Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-07-27
ik usting u urs.

that ever had glossy, dancing brown curls and
glosser and more dancing brown eyes, or wore
broad hat and bewitching white apron. That
apron was always white rs milk whether she was
skmming pans in the dairy, or sitting in the wide
kitchen doorway peeling apples for pies, never u
speclS nor stain marrcd its immaculate whiteness
| | thought she had charm against dirt or disor-
der, or else was n witch herself, and had notion
of carrying horseshoe in my pocket. Pity |
didn't. But anticipate.
One night in August | sauntered up the hill,
sure that Net would be pairing apples next day
was Saturday, baking day as every New England
cr knows) So going up the lane and turning
the corner of the house, wide open was the kitch-
en- door and in the door sat Net.
She had drawn chair to the threshold and sat
n basket on the stone doorstep to catch the cores
and peelings. Beyond her you could see the wide
expanse of Kitchen, no mean kingdom of itself,
with such fireplace and oven as | never saw
anywhere else.
Aunt Janet never could have the pairing ma
chine brought down from the garret until the reg
ular season for drying apples, so there was no
chance for fellow to make himself useful as we'll
as ornamental Cousin Net had little knife of
| her own, and the way it flew around the apple
was canton. There plenty of time for
counting, however, for aunt Janet never made
less than twenty pies and whole crock of jam
every week. and for these it was Nets province
| to provide.
| 1t was her special province to superintcnd the
kitchen and the dairy too, as reflected when |
looked into the latter and noted the perfection of
it's arrangement and the spotless purity of its
yellow floor Then | looked at Nets hands,
which were almost as white as her neck. White
hands can work as well as rough ones. Myra
Knowles was always eXclaiming against Nets
white hands and white apron AS if she could
do any work !"
/ But when in July we moved the out field that
ioined uncle's had seen the kitchen all " redd
up" when the first smoke rising from the
! Knowles chimney-seen Net take off that magical
white apron and wash the painted floor.
How we'll knew that she made better brown
bread than her MOTHER that--well, no matter!-
was fully convinced that Net was just the girl
for me, and what could think about sitting
there in the twilight, but her various charms and
capabilities.
1t was pretty place for thinking, if one want.
ed to make everyday affairs delightful to ones
thoughts Across the lane the side Hill orchard
slopcd away to the south under its northern wall
red currans and purple goosebcrries ripencd in
n marvellous way, and one domesticuted wild
grape furnished aunt Ianets favorite preserve.
Blue and white volets grew thicker there in
Spring than anywhere else in the neighborho0d .
The applet trees themselves were worth transfer
ing to canvas, so curiously they twisted their
huge limbs lither and thither so generously they
held out their fruits in hundred hands. making
the old fable Of Briarcus true in novel way.
There was hop vine over the kitchen door.
and had been pulling Off its green bells while I
had been thinking all that have written here
and IA great deal more. You can see was not
in love then. If had been should not have
been thinking what Net could do but what she
| would do.
Perhaps the young lady grew inpatient of the
silence, for presently she spoke.
al Fred. Harris really going out West, cousin
viii p said she in an indifferent sort of way.
A vision of Fred's gay, handsome face came
into my mind as suddenly as if his bodily pres
ence had been looking over my shoulder. Fred.
Harris was handsome and rs very wag as ever
went to the district school, slid down hill with
the girls, or carcatured master. Why
should stammcr and say, " Ycs-no-really,
don't know'
Net laughed, and catching my eye blushed and
laughed again, such ringing peal this time that
it brought aunt Janet into the kitchen To see
what was the matter. And the young lady blush
ed deeper than ever tossed her cnrls aud said
"Wil was stupdl She really thought he was
aslecp!" Then seeing that viii looked hurt as
well as angry sbc added insult TO injury
"That is, mean he has torn my hop vine half
to pieces There's nothing about the house |
care much for, sir"
Then she pouted herself in the very spirit of
opposition Nothing could have cured my sulki-
ness better. Pretty lips are only more tempting
when they pout. Some divinity must have sug
gestcd aunt Janeps next speech.
" Why, thought you were going after roast
ing ears, child. II you want them, you must go
tonight. Tomorrow is baking day, you know,
and thcrel be heaps to do"
But it is down at the very end of the long
/ field" said Net, "t's too late now"
"Nonsense. viii can go with you"
| And | went. Never word spoke her lady
ship, but hurried in business like silence through
the orchard aud down the field. Silently she
held her white apron TO receive the ears which /
broke off aud deposited therein.
II, Il - fl,ot al
pensivc, half pouting mouth charmed me as they
never had before then and there fell in love.
Twas delightful but tormenting fall. ] was no
longer the same person who had sat upon the door
stone dreaming about her perfectiOns but quite
another who knew he loved her and hated Fred.
Harris. Good heavens if should lose her, and
if gay laughing Fred. should win her ! But |
would not lose her and then aud there | kissed
Net Instead of taking It kindly, or returning it
as she might have done, that singular young per-
! son threw an ear of corn directly at my head, and
dartng off with the swttness Of fawn, disap-
peared in the orchard, whittier | was too angry
! to follow her.
! 1t didn't mend matters much when heard the
| light step of Fred. Harris coming up the stony
road, and he whisting Der the hills to Mamie.
o." For a whole week it seemed az If my COM
ing up tue hill was the signal for Nets disap-
pearance During that period had plenty of
time to think, aud did think most perseveringly,
without coming to any sensible conclusion.
Just one week from the time of my discomft-
ure, making my appearance directly after milk
ing, took the enemy unawares. Standing be.
meath the hop vine were half dozen boys and
girls. In the depths of the kitchen aunt Janet
was skllfully preparing an enormous bed of Goals
in the fireplace. There was to be roasting of
green corn. But of course it must be gathered
first By good luck Net and were partners in
that task and managed it somewhat differently
this time IT'S in my door that Net sits to pare
the APPLES now SO much for roasting ears.
Tile widow Of Henry A. Crabb has been given