Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-06-27

the color OF damask rose, as sue eou'u
think of no objection to put forth. Mel
Their had anybody else any AFFECTION to
the marriage, and yet most serious diff
ficulty came up in the way.
Once married, the customs oil society
would Of course by no means admit OF
Paurs staying at the Hill Homestead
and Ruth remaining under tho root OF
Deacon Haven, and here the trouble
arose.
Left'nant Hill, Paul's father, was as
decided a man as any since the days of
the early martyrs, and ,haying always
counted on Paul among bis boys to sue
coed him on his acres, he vas quite una
bic to see any sufficient reason for chang
ing the plan of his life, or in fact OF feel
inc any disposition to try to see any.
Deacon Haven and his wife, on the
other hand, looked on the large circle of
Hill boys and girls where one would be
so little missed, snd then to the single
pet lamb Of their household, and could
perceive no justice, as indeed | cannot,
10 spending Their whole life in solitude
for the qualification of the lettnants
within.
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 letft entirely with
the parents.
at is very hard if can't choose for
myself which boy l prefer to have the
farm and take care Of my old age. |
can't change the plan I've had SO long
Deacon Haven's folks and Paul always
knew nv intentions about it, said the
left'nant, looking as immovab!e as a
mountain.
"If | hid eight children to select
| from, it seems to me | wouIden't be so
selfish and set on one particular child;
but | am bereaved of my Ruth, am
beroaved," said Deacon Haven, with
tears in his eyes.
sDon't feel badly. father, l won't
leave you," said Ruth, dutifully.
The old man, though he had Just de-
nounced selfshness, was wonderfully
conlforted, and went about his work
comparatively light at heart; though the
matter was far from being satisfactory,
for he seriously needed the help Of q
son-in-law in his declining years; and he
could not expect Ruth, though she sacri
feed one lover, would accept another
in his place, even if he had wished it.
Paul, however, though certainly not
relishing this postponement Of bis nup-
tails. by no means considered himself IN
the light of sacrificed lover.
Meantime there was champion arts
ING in his behalf, in the comedy, peace
promoting person of Lis cheerful heart
cd and kind mother.
al don't know as we arc doing quite
righr to insist on keeping Paul with US, "
said she, one evening when the children
had all gone to an apple pairing.
81 am afraid we are selfish not to give
him up when we have four IL ore boys,
and the Deacon hasn't one. He is old
or, and getting more infirm than we are,
besides"
Mrs. Hill was diplomatic enough TO
know that suggestion of blame is less
obnoxious when the suggester is implica
ted and helps to share it.
Her husband, on the other hand, was
diplomatic enough TO know that saving
nothing is sometimes the most unanswer-
able of arguments, so he made no reply,
but his eyes seemed to grow blacker and
his mouth more COMPRISED.
Mrs. Hill filled the silence with the
music Of knitting-needles for few min
utes, and then she spoke again.
1T comes hard on Paul and Ruth to
have to give up marrying when they
have thought of it so long, just for the
sake Of humoriug the whms of the old
folks. l should think they would al
most wish us out of the way"
The left'nant nestled uneasily in his
chair, and fowned at the fire.
"But l think all the better Of Ruth
for giving up her wedding rather than
leave the Deacon and his wife. They
took her when she was little baby so,
and have always done for her like an
own child, and it looks well in her to re-
member it Of them now. | don't believe
Paul can find better wife. 90 the world
over and | should blame him if he had
had the heart TO try after having been
with Ruth so long; aways, as we might
say. | am so afraid we don't do right
to make them suffer for the sake of graft
flying our notions, especially when we
have more boys to look to-"
1.-THE older boys, you know, Sarah,
are settled away from home, aud Luke
and Mark are too young to depend on.
Paul's disposition suits best of the whole,
and besides I've always had my mind
on keeping bin with me-" said the left
'nant, who having weakly laid himself
open TO argument was worsted already.
81 know it; Panl has been good
boy to u.s." returned Mrs. Hill, from
the fullness of her mothers heart.
"After all, that is not good reason
for spelling his happiness by separating
him from Ruth; she does just right to
stay by Deacon Haven and his wife, for
it would break them all up to lose
her."
"They are growing old and really
ICED somebody with them. TIE Deacon
isn't as spry as you are; he is feeble and