The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-06-04

The Sabln children are OF good stock
and / am none afraid to warrant they
will turn out well and be credit to
whoever takes them in hand" at.f
Having thus settled it, the deacon
was preparing to take another hap,
when his wife aroused him again.
81 don't feel that we should be COM
ing up to our whole duty in takiug one
that would be some help to US. The
older children will be easier for Mr..
Sabin to look after and find places for,
and l feel that We ought to relieve him
of the most helpless, if we wouldn't
shirk from the Lords work."
Deacon Haven reused himself. "I
am afraid, wife, that would be taking
too much upon yourself; but wouldn't
dare to stand in the way, of what you
think to be right about it"
And so the matter was decided, and
the next morning the baby was brought
over to her new home and became
Ruth Haven.
Little Ruth grew daily in winning
grace and loneliness. Before she was
six months old her adopted parents
would sooner have parted with all their
possession than her. As she grew older
the promise of her infancy was more
than fulfilled, and at early womanhood
she was the most charming girl in town.
Everybody admitted it, but more than
all others, young Paul Hill. He had
known Ruth ever since he could remem-
ber, and loved her quite as long, and
as years and manhood came on, his at
| fection increased and established itself.
Nobody thought of becoming his rival,
because it had been for SO long prom
ised expected engagement that they
were tacitly left to each other. He al
ways went home with her from all the
spelling and singing schools, and car
ried her to all the sleigh rides and mus
ters. Even Paul's intermedding sister
Salome's sharp eyes ceased to look after
the young couple, the affair and its con-
summation were considered as thor.
oughly settled.
But there was to be an obstacle
thrown in the course of even this ssmooth
flowing love, at the eleventh hour, when
in most cases, troubles have at last run
themselves clear.
Paul felt himself in due time, though
still young, to be quite old enough for
taking the responsibilities and cares of
wedlock upon himself. Saying as
much to pretty Ruth Haven, bis black
eyes frightened to see her blue eyes
grow still softer and her cheek turn the
color of damask rose, as she
could think of no objection to put
forth. Neither had anybody else any
objections to their marriage, and yet a
most serious difficulty came up in their
way.
Once married, the customs of socie.
ty would of course by no means admit
of Pau's staying at the Hill homestead,
and Ruth remaining under the roof of
Deacon Haven, and here the trouble
arose.
Left'nant Hill, Paul's father, was as
decided man as any since the days OF
the early martyrs, and having always
counted on Paul to succeed him on his
acres, he was qnite unable to see any
sufficient reason for changing the plan
of his life, or in fact of feeling any dis
position of trying to see any. Deacon
Haven and bis wife, on the other hand,
looked on the large circle of Hill boys
and girls, where one would be so little
missed, and then to the little pet lamb
of his household, and could not per-
ceive no Justice, as indeed | cannot in
spending their old age in solitude for
the qualification of the left'nant's whim.
So they might be together, Ruth and
Paul were content to make their home
at either farm house, and thus the bur-
den of decision was left entirely with
the parents.
cit is very hard ifI can't choose for
myself which boy prefer to have the
farm and take care of my old age. l
can't change my plan I've had so long.
Deacon Haven's folks and Paul alw ays
knew my intentions about it, said
Left'nant, looking as immovable as a
mountain.
elf had eight children to select
from, it seems to me l wouldn't be SO
selfish and set on one particular child !;
but if / am bereaved of my Ruth, am
bereaved," said Deacon Haven with
tears in his eyes.
Don't feel badly, father, / won't
leave YOU" said Ruth. dutifully.