Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-07-27


say they have to put up with fare such
as we wouldn't have the face to offer to
a smart dog. / wish l could do up
paper O. these doughnuts for the boy, he
apays was fond of 'em. Dear me them
cakes are burnin',' dipping her large
tin ladle into the boiling fat; but it
al'ays illustrates me when get to thinkin'
O Reuben. Pm reminded sometimes
o wha: Parson Hunter said to me;
5 Mrs. Palmer. you mustn't make an
idol of your son. He belongs to the
Lord. I know it's true as Scriptur' but
! can't help thinkin' the Lord II show
marsy on my weakness, COS he's all I've
got, and after a great many struggles
Pve given up the others to Him but
my very life's bound up in that boy, and
if anything should happen to him, God
knows it would break his poor old moth
er's heart And Mrs. Palmer broke
down here, and she sat down on the old
oaken chest, and wiped her eyes on the
corner of her check apron.
Light warblings of some old psalm
tune futtered down the staircase, and
then the door opened, and pleasant
looking girl burst into the room.
Rebecca Palmer was twenty-five, and
the sight of her bright young face was
like a picture rejoicing the eyes. She
was not beautiful, but her cheeks were
full of the glow of youth, and the rich
ness of perfect health.
We'll, child said Mrs. Palmer taking
her kettle from the crane, You jes
hustle round spry, and get up supper
Your father and the men will come
home clear tuckered out, for they've
been fellin' trees all day, and we mus
get a hearty meal for 'em. You sic,
up some ham, too, and fry dozen eggs
while l fix up some short cake
Mother, did you hear the stage horn
asked Rebecca, as she laid the cloth sh
had spun with her own hands for tn
supper.
Yes and 1 was kind of impresse'
there was news from Reuben
Il wonder what keeps father so ? re
marked Rebecca.
Likely as not he's gone round to th'
: tavern, to learn if there's any tiding
from the army
Another half-hour throbbed itself ava
in the pulses of the great old-fashione
clock in the corner, and both the wome
had began to grow alarmed at the deacon
prolonged absence, when they caugf
the click of the gate-latch, and his heav
tread along the footpath.
They saw him stop, as usual at ii
. wooden trough, at the well. and was
i his hands there, and then he came I'M
the kitchen.
Il Why, father began Mrs. Paine
with little wifely admonition, 'wh
u has kept you so long? rally began
! get scared about you
And the supper'S about burnt
cinders, added Rebecca, who was
e something of hurry to get the tab
q cleared in time for singing school.
The deacon was a square-built, su
Drowned man, with shaggy eyebrows al
o weather-beaten face. He came iowa
the table with slow, cropping movemel
'e which neither of the preoccupied wom
IL noticed, and he cleared his throat twi
'0 before he spoke.
/ was detained a spell on some matt
of my owns and Mrs. Palmer a
Rebecca at once concluded that he all
:, ded to some bargain with neighbor.
10 Don't you see the chair there, fathel
-. asked Rebecca for the old man sto
still as a statue before the table, thou
:. his daughter had just placed bis seat
his elbow, and now be sat down withc
speaking a word.
:. Why, husband, do belive you
= deaf tonight! You haven't taken yC
=. hat off, exclaimed Mrs. Palmer.
,;s Don't, wife, don't;' and the old N
laid his straw hat on the floor beside h
he The two women bent their he'
Ter reverently over the board, waiting
it the deacon to invoke his customs
ne blessing upon the meal, but no sor
,ur broke the stiffness.
.ar Mrs. Palmer glanced up at her b
bs; banb; his head, too, was bent over
nat plate; and stream Of candlelight fall
en-, on his face revealed it fully to
IRE gaze. John, something has happnec
you to night she said, leaning forwl
me and breathlessly searching his face.
ord A deep,.convulsive sort of groan hea
out of the old mans lips, and both