The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-12-31
Eli Goddard'S Forfeit.

Ala 0bAAu4 "a y Va 1AO&tt
The youthful portion Of the town Of
/ Liberty Centre vas IN high state Of ex.
ciicmeui one sammy day Of February, for
kuy Baldwin had announced TO them on
lemou-colored paper, with bunch OF by
acnihs in the lctt hand upper corner,
that tic pleasure Of their company was
requested on the following Thursday
Nuw il Was a long time since a party bad
been given ia Liberty Centre, Tor ihe rea-
son that Judge Dykes daughter bad given
tie last one, and il lad been done 10 such
a style ol tasgniGeeace ll.at no ole could
hope 70 surpas II 50 they wouid give
none n al. But Kitty Baldwin had been
spending Two weeks al her cousin in Bos-
i9u, aad ga.s there attended several par
ties, ard obta.Egd some new IDEAS which
she vas sure Amanda Dyke never dreum-
cI 81, 20 she was determined on her r.
turn 10 have party several noicilcs above
ilie .ykes. She suggested Ills 10 her Ia
tlCr aud he readily acquesced, for he had
just made a speech in the Legislature on
the "Bar5arsm of Smoking" and hg want
ed TO know Tie opinions OF his Etighbors.
So kiuy went TO work at once, and made
list oi those ,he wished 10 invite. First
she put dowu those WHO were casscd as
,l.c upper len Of Liberty Centre; but
on second thoughts, she found lhut If she
wished TO amaze any one with the splcn-
dor Of her entertainment, size had better
include IN her Invitations every one that
she knew On counting them up, she
found HAT they numbered seventy. II
HEY all came, the rooms would be crowd
"a but Size concluded that some would
be sick, Or have nothing 10 wear, or be
Otherwise engaged. Tic notes were
therefore dispatched, and a. already stat
ed, Tie announcement Was c,ectrb Ing 10
he toHr. Arc you invited = and
. What shall sou wear" were The only
questions asked add answered. Straight
hair WAS kept in curl papers u gilt and
day, IN order tasi il should be sure TO curl
ca the important night. Summer bonnets
wprc robbed OF their floral ornaments 10
iuruisA wreaihs kid gloves were rubbed
clean with csmphene; bright rcd locks
were modified to auburn by ibe assid.
Uo1s application Of Divers kinds OF hair
grease blcastp'ns were repaired, and ev-
crytling done to make il rs dazzling as
possible. The busiest scene was at Squire
Baldwin's. Carpets wvre covered over
with shcciug; nrw red dama,k curtains
were purchased to replace the old ones
astral and solar lamps we're brought from
sccluded closets spoons, biaac-mange
mouda and canaeldbra were borrowed
from the ncighbors superilGous furniture
was carried up stairs, and tie whole hoasc
completely swept and garnishcd,
Days and nights rolled on, and the long
wished for evening arrived. Squire Bald
ain lighted tie red and blue candies Oh
The manllc-pieco the solars and astrals
began to shed their radiance Miss kiity
in white muslin, trimmed with ca1rry-co'-
ored ribbon, sat cautiously Oh chair
awaiting the arrivals. Pretty suon the
bell rang, aud the door being opened,
confused mass Of hoods and cloaks hurried
up stairs. Tie bell rang again aud again;
sometimes dozen would meet on the
doorstep, and sometimes solitary old
bachelor would come ia. By-and-by an
alarming knock was given at the door, ae-
companed By vigorous pull Al tie bell.
This was Eli Goddard, and word or two
about him will no, be amiss lie was son
of Parson Goddard, ana one o. tie bcaGX
of Liberty Centre. He bad noble, gen
eroas nature, but was the most awkward
fellow imaginable. lie was always stu =
hing and laundering, and his hands were
like tile hands on tie Iischburg Railroad
tcpo, in Bosioa. never in the right place.
Tie girls ail laughed at him, and none VI
them more llHn Carrie Brooks--a wild,
brilliant, fun-lo,ing gill, who had a keen
sense OF lie lad!crous, which sometimes
oyercame tie better feelings Of her hcari.
Iii Goddard admired Carrie. and tried
10 manifest i; bul Ar did not know lioa,
and made Lilas,lf ridiculous by iis funny
attempts. Carrie had many other suliors,
ard although they were jealous OF each
other. roi ono of them was jralous q Iii.
They ought 80 lively girl q Carfie
vould 30, regard such an unsopliisiicAicd
,ouih. 70 loie as they were about with
ilei, stylish elgil4es. mas-iac faaef ring
AID s.arf pilss Bot ia iealHy, Carrie
cared no.hing f1r outward saow. AND u
thinking oreF ,he character and lahils q
She Young men q her arqHaiaancc -
lad olsen Jteiaci ii her 0wn mind lbai
Eli Goddard was tie mesi sensible. up-
right and ,irfuous of aA he ~ never