Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-03-20

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. I"
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began to peal it.
"How dreadful fond Mr.. Cobb used to
be of these CRAFTS. He never will cat any
more of them-poOr fellow-for | don't
suppose they have apples where he has
gone to. Heigho! I remember very well
how used to throw apple parings over
my head when was girl, to see who 1
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 if the peel had formed capital IS. y
Her meditatiOns took a new turn.
"How handsome Sam Payson wasl and
how much used to care about him.
wonder what has become of himl Jerusha
says he went away from our village just
after 1 did and no one has ever heard of
him since. And what silly thing that
quarrel was! If it had not been for
that
Here came long pause, during which
the widow looked very steadfastly at the
empty chair Of Levi Cobb, deceased. her
fingers played earelessly with the apple
pairing. she drew it slowly towards her, and
4 looked around the room.
Upon my word it is very ridiculous.
and l don't know what the neighbors would
say if they saw me. +"
Still the plump fingers drew the red peel
nearer - @
"But then they can't see me, that's
comfort, and the cat and old Bowse never
will know what it means. OF course
don't believe anything about it
The pairing hung gracefully from her
small hand.
but still, 1 should like to try, it would
seem like old times, and
Over her head it went and curled up
quietly on the floor little distance Off
Old Bowse. who always slept with one eye
open, saw it fall, and marched deliberately
up to smell it
'.Bowse-Bowse- don't touch i'll" cried
his mistress, and bending over it with a
beating heart, she blushed Ike rose
There was as handsome a capital ''S' as
any one could wish to see.
A great knock came suddenly at the
door, BOwsc grOwled, and the widow scream
ed, and snatched up the apple-paring
'It's Mr.. CObb-it's his spirit come
back again, because tried that SHY trick, ~
she thought fearfully to herself
Another knock-louder than the first,
and mans voice exclaimed:
''EIillo. the house!!"
WHO is it," asked the widow, some
what relieved to find that the departed
Levi was still safe in his grave on the hill
side.
"a stranger" said the voice.
"What do you want?'
40 get a lodging here for the night" I
The widow deliberated.
"Can't you 90 on-there's house half
a mile further, if you keep to the right
hand side of the road-and turn to the
left after you get by"
Its raining cats and dogs-and I'm
very delicate" said. 1.-THE stranger coughing. |
."rm wet to the skin-dont you think
you can accommodate me? don't mind
sleeping on the foor."
RAINING, is it? l didn't know that"
and the kind hearted little woman unbar
red the door very quickly. Come in,
whoever you may bel only asked you to
60 on because l am lone woman, with
only one servant in the house."
The stranger entered shaking himself
like a Newfoundland deg upon the step, /
and scattering little shower of drops over.
his hostess and her nicely swept floor
"Ah-that looks comfortable, after a
man has been for hours in Storm be 1
said as he caught. sight.of the fire, and
striding along towards the hearth, followed
by Bowse, who shifted suspiciously at his
heels, he stationed himself in'the arm chair
-Hr CO5bs arm Chair, which had been
kept asacred to his memory" for seven
years. The widow was horrifed, but her
guest looked so weary and worn out, that
she ceuld not ask him to move, but busted
herself in stirring up the blaze that he
might the sooner dry his dripping clothes
A new thought struck her Mr. Cobb had
worn a comfortable dressing gown during
his Illness which still hung in the closet at
her right She could not let this poor
man catch his death by sitting in that wet
coat-if he was in Mr.. Cobb's chair, why
should he not be in Mr. Cobb's wrapper?
She went nimbly to the closet, took it down,
tished out a pair of slippers from the boot
rack below, and brought them to him
Il think you had better take off your
coat and boots-you viii have the rheuma-
tic fever or some thing like it if you don't
Here are something's for you to wear while 4
they are drying And you must be hun
cry too. Twill 60 into the pantry and get
you something TO eat.
She hustled away on hospitable thoughts !
intent" and the stranger made the ex-
change with a quizzical smile playing
around his lips. He was tall well form /
ed man, with bold but handsome face-
sunburned and heavily bearded, and look
ing anything but delicate though lis
blue eyes glanced out from under fore
head as white as snow He looked around (
the kitchen with a mischeEous air and 1
stretched cut his feet before him, decorated 4
with the defunct Deaeon's slippers.
Upon my Eord-this is stepping into
the cid mans shoes with a vengencei And .
what hearty. good -humCred looking wo-
man she is.-kind as a Kitten and he
leaned and stoke the cat, and her brood 4
and then patted old BOwse on the head
The widow bringing in sundry good things, |
looked pleased at his attentions to her
dumb friends.
Its wonder Bowse does not growl-
he generally does if strangers touch him.
Dear me how sfunidi;