Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-02

evidently the pride OF the establishment, nor
on the hight backed instruments of torture, IA
cetously termed by our ancestors chairs, STAN
| ding stiffly about the room. From the wide
| chimney-place came grateful odor of pine
| and hemock boughs, and, on one side of the
hearth, sat, in comfortable rocking chair, a
comely black-eyed matron, peeing apples,
whom Charley rightly concluded to be the
mother of tho household.
! This lady received the newcomers with
| swell, Grace,' directed to her daughter, and
| so suspicious q glance at Charley and his dus-
! ty habiiments, that Grace felt called upon to
explain; in attempting which, either through
| fear OF Charley or her mother, or from a lack
| OF properly developed logical powers, she in
volved herself and her story in such tangle
| that, when she concluded, it was quite evident
/ that her mother was in doubt as to whether it
WAS the horse or Charley that s'wouldn't go.;'
| Whereupon, Charley came to the rescue, re1a-
ting the affair in rafting of his own, that
made the old lady smile in spite of herself.
| And, before she knew it, he had possession of
the tray and apples, and was peeling away with
! as much gusto as tho that had been the voca-
tfon to which he had specially directed his at
| tention since his earliest days. When band
| of young Hoppers came tumbling tumultuous-
! " into the kitchen, Charley straightway knew
each individual tow-head by his or her proper
| name, and, in five minutes was on the most
confidential terms with them all. He heard
how Jack climbed the elm tree, and Kitty had
found four little speckled eggs in the field,
and Nellie had two black white kittens IN
the barn. all with a gravity and interest that
quite overcame any lingering doubts and pre-
iudices of Mrs. Hopper.
The sturdy old farmer, who soon after made
his appearance, was not SO easily won. lie
was accustomed to entertain very slight and
| contemptuous opinions of Young men i'll gem
eral, and students in particular, who were, he
said, GA parcel of crack-braincd, goddess
! Young fools, who might better be planting
corn, guiding the plow,t than learning heath
enish lingo half of them couldn't understand" ;"
But the old gentleman had hobby, to wit {:
the raising of fine cattle; and the artful Char
ley was not long in discovering it. Now, 1t
had happened once to him to be i'll and ccnva-
lesccnt at lonely country tavern, without
companions or books to while away the hours,
except large treatise on the art above men
toned, which, in sheer desperation, he read
from beginning to end. Now he rcaped the
reward of his labors.
First he advanced an opinion on the sub
ject which he was quite sure the farmer would
contradict then defended it warmly, bringing
to bear on his astounded opponent the longest
words aud the most scientific terms he could
recOllect; then gracefully lowered his flag ana
surrendered, yielding to the farmers superior
experience and clearness of perception; then
appealed to him on certain knotty points,
which his unassisted wisdom was quite unable
to solve till the delighted old gentleman clap
ped him the shoulders, saying:
..You are q clever lad, after all, though you
be a student; and If your father would give NJ
this silly notion of maxi ing you lawyer, and
would send YOU down here to me, would
make man of you.'
Miss Grace all the while sat with downcast
eyes, in the corner, knitting away very de-
, murely, till her mother gave the signal to sci
the table.
1t had never occurred 10 Charley, when he
boI armed Nora OF
Bridget stamping about the dining room, that
there could he any grace in the act OF laying
a table-cloth, or refinement in the arrangement
OF the dishes. But the trim little figure, and
, dear little feet, and plump little hands, made
| ouitc little poem out of this prosaic house
| hold duty; and once, when he caught TO
guish glance of the dark eyes, he had nearly
I disgraced himself by answering '.1es 20 II
the wrong place.
'Twas a royal supper. Such golden butter
and snowy bread, and tempting biscuits; sucl
platters of luscious corn, and dishes OF peach
es and cream. and glorious pies, and amber
/ hued sweet-mcats. and cake of Grace's OWL
e making.
Charley, sitting next that young lady, ant
/ looking alternately at her and out OF the vine
: covered porch ,at fields smiling IN the siantlhs
4 rays of the sun, and hills just darkenlhS VIII
/ the purple shades of twilight, vowed he was II
il paradise, partaking Of nectar ana amorosia.
Just then the door opened, and there sldie'
j awkwardly in, long individual, with nahlnt
Q hair and freckled skin immense Stooping shoui
;; ders. colossal hands and feet, and perpetua
s displeasing leer on his heavy features:
= This interesting parsonage, having been in
4 troduced to Charley under the euphohiou
name of Joshua Skeels, proceeded to max
4 himself agreeable by seating himself on IN
4 | other side of Grace and devouring an I'm
a mense quantity of the tempting ediblcs befor
/ birn-between each gobble, grinning admira
bly at his fair neighbor, to her no small VeNa
d tion and to the intense amusement OF CharleS
# Laughter however, gave place to wra'i
n When supper was cleared away, ana urac
Il once more at liberty to return to her knitting
the elegant Joshua established his chair an
q his Iapky person in such position as to forr
r. n barrier between her and the rest oil the CON
many and opened conversation in loud whl:
q per. that was unavoidaby audible to Charley:
y ssI saw Gracie," he commenced, s'who
r. this ere chap Takes great airs, don I ne
@ Grace's answer was inaudible.
r ssOhi Going TO stay here long p! hope no
n Spoil all our fun if he does, won't he =.
e ssConfound the brute II muttereu Ohaii'
r. under his breath.
>, ssWhat's the matter, Oracle ~ persisted tu
= undaunted Joshua. sGot the sulks this eve
a ming. ehl See here, now. L bro't ye some
r thing Got it real cheap, too. The pediar
\. bought it of asked me shilling; but to
IS him we weren't green down this way, an
m beat him down to sixpence !"
~ And after fishing out jack k-knife, piece
II string, lump of chalk, an old bandanna, an
"a a ouid of tobacco, from the depths of h
n pocket he finally captured and held out Il
al ward Grace small cake of shaving soap.
> ssWelI. why don't you take it 2" said Jos
10 ma as Grace sat motionless. s'lt's real good
ts I told the man it was fora young lady, ar
r he said he knew you'd like IT,