Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-12-07

Every morn listen now Ia4 NGaE@ #a.
For the sound Of little feet ~ arsE.Tars9 .s.
Meath my window, In the street, e.
And wish to be child, 2 yFha a.fsa
With heart as free, a. tresses wikl, E ta a.a4
From the worlds restraint and rule, -
Hurryng to the village school.
THE WIDOW CORPS FIRST LOVE.
BY MARY W. STANLEY GrsBoS. "F t'.'"
The fire cracked cheerfully on the broad
hearth Of the old farmhouse kitchens a cat
and thee kittens basked in the warmth, and
decrepid yellow dog lying full in the rehec-
ton Of the blaze, wrinkled his black nose ap-
provingly, as he turned his hind feet where
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
pcrs and slips Of dried pumpkin, in garnish-
ing each window frame. There were plants,
too, on the window ledgcs-horse.shoe gera-
NUNS, and dew plants, and a monthly rose
just budding, to say nothing of pots of vio-
let's that perfumed the whole place whenever
they took tinto their purple heads too bloom.
The floor was carefully swept-the chairs had
not a speck of dust upon leg or round-the
long settec near the fireplace shone as if it
had Just been vanished, and the eight day
clock in the corner had its white face newly
washed, and seemed determined to tick the
louder for it. Two arm chairs were drawn
up at cosy distance from the hearth and
each other, candle, newspaper, pair Of
spectacles, dish of red checked apples and
pitcher of cider, filled little table between
them. In one of these chairs sat comforta-
bic looking woman about forty with
cheeks as red as the apples, and eyes as dark
and bright as they had ever been, resting her
elbow on the table, and her head upon her
hand, and looking thoughtfuly into the fire.
This was the Widow Cobb" relict" ofDea-
con Levi Cobb, who had been mouldering in
to dust in the Bystown Churchyard for more
than seven years. She was thinking of her
dead husband, possibly because-all her
work being done, and the servant gone to bed
the sight of his empty chair at the other
side of the table, and the silence of the room,
made her a little lonely tf# .sgTa .-s5Tg
"Seven years." so the widow reveric ran.
1t SENS assif it was more than fifty-and
yet don't look so very old neither Perhaps
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 profit-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 will never own it." ttgt gH.E !
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began to peel it. @ I.la t'tT.y
How dreadful fond Mr.. Cobb used to be
Of these gratis. He never will eat any more
Of thcnl-pOor fcllow--for I don't suppose
they have apples where he has gone to-
HeighO remember very well how used to
throw apple parings over my head when l
was girl, to see who was going to marry"
Mrs. Cobb stopped short and blushed-
For in those days she did not know Mr..
Cobb, and was always looking eagerly to see
il the peel had not formed capital "S."-
Her meditation took new turn. fr@s
"HOw handsome Sam Payson was and
how much used to care about him. Iwon-
der what has become of him! Jerusha saws
he went away from our village Just after
did, and no one has ever heard of him since.
And what silly thing that quarrel was! If
1t had not been for that -" sid3 o. Ert
Here came long pause, during which the
widow looked very steadfastlv at the empty
chair of Levi Cobb, deceased. Her fingers
played carelessly with the apple pairing, she
drew it safely towards her, and looked around
"Upon my word it is very ridiculous, and
| don't know what the neighbors would say
if they saw me-" an ~ ss. I.
Still the plump fingers drew the red peel
nearer. @ Gli4tg #a
+" But then they can't see me, that's COM
fort, and the cat and old Bowse never will
know what it means. OF course done he.
lieve anything about it." - e-,.g. =. e.
Tho E,o,v, bc-.
hand. sts.
But still, should like to try, it would
seem like old times, and" ~
Over her head il went and curled up quiet
ly on the floor at little distance off. Old
Bowse, who always slept with one eye open,
saw 1t fall, and marched deliberately up to
smell it. 81 7aUas 38i
"Bowse-Bowse--don touch it!' cried
his mistress, and bending over it with beat.
ing heart, she blushed like . rose. There
was as handsome acapital rs" as any one
could wish to see. 53 f86a a. s
+ A great knock came suddenly at the door.
Bowse gTowled, and the widow screamed,
and snatched up the apple pairing. ~
tits Ar. Cobb--it's his spirit come back
again, because tried that silly trick" she
thought fearfuliy to herself sGT
AuOtIer kHOCK-IOuOef tn0n the nrSt, anu
mans voice exclaimed :-er "a .<7rsstff
!" 1illo, the house ~ III 6nEd osa n, Grast
"Who is it?'' asked the widow somewhat
relieved to find that the departed Levi was
still safe in his grove on the hill side 4 a
e" A stranger" said the voice. 81
"What do you want ?" ds 3 grg3rze
=" To get lodging for the night" d ~
The widow delibcrated. 81 h egsif ! lss
"Can't you 60 on-therc's honsc half q
mile further, if you keep to the right hand
side of the road-and turn to the left after
You get by s74
It's raining cats and dogs and I'm very
delicate" said the stranger coughing. "Im
wet TO- the cskin-don't you think you can
accommodate me! I don't mind sleeping on
the floor, se, s., q, ~ - -,
Raining, is it, l didn't know that, and
the kind hearted little woman unbarrcd the
door very quickly. Come in, whoever you
may be7-I only asked you to 50 on because
! l an alone woman, with only one servant y
the house" I" 800 r..s.-' .s'g s.e ls
The stranger entered shaking himself ike
iav Newfoundland dog upon the STEP, and
scattering : little shower a drops o5cr bis