The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-12
KENOSHA WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER y, 1861

standing her fathers frequent warnings, 'Je-
irusha Jerusha my daughter!
Ioverheard mother lamenting to father this
procliVity of her daughters, one day, when he
was mending his scythe, and he answered
Wall, mother it's in young blood, jist as it's
in young colts to run wild for while, and it's
no use holdin' the rein 100 tight. It's my opin
ion the gal ill come out right in the end, and
make list the same sober-minded, sterlin' wo-
man her mother afore her, and she'll see that
her daughter came honest enough by her love of
fun, if she'll only look back risin' OF twenty
years
WALL I'm sure don't mean to be hard on
Jerushy, responded mother, quite softened by
the illusions to her own youth
One evening in the following autumn, re-
turned home late from neighbours, with whose
son had been down the river fishing that af-
ternoon. 1t was a still, ripe night, with the
large stars hanging their golden embroderies
along the sky, and the sleeping face OF the earth
was wrapped up in snowy veil of moonlight
which made it fairer than the beauty of the day.
AS l approached the gate, / saw Parson Will
let's and my sister come out of the front door,
and the voice of the latter foated out TO me in
the stiffness, as she suddenly paused on the
steps:
Wont you wait a moment, Stephen? I'll
run back and get my shawl, if we are to walk
as far as Berry Bridge, for the dew will be heavy
returning
Certainly it will. 1 am glad to see you take
some thought of yourself for once Jerusha;
and the girls break of light, sweet laughter was
flung back, for answer, as she went up stairs
l went up surreptitiously into the house by the
back way, so that no one saw me, resolving in
my uind what had heard, and scarcely be-
| lieving the evidence of my own ears.
| The next morning l watched mysopporunity,
and went to my sister while she was churning
butt er in the milk room, Jerushy, didn't you
call Mr.. Willetts stephen, last night 2
She paused: can see her now, with her
hand grasping the churn handle, and the car
nations in her cheeks suddenly blooming into
wide, bright roses, as she asked
How do you know l did p
NO matter-I heard you! How dared you
do such thing, and he minister, Jerushy
| Cummings?'
| a little half-arched, half defiant smile played
among the dimples about her lips.
| 'Jerushy,' said, shocked at what seemed to
me fresh proof of her audacity, I've a good
will to GO straight and tell father, and l shall
| if you ever do SO again. What would he say =
| And as was indignantly going away, after
delivering this threat, my sisters voice summon
me back.
See here, Nathan sic said, with a great
twinkle of fun in her eyes, although she manag-
ed too keep her lips tolerably quiet, 'supposin'
Mr. Wietts has told me that he would never
consent to my calm him anything but Stephen
as long as l live, what then?
This presented q new aspect to the matter
| stood debating it with myself few moments,
and then, like fash of lightning, the truth sud-
denly came to me. Jerushy, you're goin' to
be married to Parson Wietts.' The roses were
peones.
We'll, what if l am? Have you any objec-
tons ]?
Didn't hear you say you'd die an old maid
afore you'd marry minister
Well folks change their minds sometimes
was her laconic, comprehensive reply.
l went off whistng, but Jerushas voice
came after me ag,.in.
DO you see anything very bad in my calling
the minister Stephen now, Nathan?'
No, suppose not, conSiderin'.'
4 year and a half went by, and my sister Je-
rusha Cummings, was Parson Willetts' wife
She passed most of this time at young ladies'
boarding school, in a city hundred miles away,
and returned with mind enlarged and cultiva
ted, with manners sOftened and dignihed, well
fitted for the new positio she was to occupy
My fathers prophecy respecting Jerusha was
verified. Her generous impulses 'crgstalized
into solid principles and Stephen Willets new
er regretted the day that brought him All I'M
welcome guest to our Threshold for his lar
young wife she d about his home the sanctity OF
q loving, Christian womanhool, and sweetened
and enriched every hour of his life with her
tenderness and selfsacriice, The new parson-
age which his people built for Parson Wiletts,
is still standing, and boards the memories of fit
! ty-seven years in its silent rooms.
A fair company of boys and girls grew up to
man and wOmanhood under its roof, and my
nephews and nieces have not forgotten, IN the
prime Of their years, the counselS of youth.
! My father and mother, Jerusha and her hus-
band, have all gone to walk under the cedars and
p aim trees Of the city of our God.
! / am an old old man, as | said, and my chill
dren's children play around me now, and their
Joyous laughter seems sometimes to stir i'll my
heart the pulses of its yauth but they never
bound as they do on some fifteenth of May, fair
with sunshine and sweet with south winds, as
is this one. just like that one far away in the
land of my boyhood, from which comes stealing
up, through its long path of three. score years,
the voice of my mother, as it came to me
across the pasture lot that day Nathan! Ma
! than =
And, i'll little while, l, who now stand in
patient waiting hope to hear it again, float
! ing in tones that my heart will recognize across
the green pastures and bright waters of the
kingdom Of Heaven: Nathan! Nathan