The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-01-31
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING,

ANS kitten with the good old lady's ball o'
yarn-the animal. like all the rest of her sex
becoming more and more anxious Tor the
woolly sphere the higher it was held
so you've really made up your mind to
get married, James-do stop tealinc that
kitten = said the old lady, with constrained
voice. . ... ..as.. '...|r.
yes Aunt Miriam It isn't good for man
to be alone, you know
There was silence again. james Arnet'
wound and unwound his yarn very unnece''
srily; Uncle Peter eyed his seed.pea'
thoughtfully, and Mrs. Fcnner knit energe''
ic,lly on, with pursed.up lips. aud scarcely
perceptible shrug Of the shoulders. .
.Aunt Miriam, wish you could see Mill
cent, said the young man ut length.
Il can't say have any desire to see your
city young ladies. James, said Aunt Miri'
am, coldly they're too fine spun for an old
woman like me. White hands and piano
playin' may be very grand-l dare say 1t is
but it don't suit my taste.
But, Aunty, am sure you would like
her. Come. now, be reasonable, and 80 oveI
to Squire Brownel's with me tonight; she
is spending week at her grandfather's, and
she would be 50 much gratifed to see you !!
Thank you, ] ain't curious on the SUBJ
ject, responded Aunt Miriam. primly. On
ly heered that Miss Brownell had bad
stroke of the rheumatic, and ! don't see how
she gets along to wait on her new.iangled
grandfather
Il can't understand why you are 30 preju'
diced against poor Miiccnt, Aunt Miriam,
said the young man, uneasily. Il won't dis
guisc from you that it makes me very unhaI'
py to think of marrying without the appro-
val of one who has been mother to me, and
yet r
and yet you are determined to 80 your
own gait; that's tho plain English OF it,
James said Aunt Miriam. We'll, s'pOse
you can do without my consent; you II never
get it. any how = And shc poked the fire
vigorously as the old clock began to strike.
Seven o'clock = calculated James, starting
up, 'and promised to be al the post Office
by this time. There's to be meeting about
the minister's Thanksgiving donation party
you know. Uncle Peter! Bless me, didn''
imagine how late it was
Aud, with gay parting nod to his aunt
he disappeared. tN'''.' 49,.
'Therc he goes-as good . boy as evei
lived said Uncle Peter but guess aiore
the evenin' comes to an end he'll contriye tc
get round to Squire Brownell's. Miriam
you may as well say yes to that affair. al
once; he's determined to marry tho gal
rings and city fashions and ALL
Il wish we'd never sent him to college in
New York, sighed Mrs. Fenner; then he
would not have come across this city sweet
heart.
Then he'd ha' come across somebody else
SO it's as broad as it is long remarked Un'
Gle Peter, philosopbically.
Yes, but 1t might have been smart stir,
firing gal who knew how to keep house, not
useless toy, good for nothin' but to hans gay
clothes on. tell you, Peter, | can't ap
prove Of 1t, no how
Uncle Peter whistlcd 'IIark, from the
tombs a doleful sound and returned once
more to the contemplation Of his melon seeds
and corn kernels.
Nine o'clock the fire covered with q
mound of brown ashes: the cricket chirping
drowsily, and Uncle Peter snoring melodi'
ously from an inner room-still Mrs. Fenner
sat there mechanically plying her knitting
needles, yet unconscious that the kitten was
frisking about, and hopelcssly entangling her
precious ball Of homespun yarn-deaf and
dumb and blind to every thing but her own
thoughts.
Il lwondcr,' she began, and then stopped,
after ALL she mentally resumed, tho next
minute, .therc can't be any harm in it, If
just slip on my hood and shawl and 80 thro
the orchard path across to Squire Brownell's'
Not that I'd 20 in-not bit Of 1t; but Id
merely take peep in at the keepin.room
wiadow us went past. would like to see
what sort of a face 1t was that has bewitched
James so completely but he must never be
any the wiser Tor 1t y
She pondcrcd second or two longer, then
rose hurricdly, extinguished the little candle
that stood in shining brass candlestick on
the mantle, listened moment to the unbrokeu
monotony Of uncle Peters snores, and muf.
ding n shawl round her heid, withdrew the
bolt Of the kitchen door, and crept out into
the starless gloom Of the November night!
It was but short distance, under the leaf.
less branches Of the gnarlcd old apple-trees
and into the turnpike road. Aunt Miriam
felt little conscience.stricken as she lifted
the wicket of Squire Brownell's gate, and
stole noisclcssly up the chryanthemum Dor.
dered walk she couldn't help wondering
what Elder Oliver would say II he were to
become aware that she, the sagcst old lady
in tho congregation, were prOwling abou,
here like q thief in the night.
ITS all for James sake.' said the vener.