The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-06-06
From the National Magazine.
EEle Widow MlmarGi's FirstEOye.

| KITTENS DaSKeQ III the warmth, ana q Uecreplt
yellow dog, lying in the full reflection of the
blaze, wrinkled his black nose approvingly, as
he turned his hind feet where his fore feet had
been. Over the chimney hung several fine
hams and pieces Object Apples were festooned
along the ceiling, and other signs of plenty and
good cheer were scattered profusely about
There were plants, toe, upon the window lodges,
horseshoe geraniums and dew plant, just bud
ding, to say nothing of pots Of violets that per
fumed the whole place whenever they took it
into their purple heads to bloom. The floor
was carefully swept, the chairs had not speck
of dust upon leg or round, the long settle near
the fire place shone as if it had been Just var.
nished, and the eight day clock i'll the corner
had its white face newly washed and seemed
determined to tick the louder for it. Two arm
chairs were drawn up at a cosy distance from
the hearth and each other, candle, newspa-
per, pair of Spectacles, dish of red checked
apples and pitcher of cider, filled little table
between them. In one of these arm chairs sat
a comfortable looking woman, about forty-fye,
with checks red as the apples, and eyes as dark
and bright as they had ever been, nesting her
lebow on the table, and her head upon her hand,
looking tloughtfulky into the fire.
This was the Widow Minards, 'relict' of Mr..
Levi Minards who had been Wondering in the
peighboring churchyard for more than seven
years She was thinking Of her dead husband,
tpossibly because all her work being done, and
the servants gone to bed, the sight of his empty
chair at the other side of the table and the ST.
leDce of the room made her q little lonely.
Seven years : so the widows reverie run !;
it seems as if it were more than fifty, and yet
! L don't look so very old neither. PERHAPS it's
not having children to bother my life out as 9th
er 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 a shadow and m
sure they have done it, though she never will
own it,
The widow took an apple from the dish and
began to peel it.
How fond Minards used to be of these apples.
lie never will eat any more Of them, poor fell
low, for don't suppose they have apples where
he has gone to. Heigho L remember very well
how used to throw apple peels over my head
when was girl to see who was going to mar
ry.'
Mrs Minards stopped and blushed for in
those days she did not know Mr.. NJ, and was
] always looking eagerly to see if the peel had
formed a capital s. Her meditations took a
new turn.
How handsome Sam Payson was, and how
much used to care for him. 1 wonder what
has become of him ?Jerusha says he went away
from our village just after did, and 70 one has
ever heard Of him since. What a silly quarrel
that was If it had not been for that
Here came long pause, during which the
widow looked very steadfastly at the empty arm
chair of Levi Minards, deceased. Her fingers
played carelessly with the apple peel, and she
drew it safely towards her and looked around
the room.
Upon my word it is very ridiculous, and |
don't know what the neighboYs would say if
they saw me-.
Still the plump fingers drew the red peel near
err.
But then, they can't see me, that's comfort,
and the cat and old Bowse never will know
what 1t means Of course l don { believe any
| thing about it.
The peel hung gracefully from her hand.
But still, should ike to try it it would
seem like old times, and
| over her head it went, and curled up quietly
on the floor at little distance. Old Bowse who
always slept with one eye open saw it fall land
marched deliberately up to smell it.
Bowse-Bowse, don't touch it,! cried his
mistress, and bending over it with beating
heart, she turned as red as fire. There was as
handsome capital 'S' as anv one could wish
TO see.
A great knock came suddenly to the door
Bowse growled and the widow screamed and
snatched the apple peel
It's MIR. M.-it's his spirit come back again
because tried that silly trick she thought
fearfully.
Another knoc1-louder than the first, and a
mans voice exclaimed
| 'Hillo-the house
Who il it 2 asked the widow, somewhat re-
lieved to find that the departed Levi was still
safe in his grave at the hillside.
A stranger said the voice.
What do you wants."
: To get a lodging here for the night
The widow deliberated
Can't you 60 on? There's house half
mile further, if you keep to the rght-hand side
of the road, and turn to the left after YOU get
by
Il S raining cats and dogs, and Pm wet TO
the skin; don't you think you can accommodate
me l don't mind sleeping on the floor
Raining, is it didn't know that and the
kind-hearted little woman unbarred the door
very quickly. Come in, whoever you may be;
only asked you to go on because l am a lone
woman with only one servant in the house'
Inc stranger entered the house, shaking him
self like Newfoundland dog, upon the steps,
and scattering little shower of drops over his
hostess ard her nicely swept floor.
Alb, that looks comfortable after a man has
been out IN storm, he said:a he caught sight
OF the tire, and striding along towards the hearth
followed by Bowse, who shifted su.piciously at
ms heels, he stationed himself in the armchair
MI Mln0rdS armchair which had been
kept sacred to the memory for seven years
The widow was Mortified, but her guest looked
! so weary and worn out that she could not ask
him to move, but busted herself in stirring M
| the blaze that ne might the sooner dry his drip
| ping clothes. A new thought struck her: Mr.
NJ had worn comfortable dressing gown du-
ring his illness which still hung in the closet at
her right. She could not let that poor man
catch his death by sitting in that wet coat if he
was in Mr.. Minards chair, why should he not
be in Mr.. Minard's wrapper She went MIN
bly, to the closet, took it down, fshud out
pair OF slippers from boot rack below, and
brought them to him.
4 think you had better fake off your coat and
boots; you will have the rheumatic fever if YOU
don't. Here are some things for you to wear
while they are drying. And you must be hun
cry too; will go into the pantry and get you
something to eat
She hustled away, on hospitable thoughts in
tent and the stranger made the exchange with
a quizcal smile playing around his bps He
was tall, wel-fOrmed man, with a bold but
handsome face, sun-burned and heavily bea! ded
and looking anything but delicate, though his
blue eyes danced from under forehead as white
as snow. He looked around the kitchen 18th
mischievous air and stretched his feet or be-
fore him, decorated with the defunct Boniface's
slippers.
ppm my Molu' tnls Is stepping INTO the old
mans shoes with vengeance! And what A
, hearty, good humored woman she is. Kind as a
kitten, and he leaned forward and stroked the
t cat and her brood, and then patted old Bowse
l upon the head. The widow bringing in sundrv
1 good things, looked pleased at his attention to
her dumb friends
It's wonder Bowse does not growl; he gen.
orally does if strangers touch him. Dear me how
stupid!
This last remark was neither addressed to the
stranger nor to the dog, but to herself. She
had forgotten that the little stand was not emp
; ty and there was no room for the things she
: held.
Oh, I'll manage it, said her guest, gather,
ing up paper, candle, apples and spectacles Oh
was not without pang thet she saw them In
? his hand fnr thav had bean thn lnndlnrd,. =