her heated temperature occasionally, like
wind from the sweet southwest; and the ample
justice which the old gentleman did to her din
ner when he did come, quickly brought the
smile to her lip so that when he inquired for
some urchin to carry a light box, which was
part of his luggage, to the parsonage, nothing
could exceed the alacrity with which she bus
tied about to find her son Tim.
Aunt Huldah was still there; and when the
box was opened, Mr.. Bigelow lifted from its bed
beautiful crayon copy of the head of Christ. 1t
was little Jim Drummond's wedding gift to her
whose gentle friendship and unwavering faith
had been to his sensitive nature like dew and
sunshine. Mr.. Bigelow placed it upon the wall
in the sitting-room; and as the old people
stood there, gazing upon it, something of the
peace and purity and tenderness with which
the boy artist had imbued the Godlike features,
flowed into their souls. Aunt Huldah's great
blue eyes were full of tears, which she forgot
to brush away, as, turning to her companion,
she said
"God must bless you for all your goodness
| to that boy.'
that | never felt it so truly before. He has
taken me from solitary, selfish old age, and
set me round with life, and love, and hope.
He has made me necessary to the happiness of
| others. tie made me to see how what once
deemed evils were but blessings in disguise
Blessed be His holy name!"
amen p was the fervent response.
An hour or two later, the whole bridal party
arrived, and amid embraces, and laughter, and
tears, and those thousand and one questions,
to which no one waited answer, little Juliet
slid from her uncle's arms and, stealing up to
Aunt Hudah, placed her little hand confidingy
in hers, while she said
"Uncle Fred says you loved papa dearly;
will you not love me, too?"
The Lord above knoweth WILL" was the
reply, as she lifted the child in her arms, and,
turning to Mr.. Bigelow, said, as she pushed up
her glasses, that the great tears might not blind
her
"See, that is George Summerfelds COM
plexion; his mother used to say he should
have been girl, he was so fair; and the mouth
and chin are his; but the eyes-they must be
the Eastern mothers, for they are dark and
deep as the fish-pools in Heshbon, by the gate
of Bath, rabbin."
There must have been something very good
about Aunt Huldah, for the child still chung to
her neck, and played with the heavy circet of
gold beads which she always wore, while she
led "the children" from room to room, and list
ened to their expressions of delight, until they
paused before the gift of Jim Drummond, while
Mr.. Bigelow related its history, and then silently
withdrew, leaving Susan Summerfeld and Mr..
Fletcher alone with their happiness.
We will not follow Will and Rebecca down
the lane to the "big chestnut" where they had
played in their childhood, for we would fain
know what it is Mr.. Bigelow is so earnestly
saying to Mr.. Summerfeld, in the arbor at the
foot of the old garden alley.
"And so, my boy says the old man, digging
the end of his cane into the soft mould, /" for
your cake decided on this step. | dare say it
seems quite foolish to you, but -
"Foolishl dear Uncle John, it's Just the
wisest thing you ever did in your life. Pardon
me, that ] seemed a little incredulous at first"
adds Mr.. Summerfeld, peculiar smile gather
ing about his mouth. ~ have heard of mans
sacrificing life to friendship, but never before
heard of mans getting married simply and
solely to benefit friend"
"Confound it! say for my own sake, then
] may as well own that | spoke one word for
you, and two for myself" replies the old man,
as he returns hr. Summer6eld's smile. "And
might say, one for Eleanor, too; we must
think of her, and s'pose folks would not think
it quite proper for her to be STAYING with us,
even If she would consent to do so, without
some womankind to look after her. Besides,
Miss Huldah is most excellent woman
"That she is, and l promise you shall find
no difficulty with me or Eleanor" SAYS Mr..
Summer6eld; but it seems so strangeEI can
hardly believe it, now"
"Faith, there is more than one upbelieving
Thomas in the world" returns the cid man,
with grin, ~ hardly believe it myself"
"Nor /, eitherl" cries some one without; and
Mr., Bipeio~ roand the neck; 'and what is
more. / never would have believed it, if that
raspberry-bush Wonder had not caught ne pris-
oner. and compelled me to play the eves-drop-
per. and hear the confession from your own
lips"
"Hold your tongue, Hagari and pray, don't
choke one," cries the old man, gathering her
hands in his, as he goes on; "how the deuce
was to help it, and save Fred from starvation,
under such housekeeper as you?"
You are very disinterested person." she
cries, breaking away from his grasp, and cour-
tesying demurely, "and / think | shall burn