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

Paul, however, though certainly not
relishing this postponement of his nup-
tials. by no means considered himself
the light of sacrificed lover.
Meantime there was a champion ris.
ing in his behalf, in the comely peace
promoting person of his cheerful.heart-
ed mother.
81 don't know as We are doing quite
right to insist on keeping Paul with US"
said she, one evening when the children
had all gone to an apple pairing. 81
think we are selfish not to give him up
when we have four more boys and the
deacon hasn't one. He is older, and
is getting more infirm than we are, be-
Sides"
Mrs. Hill was diplomatic enough to
know that suggestion of blame is less
obnoxious when the suggester is impli
Gated and help to bear it. Her husband,
on the other hand, was diplomatic
enough to know that saying nothing is
sometime the most unanswerable of ar
guments, SO he made no reply, but his
eyes seemed to grow blacker, and his
mouth more compressed.
Mrs. Hill filed the silence with the
music of her knitting needles for few
moments, and then she spoke again.
cit 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 humoring the whims 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 frowned at the fire.
"But 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
remember it of them now. / don't be.
lieve Paul can find better wife, go
the world over, and should blame him
if he had the heart to try after having
been with Ruth SO long; always, as
we might say. / am afraid we don't
do right to make them suffer for the
sake of gratifying when we have more
boys to look to-"
"The older boys, you know Sarah,
are settled away from home, and Luke
and Mark are to young to depend upon.
Paul's disposition suits me best of the
whole, and besides I've always had my
mind on keeping him with me-" said
the left'nant, who having weekly laid
himself open to argument was worsted
already.
81 know it; Paul has been a good
boy to me-" returned Mrs. Hill, from the
fullness of his motherly love. "After
all, that is poor reason for spelling
his happiness by separating him from
Ruth. And l can't blame Ruth she
does just right to stand by Deacon
Haven and his wife, for it would break
them up 10 lose her. They are growing
old and really need somebody with
them. The deacon isn't so spry as you
are he is getting feeble and ought to
give up to young hand but who has
he to look to? Now ,ee are smart
enough to keep about some years yet,
if we have our health, and as Luke and
Mark are growing older all the time
they will soon be able to take the heav-
lest of the work off you. Then have
Saloms to help me, and I'm not sure
but we can give up our ohoice for
the sake of the children, better than
the deacon can"
Left'nant Hill made no reply, for he
had nothing to say, but by his troubled
face his wife's quick eyes saw that he
was unsettled and wavering in his de-
termination. So, like wise woman,
who knew when to speak and when to
keep silent, she made herself heard du-
ring the remainder of the evening only
by the clicking of her knitting needles.
The next morning the left'nant said,
eff you've a mind to make Deacon
Haven's folks a visit to-day, l don't
care if l take ride with you after din
ner, down there.
Mrs. Hill readily consented, though
by no means with undue eagerness,
knowing full well that her mission was
accomplished. .a T.
Aud SO it was. The arrangements
were all settled over Mrs. Haven's short
cake and tea; and in few weeks Paul
went to live with Ruth and became a
son of the good old deacon.
Thus the puny, motherless baby
blessed her benefactors. and the bread