Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-02-29

her. She poured all her full soul oul
in the hymn. and at the close Of the
service shook hands with two or three
young women she fnew. and cordially
pressed them to come and visit her.
She would not have done this if hel
father had been with her; but II was
her naturs to be generous and cordial,
and she deemed not that she did any
thing wrong.
A week was not gone since she
gave the invitation, when two of the
young women she met atthe meeting
came to visit her. "a pretty pass
things have come to," said Mrs. Fish.
err. "if our Sally is 10 CAD about az
she pleases, and have young men that
nobody knows, and good.for'nothine
girls focking here all the time. hinder.
ing US all to no pro6tl' Little pleas
urc had Sally in seeing her friends as
she was permitted to see them
There was no ceasing from her work
no laughing that was not under
breath, and no extra dishes for the
supper--all was hard and dry; and
when the visitors found themselves
walking down the dusty lane away
from the house that was SO empty and
cold they felt relieved. And Sally
felt relieved too. In silence she tho'l
Of the pretty dresses they wore. and
felt how much she would like to have
a new one even half as expensive, bul
she dared not breath her thought.
She had been indulged in extraya
gance enough for one while, her par
ents thought, in being allowed TO &C
to meeting alone, and to fill the house
with visitors at her pleasure.
And the brothers Of Sally wen
from setting wheels to work in the
brooks, and weather-cocks 10 flutter'
ing on the gable of the barn, out in
the world to sci more complicated
wheels running, and sometimes tc
fiutter and shift like weather-cocks
themselves. The days were longel
now. and the nights wearier than they
used to be, and the heart of Salley
was sobered somewhat, though hel
nature was not changed-only subdu
ed. She dreamed4-as all womer
must drsam-it would be a pleasan
thing dgo to meeting every Sunday
to have q clock in her own home
and more than all, to have some on,
there to love her, some one TO make
her happy.
Her parents forgot that they hat
ever wanted the same things. and tha
they had obtained the greatest Of al
in each other. and they thought j
strange that Sally should not be sat
isfed with their satisfaction, and tina
she should have nature Of he
own 10 care for. Themselves had low
ed and married. but for Sally 70 do
or even think Of the same thing. would
be outrageous.
She was twenty-five years old wher
she sat by the FIRE one night knitting
and listening to the wind as II drove
thro' the leafless trees. and the snow
as it sifted against the windows. He
hair was growing thin an' sded, ant
the brightness OF her earl, emile hat
worn down into patience, and the rest
lessness OF her early hopes were sub
dued to quiet. The faded green par
asol she carried TO meeting five year
before was laid carefully among dries
rose leaves in the drawer. The whit
dress was there too. and there was no
much I,esides TO DO seea there
piece OF ribbon, cambric collar, I
a ruflle or two, and that was all.
Her eyes were fixed on her work
and perhaps her thoughts too, 70
they wandered less than they used
and dreamily she heard the wind ant
the snow. There was creaking u
the gate, a step up the pathway,
Irapping at the door. and tall hand
some stranger stood before the littl
silent and astonished household. 4
shining gun was slung over one shoul
der. and at his heels came a large do
that stopped as he stopped, and So
upright and painting at his feet.
10 make the story short. we vii
say simply the stranger was a poor
but generous and impulsivc younl
man. shooting game as he travele'
about the country in search Of his for
tune.
! Idle days and adventures Of on
!, sort and another had brought him +
the two last shillings that were in tn
bottom Of his purse. and he ,;as no,
in search of work and homs. Any
thing he was willing to do, and at an,
price Mr.. Fisher might be pleased
pay.
As the reader will guess there wa
plenty Of hard work to do on th
farm Of John Fisher at any time o
the year, after good deal Of consulta
ton and hesitancy on the part Of tn
( elder Fisher the young man, who's
name was Thomas Buttershall, wa
employed for limited period.
When he worked, the young ma
gave farmer Fisher great satisfaction
and when Sunday, or evening, or an
other idle time came, he was to hi
employer equally unsatisfactory: 70
whatever he did he did with all hi
might, and swung himself on a grape
vine as heartily as he swung tn
! scythe. He did nothing by halves
nothing grudgingly; when he laughe
he laughed in earnest, and when h
played he played in earnest. In th
times / write oft was customary fc
, laboring men to carry with them I
the field or the barn, or whereve
their work was, jug Of whisky, an
, to drink from il as often as inclinatio
required. Thomas Buttershall ha
his jug as well as the rest.
"Tom is not worth the whisky h
drinks" said Mr.. Fisher one da]
"and when the term Of his engage
me ut expires l shall turn him off.
II never saw him the worse ,
drink, I am sure" replied Sally, an
trembling, turned her blushing fac
from her father.
"It appears to me, Sally" said Il