The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-11-20
THE WIDOW COBB'S FIRST LOVE.
BY MARY W. STANLEY GIBSON.

The fire cracked cheerfully on the broad
hearth Of the old farmhouse kitchen, cat
and three kittens basked 10 the warmth, aud
a decripid yellow dog lying full in the refec-
ton of lho blaze, wrinkLsd bis black nose ap-
! proviney, as he turned bis hind foo. whore
his fore feet had been. Over the chimney
hung fine hams, and pieces Of dried beef
Apples were festooned along the ceiling, and
crooked necked squashes WED with red pep
pers and slips of dried pumpkin, in gsrnishing
each window frame. There were plants, TOO,
on the window ledges-horse-s shoe Geraniums,
and dew plants, and monthly rose just bud.
ding, to say nothing Of pots Of violets that
perfumed the whole place whcneye- they took
it into their purple heads 10 bloom, The
floor was carefully swept--lhe chairs had not a
speck of dust npon round ~ 'eg--the long
settee Near the fireplace shone as IT it had
been just vanished, aud the eight day clock
in the corner had had its white face newly
washed and seemed determined 10 tick the
louder for it, Two arm chairs were drawn up
at a cosy distance from tho hearth aLd each
other, candle, newspaper, pair of specta
cles, dish Of red checked apples and pitch.
er Of cidor, filed little table between them.
In one of these chairs sat comfortable look.
ing woman about forty five with cheeks rs
red as the apples, aud eyes as dark and bright
as they had ever been, resting her elbow on
the table, and her lead on her hand aud
looking tn ughtfuIly into the fire. This was
the Widow Cobb-"relict" of Deacon Levi
Cobb, who had been moulderng into dust in
the Bytown Church ard for more than seven
years. She was thinking Of her dead husband
possibly bccause--all her work being done
and the servant gone to bed-the : ght of his
empty chair at the other side OF the table, and
the silence of the room, made her a little lone
y.
Seven years. so tho widows rcyerie ran.-
1t seems AZ if IL was more than ffty-aud
yet don't look so very old neither. Per-
haps it's not having any children to bother
my life out, as other people have They may
say what they like--children are more plague
than proft-that's my opinion. Look at my
sister Jerusha with her six boys. She's worn
to shadow, and I'm sure they have done it,
though she wont own it,
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began to peal it.
How dreadful fond Mr.. Cobb used TO be
eff these gratis. He never will eat any more
Of them-poor fellow--nor | don't suppose
they have apples where he Dos gone to-
Heigho! remember very well how used
tc throw app'e bearings over my head when
was q girl, to see who was going to mar.
ry.'
Mrs. Cobb stopped short and blushsd.-
For IN those days she did not know Mr.. Cobb,
and was always looking eagerly to see if the
peel bad formed the capita! ',S,' Her medi-
tstions took a new turn.
How handsome Sam Payson was and how
much ! used to care about him Jerusha
says be went away from our village Just af
ter did, aud 20 one has ever heard of him
since. What silly thing that quarrel Was!
II it had not been f.r that
Here came long pause, during which the
widow looked very Stsadfaatiy at the empty
chair Of Levi Cobb, DECEASED. Her finger
played csrelessly With the apple pairing. she
drew it safely towards her and looked around
the fo ON.
upon my word IT Ia very ridiculous, md
what would the neighbon say il they should
see meF
Still the plump fingers drew the red peel
nearer.
fort, aud the cat and old Bow.c never will
know what il means. ieD't believe any,
thing in it,
The pairing hung gracefully from her small
band.
But stl should like TO try,it would seem
like old tImes and
Over her bead il went aud curled up oui.
city on the floor Mt little distance of. Old
Bowse, who always slept With one eye open,
saw il fall and marched deliberately up and
smelled Of il.
'Bowse--Bowse- don't touch it, cried bis
mistress, and bending over il with beating
heart, she blushed like rose. There was as
handsome a os,ital - ss any one could wish
TO see.
A great snock came suddenly at the door
Bowse growled, and the widow screamed and
snatcbed up the pairing.
It's Mr Cobb--it's bn spirit come back
again, because tried that silly trick she tho,
to herself
Another knock-loudcr than the first and
a mans voice EXCLAIMED:
HALO the house,