The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-09-06


much they need head up az the farm"
4 She shook her withered curls gently, a.
though the word had suggested the though
that she had ahead -. ..-..t..f..c
Aunt Rachel made remark to the effect
tthat she expected she must see with hel
own eyes il she saw all, adding, /" Skip was
| scoundrel to make such work Of her ball
OF thread, and she believed that dog would
como to drowning yet s-.fs -
Esther Poole went on: It's enough to
make your heart ache to see those moth.
less young things washing and trying to
get along tine best they can, and the eld-
est not fourteen till Christmas. Its nv
mind Nj. Wead is martyr and a saint,
~ bear his troubles rs he does and keep
up such good heart" rf.Hea,
ut is my mind, Mr. Wead is an inhu-
man monster TO let his children work 80.
I've heard it stated that his unfortunate
wife was hurried into her grave by hard
| work. and l won't say doubt it. / am
pretty sure don't envy the woman who
is going to take her place"
Aunt Rachel spoke severely, being still
irritated about the dog. 81
1t is hard for the girls, and though
expect they do the best they can, the
house shows the want Of head" Esther
returned, again shaking her own. Il told
M Wead, ihis morning, it was high time
be was locking about him for mother
for his dear family, and thought folks
wouldn't have reason to talk if he did
make haste, considering how lie is sit
uated."
Goodness. CALCULATED aunt Rachel, 81
wouldn't offer myself righ: out to a man
IT was in a stew tc get married Out of
the house, The last remark was ad
dressed TO Skip, who was sticking his nose
IN AT The door, and before Miss Poole bad
time TO bridle at the former one, Miriam
exclaimed, There is Mr. Wead now, and
somebody in the buggy with him" .rf-r-
The elderly maiden rushed to the win
dow just in season to get bow froul the
buxom widow Scott.
Well. now. / never did" affirmed
Esther Poole, sinking into q chair. What
do you make of such doings 2? supposed
Mr.. Wead had too much regard for the
memory Of his deceased companion and
bereased little flock TO take viper TO his
hreside but he'll live TO repent his folly
mark my words now, Miss Banks
Such heartless conduct on tue part Of
Mr.. Wead shocked aunt Rachel too much
for speech, and she did no, even look AZ
Skip. who walked boldly in. II was eyi-
den, she bad forgiven hin.
Well, all i can say continued Miss
Poole, pat,ing the dog, ais that do pity
those poor innocent children from the
bottom Of my heart, aud hope widow
Scott may make good mother Tor them.
1t is full soon Tor Mr.. Wead TO be about
it, considering his peculiar circumstances,
If he had mad worthy choice, and taken
some one who could ill the first Mrs.
] Ir,
word If he had taken YOU
"-Or, you, returned aunt Rachel, re-
morseiu!!y. =. am free 10 confess that
wonder most at the conduct OF widow
Scott cant see now a person with any
heart can briug their thou ghts to two
husbands. has WASH strange, as she
bad never LrouEn: Eer thoughts TO one
The case IS different where u lnau is ieil
with young family; there may be almost
Q necexity and Christian duly IL il then"
she added
q You are quite too bad on Mr. Wead
and widow Scott just because they rode
by together, said Miriam. 4" lie has been
TO the mill, l suppose; l saw some bags 10
the buggy. and she got ride with him
This hopeful view OF things lighteued
the atmospherc directly. Esther Poole
smoothed her curls and said, ~ have no
doubt Miriam Is right. Iou know IS dow
Scott Is always ready 10 put herself Tor
warl, and she wouldn't be bit bashiui
about begging a ride OF any man she'd be
all the more ready if she thought it would
make folks talk, Now, don mind tell
ing you that il has been my opinion all
al, ng tae widow has had her eyes ON the
farm, and so I've looked into her case "a
little I've spoke out number Of times
oh har hetnt ftfP,
but little quick-right before Mr Weed,
aud l see by his manner that she had
nothing to hope for in that quarter. 1
guess she didn't remember the old fable
OF the milkmaid and her green silk gown,
when she rode by SO grand, tossing her
head as though shed got in Mr.. " cad s
buggy to stay. No, no. madam, two are
needed 10 bind every bargain, as you will
find"
She uttered these words triumphantly,
while aunt Rachel basted her hem with L
tranquil spirit, only rej"iced to have Mr..
Wead good sense q secouk time estab-
lished in her confidence.
After tea, Brooks Sergeant dropped in
TO tell aunt Rachel he was going TO Dover
next day, and would take over any errand
for her with great pleasure-whch was
certainly very obliging in the young man
and showed he had a good heart
Well, ii he was sure he wOuldnt mind
the trouble on, not the least in the
world, Brooks declared in parenthesisl,
why it would be great favor it he could
take a small parcel to her sister kebecca,
she that married Deacon Stiles, and lives
IN the brick house by the blacksmith shop
at the right hand as you enter the town"
Brooks kindly offered to come in after
L 4 4 IL L. %oA3s g.. III
age, which was very civil again; and then
it was natural enough that he should stop
a little on the door step to tell Miriam the
the prospect of singing school
While he fingered, somebody shut the
front gate, and directly Mr.. Wead came
up the path OF course Miriam asked
him to walk in, and then she was about to
turn back to bid Brooks good night-pro-
bablG forgetting that he was to cal again.
" ell, after that she suddenly remembers
ed she had promised to gofor book to
Kitty Jones, and, lest she might forget it,
she ran Immediately across the garden,
and then, owhnt with telling her what
BROOKS had said about tie singing school,
and admiring Kittys new bonnet, she
didn't get away for more than an hour.
So it turned out, naturally enough, that
Aunt Rachel was Obliged to entertain Mr..
Wead herself She arose to meet him
with cordial dignity, as one who, being at
peace with the rest of mankind, would
make no exception in his case.
1--WE are having very nice weather, Mr..
Weed" said aunt Rachel, with engaging
fraukness. s-f 4. dr.. zsss-7.c,
The Meather really was nice, SO there
was no denying it, and, that subject finish.
ed up, there was pause. Not an awkard
one oh, no, Aunt Bachel broke it too
soon sor that by asking for the childreni
adding, with an air of slmost maternal
ANXIETY, she had been afraid Amy Ann
and. Sarah Louise would work beyond
their strength, being growing girls a