The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-08

not too short-yOung, good looking and
good natured.
Her pretty fingers nimbly piled the needles
she was engaged in the construction of a
blue and white stocking. Her companion
solemnly smoked very long pipe, the sap
sizzled in the red oak forestick, and the an
cient understanding in its corner and look
ing, in the uncertain light, like high shoul-
dered mummy case-heavily beat the dead
march of time.
And so the needles flew the old man
smoked-and so did the fire occasionally,
when a puff of wind rumbled in the wide
chimney-the sap Missed and sp!uttered as
the tormenting flames forced it out and the
clock ticked rcmorselessly on.
Suddenly the lady's lips unclosed, and such
an unclosir g-'twas
Like sunset riycn
When the sunset is most red
Pearly teeth also shone between.
Uncle Daniel said she-her voice was, of
course, silvery, liquid and very flute like
Uncle Daniel, why have you never mar
ried ?
The old man slowly expelled an enormous
mouthiul of smoke, which lingering in con-
centric circles above his venerable head, gave
him much the appearance of river god
crowned with fog
'Bekase s'pose it uarn't SO writ, he at
length replied.
Were you never in love .
In what p
'ln love- mean were YOU ever troubled
with the tender passion y
What is the mater of that ere complaint !?
why Uncle Daniel what a queston-it
amt a complaint at all. It's kind of all-o-
ver>h sort of ttclinS-a combination of the
pleasant and painful. Sometimes you seem
to ucad on sublima,ed air. and then on
Scotch thlstlcs-at one time you pity kings,
at another YOU envy beggars-now you-
'stcp-stop". cried Uncle Daniel. his face
lighted with luminous idea-'it's the fever
'n'-ager. had it in % out in York state
Them's very much the symptoms. Fust
was hot then cold-leastWlSe-tust cold, then
hot. felt awtully while the fits was on, and
ever so much better when they want on
Yes. I've had it,
Ellen laid aside her stocking and laughed
till the tears ran down her pretty checks.
What a funny man you are, | ncie Daniel.
How shall | make you understand my mean
ing Love is the attecton--the liking, YOU
know, which man feels for woman, and
riSu rersd.'
Il don't know slowly responded Uncle
Daniel, knocking the ashes ont of his pipe,
and shutting his eyes to concentrate thought
Il don't know about the riSsy rpsSy, but |
have experienced that ere liking
80, my gracious, uncle then YOU have been
in love, how droil. How many times? Come,
now, be honest. uncle
The old man reflected moment, and then
asked Does tancies count p
What do YOU mean by faHeies. uncle y
Il mean the natral attraction of pettlcOat
gineraily.'
no, no. Only real liking. you know. On
ly those cases when you felt lit would be great
satisfaction to be torn asundcr by wild horses
or cut into little fine bits for the sake of the
loved one
Daniel reflected again, and gave as the re-
suit that he had always entertained strong
prejudces against wild horses, and that he
considered the choppIng process more objec-
tionable still. But then, on at least two oc-
casions them likins he'd come it over hin
pretty strong
We'll, now,' said Ellen, rolling up her work
and seating herself on low stool close by
the old mans knee, tell me all about it, won
you, uncle dear"
Daniel shook his head and made fent Of
reflling his pipe, but the blue eyes of hi
neice were SO beseeching!y upturned, there
!; was no resisting. Scatter clearing his throat
and modestly promising that 'twant NJ
great he began:
5 'Forty-eight years ago was twenty-five
years old, and was considered a likely young
ster Father was we'll to do in the world
and do suppose | might hev he'd my picl
of most of the gals in the neighborhood.-
But somehow or mother didn't keer much
about EN-, and beyond goin home with EN-
from singing school and sich like, hadn'
much consarn with any of 'em. But abou
this time our schoolmarm got married, ant
the committee went over to Dracut and hiret
Deacon Spaldins Youngest darter to take he
> place. The first time sot eyes on Permel
Spaldin felt that was a corner. Suthil
seemed to go right through me and kin
pretty nigh screaching right out. At first
didn't know but twas couple of water mel
Ions Id been eatin, SO TUX some peppermint
an saeratus, but got no relief
HOwsoever, to make short story, soo'
found out twas the schoolmarm-nott the mel
Ions, that the pain was here instead of there
land Uncle Daniel indicated the localities b.
placing his brown fore-fnger first on the sec
4 ond then on the last button of his capaciou
waistcoaD in short twas likin' L
Then you were really in love, uncle q in
terrupted Ellen.
Wal, don't exactly know whether wa
in that ere-but was in partikerler stron
likin; and it was very dlstressen while it last
ed. I've he'd the toothache, fever ,agel
biles'-
Yes, yes, never mind about that again in
terrupted the impatient Ellen. I'm dying t
know how it came out. You didn't MARI,
her, of course y
Wal. no. Can't exactly say did--but
never kim so nigh doin ont afore or since.
%. that's so nice. How near the hymeni
al altar did you get, uncle y
4 don't know nothin about your high me-
all halters but the change of single syllabl
l. in talk he'd with that ere gal, would hav
If tied NE up faster'n. n.-Unce Daniel was a
n a loss for simile, so he said get out
u Only one syllable p
It Nary another. This is the way it was.