Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-16

Z - SHeif otO &eAtHEEEu nun hSA biotAtAi- 4
ly rose-bush a bud just bursting into
crimson bloom, and placed it in her
bosom. Then stealing to the looking |
glass, she smoothed down her already /
faultlessly smooth hair, hoping, with pref |
! ty womanly self-consciousness, that the
two old people by the hearth would not
notice her unusual anxiety about her ap-
pearance. Then she said, in her quiet,
respectful voice:
" Hadn't better light the fire in the
parlor, dear grandfather ? see the new
minister is coming down the hill"
lhe room wnIut s,.vs. .,--.---i =, o.,,,,l
anee with her grandfather's Certainly
make haste, child" was simply, even
humbly furnished, and yet there had
been impaired to ii an air of feminine
grace and refinement during the last two
/ years, since it had been Elinors especial
charge. Every thing was faultlessly
Z neat. Snowy muslin curtains draped
the windows the arm-chairs were cover
ed with crimson patch, and two cores
ponding footstools- Elinor's own work
manship---stood conveniently before
them. A few books were strewn upon
the table-Parson Blake's gift to Elinor
"a Shakespeare and the works Of Pope
and Milton in handsome bindings Not
a speck of dust was visible, and yet Eli
nor, after lighting the fire, idgeted nsr-
vously with her fea.her-brush from chair
to table, and then, seized with a sudden
impulse, sat down and appeared diligent-
ly engaged in reading
That was an afternoon of new and
exquisite delight in the girls quiet life.
! Walter Fairfield possessed the rare gift
of clothing lofty thoughts in simple words,
and making himself alike agreeable to
old and young. To him also came, that
winter day, a new revelation. He re-
cognized in Elinor's musical voice the
r clear tones which had strengthened him
f for his Sabbath duties-in her young,
= innocent face the vision he had carried
= away from church on the Sabbath morn
- ing as new and superior type of love
!. illness. He had seen beautiful women
It before, arrayed in the manifold charms oI
: style and fashion, but beside the uncon-
e sci0us grace of Elinor Trumbull they
o seemed to him like Haunting peonies con
e trasted with the fresh rosebud she wore
T in her bosom.
n There was something dearer in Elinor's
r beauty than the untroubled azure of her
d eyes, the golden flow of her hair, the
o clear tints of her complezion--a sou
$ looking forth from the young, wistfu
s face, womanly, pure, strong, and true.
I And she, with her imaginative, dreamy
> nature, her haunting visions of perfec
o life, a refined and extended culture shu
: out from her reach by mountains Of cir
J. cumstance and destiny, listened to tn
70 newcomer voice, making music through
J. all the avenues Of her being, and wa
IS content.
d That night, when the supper was owe
IF the supper prefaced by blessing tb
first one spoken in that house by Waite
Is Fairfield, and whose prophecy TO tha
$ household Of good or i'll only the ahe
.e years could unseal-the simple suppe
Rs which Elinor had made beautiful by th
le exquisite neatness and delicacy Of he
D. arraneement-when it was over and tn
N new minister had taken his departure
et the elder sat alone IN the best room, al
NJ sorbed in thought while his wife an
1t her granddaughter were busy in th
kitchen, clearing away the fragments an
sr washing up the painted china.
d Moses Grant was growing old. III
h. hair was very white and trouble, NOR
he than years, had dug deep burrows IN hi
l. stern face. The habit was growing 0
be him, as it does on 50 many old men, (
l. talking to himself As be sat ther'
% leaning his head back in bis chair, an
Of looking thoughtfalIy into the fire, he mui
h. INJURED
! Well, after al, the young man doc
seem fun Of the Spirit Of the Lord
10 Yes, really think the Lord is with hin
! But he can never be what Parson Blak
-. was to Mary and me. lie didn't MARI
~ US; be didn't bury our seven children
he didn't know and love Margaret. W
,o are too old now for bin to care for Us
of too old to make new ties-and yet, there
.. Elinor. The child needsa a pastor ef.F'
:, lie viii take an interest ia her. 1 b'
l. lieves be does already; she's goo
:, child. Through her, BE- may get attaci
ed 10 us-wlio knows2 It's o blessed tbin
when folk can love their minister, an
en- be loved back again, IS in Parson Blake
nd time. And then this young man viii b
efl getting married one Of these days. He