East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-10-15
From tho National Magazine.
THE WIDOWS FIRST LOVE.

Cornwall. A cat and three kittens baske,
in the warmth, and decrepit yellow
dog, lying full in the reflection of tn
blaze, wrinkled his black nose approving
ly, as he turned his hind feet where hi
fore feet had been. Over the chime,
hung several fine hams and pieces o
dried beef. Apples were festooned along
the ceiling; and other signs Of plenty anC
good cheer were scattered profusel)
about There wore plants, too, on tn,
window lodges horseshoe geraniums anC
dew plants, and monthly rose just bud
ding, to say nothing of jars of violet'
that perfumed 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 a
log or round, the long settle near the fire.
place shone as if it had been just varnish-
ed, and the eight-day clock in the corner
had had its white face newly washed, and
seemed determined to tick the louder for
il. Two arm-chairs were drawn up at a
cosy distance from the hearth and each
other, candle, newspaper, pair of
spectacles, dish of red-cheeked apples,
and q pitcher Of cider, filled a little table
between them. In one Of these chairs
sat comfortable-lo looking woman about
forty.fve, with cheeks as red as the ap-
pies, and eyes as dark and bright as they
had ever been, resting her elbow on the
table, and her head upon her hand, and
looking thoughtfuly into the fire. This
al l., 10 =
Levi Minards, who had been mouldcring
into dust in the neighboring churchyard
for more than seven years. She was
thinking of her dead husband, possibly
because all her work being done, and the
servant gone to bed, the sight of his
empty chair al the other side of the table,
and the silence of the room, made her
little lonely.
"Seven years." SO the widows revery
run; "it seems as if it were more than
fifty, and yet 1 don't look SO very old
neither. Perhaps it's not having any
children to bother my life out, as other
people have. They may say what they
like-children are moro plague than profit
that's my opinion. Look at my sister
Jerusha, with her boys. She's worn to a
shadow, and l am sure they have done it,
though she never will own it.n
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began to peel it.
"How fond Mr.. Minards used to be of
these apples. He never will eat any
more of them, poor fellow, for l don't
suppose they have apples whore he has
gone to. Heigh-ho! / remember very
well how | used to throw apple-peel over
my head when / was girl, to see who |
was going to marry"
Mrs. Minsrds stopped short and blush
cd, for in those days she did not know Mr..
Minsrds, and was always looking eagerly
to SEQ if the peel had formed capital
"S." Her meditation took new turn.
GLOW handsome Sam Payson WAS, and
how much used to care about him. l
wonder what has become of him! Je-
rusha says he went away from our village
just after did, and no one has ever heard
Of him since. What eilly thing that
quarrel was If it had not been for
that"
Here came long pause, during which
the widow looked very steadfastly at the
empty armchair of Levi Minsrds, de-
ceased. Her fingers played carelessly
with the apple e-peel, she drew it safely to-
wards her and looked around the room.
"Upon my word it is very ridiculous,
and l don't know what the neighbors
would say if they saw me.n
Still the plump fingers drew the red
peel nearer.
"But then they can't see me, that is a
comfort; and the cat and old Bowse never
will know what it means. OF course l
don't believe anything about it,"
The peel hung gracefully from her
hand.
"But still should like to try it; it
would seem like old times, and"
Over her head il went, and curled up
gracefully on the floor at little distance.
Old Bowse, who always slept with one
eye open, saw it fall, and marched delib.
erately up to smell Of it.
"Bowse--Bowse, don't touohw cried
his mistress, and, bending over il with
beating heart, she turned as red as fire.
There was handsome capital as" as any
one could wish to see.
A great knock came suddenly to the
door. Bowso growled, and the widow
screamed and snatched up the apple-peel
"It's Mr.. Minards'-it's his spirit came
back again, because / tried that silly
trick" she thought fearfulIy to herself.
Another knock--louder than the first
and mans voice exclaimed:
"Hillo--the house!n
"Who is it?" asked the widow, some
what relieved to find that the departed
Levi was still safe in his grave upon the
hillside.
"a stranger" said the voice.
"What do you want ?'
"To get lodging here for the night"
The widow deliborated.
"Can't you go onY There's house
half mile further, if you keep to the
right hand side of the road, and turn to
the left after you get by"
"Its raining cats and dogs, and I'm
wet to the skin; don't you think you can
accommodate meP 1 don't mind sleep
ing on the floor"
"Raininp. is il? / didn't know that