Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-11-18
fremont gollrnal.
PIsoF. HALsTEalD,s l.rRI

fttOf. HALSTEADsS GIRL.
,''s A cresehety aud contrary old chap was Joe
Shelenbargers a rich farmer, as niuiish as III
donkey in his barn.. He had made his way, 4
the world by the doggeiest obstinacy
erheid OF whatever came into his way and retain
ing that hold as though life depended upon Il
Joel's muiishness had literally been the max
ing of him, though YOU mightnit have cors;doro,
the little pot-bellied thick-skuIled old man :
much OF a make aftef all. iH 50 -
Joel had one sOn-a handsome. clezr-headed
ssotiTe young man-tall, straight as a yonn,
iarch, and as set in his way when he chose I,
.shaVe one, as. Old Joel himself This son. as n
grew up mad proved a great assistance TO hi
ialner m working the farm and his services ha,
been made the most Of the old man manasip,
70 Keep him at home with him some time sfts
ne ought 70 have been, doing for himself No
an acre OF the tathers possessions was ever caleS
the son 9, heowned nothing in the world save :
morse winch some neighbor had given him wher
u was 'sickly colt and some sheep obtained
much IN the same. manner; and the old MAJ
grudged him even the keeping of these.
joel Shellenbargera and his son Ansou,diiferec
often, but there were two points on which the
difference amounted to something serious. The
shrst point concerned education, for which the
old man had profound contempt and the scr
had not There was acollege some dozen miles
from the Shellenbarger farm, and thither-bay.
ing thoroughly prepared himself in spite of faith
eriy pposltion-Anson betOok himself in spite
of the same continued opposition and by one
ycOntriyance and another and helDed ont Nv his
inother's small marketing, kent himself there
tillhe graduated. Joel Shellenbarger contested
the ground inch by inch, but afraid in his self
ishness 10 do any more than to be obstinate. lest
hrs son should leave him. That was the first
point OF difference. and that was how Anson
settled At. The second point was not likely to
be of so easy an arrangement.
~ At college -Ansonr had found something be-
sides graduating honOrs. He had chaneed up
0sl a very charming combination of brown cIlrls
and azure eyes-a red-lpped, dimple-cheeked
fairy, daughter Of one OF the professors, who in
stead of curling her dainty lip at the homespun
suit which his poverty and his father,s niggard-
illness compelled him to wear, never seemed to
be conscious Of anything or anybody else when
he was by sa
80 In short, Anson had found some one to love,
somebody that be wanted TO marry, as be grave
ly informed his father. You should have seen
the old mans eyes; it was a mercy they were
fast in their sockets. Here was gratitude. This
AnsOn, having already defrauded his old father
of SO much of his time, was going now to set his
seal upon his absurdity and disobedience by
marrying "town grill" Bad enough to marry
any one, seeing his father wasn't through with
him yet-but town girl He should never
consent and every Shellenbarger acre should 90
testrangers before Anson should have one, If
he persisted In an idea so ridiculousl
"And pray what harm is there being town
grl?" questioned Barbie Halstead, when An
son told her, half-laughing, half -Vexed and al
together rueful-for without assistance from his
father he could not marry Bsrbie for long time
yet. Anson laughed again, but with some en-
barrassment, saying, my father is afraid that
daughterof Professor Halstead would not make
a very gced fartner's wife o. 9%@N
Does he think Barbie -hesitated, looking
with smiling perPlexity at her little white
r. THAT these pretty hands don't know much
about brewing and baking, etc?-Exactly;
believe he thinks Just thai" /" fsfs -
"Then ne thinks wrong said Barbe, redden-
ing, and looking up at her lover with comical
little pout. Didn't r hear you say you needed
servant atheme?-I've at mind to 90 down and
offer for the place "il-.iJ l-'sist = <a-'-'l.i :
a5AnsOn laughed again enioyingly. .,(r -.
I'VE need Dne badly enough but my father
.will net suffer one inside the house." a..
why how do yon live them Who cooks for
you now that your mother is ill?" s..
AWe do our own cooking" Anson said witha
return OF the half smiling, half embarrassed ex-
preston. aWe cook for ourselves, OF do with
out
The very day succeeding the one which wit
messed this conversation, Anson was at home
busying himself over some culinary operations
when the outside door, which stood aiar, was
noisely opened and a singularly attired form
presented itself on the threshold. 1t wore red
and green plaid dress, the checks very large q
yellow shawl, and very frowsy and tumbled
white bonnet. A red feather nearly as long as
AnsOn's arm streamed from one side and with
in the brim Topped the immense frill of cap
which cluDg close around the face of the stran-
ger. The face-whst could be seen of it--wasa
very curious one to be inside of such a bonnet
and cap. Just now as she surveyed the kitch-
en- and dAnson-herself still unseen-the muscles
about her mouth twitched pervously, and her
eyes twinkled with Toguish brightness.
10 Presently Anson looked that way. A.t-3
Instantly the face took lugubrious length, and
coming into the room the girl said, insinuating-
ly, but without looking at him:
San would We be hirin' servant the day2".
And stood fidgeting with the fringe of her shawl
Il believe not" said Anson coloring with
some annoyance, perhaps at the nature of his
employment
bless her swate eyesl-said you'd be shGre to
tax me on the accommodation, which has in
my pocket-and here It's now.''
She gave him little note which proved TO be
from Barble Halstead. Anson read il with very
lover-like carefulhess bat shook his head.
Il am very sorry, my good girl, but we do
not wish to hire servant.
"Belike yer father maynt object whin he
sees me, y the girl persisted.
Arson looked at the sOiled white bonnet and
the red feather and repressing smile, wonder
ed what his father would say. But was of too
kindly nature TO be willing to expose even
this servant TO his fathers rough manner He
repeated what he had said before, assuring her
that It would be of no use to see his father.
The girl stood moment-"H ye PLACE, sur,
IHjust see him momint Belize he may take |
a hkin to the look o. me-
And before he could reply she had crossed |
the room, and stood upon the threshold of the |
next. Anson followed presently, curious to see |
what Sort OF a reception she would get.
'Sbure an I'll do more'n I'm worth to yeesn |
she was saying with innocent emphasis as An
son entered. She talked rapidly pouring out |
such torrent Of words that the old man could |
not by any possibility slip one in among them, |
and sat regarding her with an expression of the /
most ludicrOus astOnishment.
This remarkable vOlubility completely baf-
fed the old mans slowness He could not say /
a word if he wished to, and when she concluded
at last with Il kin make flap lacks and corn /
bread thatd bring the very eyes out iv yer head,
and make ye swaller yer tongue with delight
someness. (If he had a weakness it was for
6ap-jacks and corn bread he could only twirl
his thumbs in sort of delicious awe and ask
her with cunning smile how much she ex-
pected to get for doing all them thingt
"Siventy five cints week" was the prompt
reply. ass ssszs ra
With astll more cunning laugh Joel offered /
her half the money. Greatly to his amazemeni, /
she agreed at once, and he found himself to use
his own expression, ain for it /" To add to LIS
chagrin, Anson stood by, laughing with intense
enjoyment 81
But the girl without further ado, proceeded
to disencumber herself OF bonnet and shawl,
and vanish in the direction OF the kitchen be-
fore anything could be said As she shut the
door she stole glance at Anson that made him
start and bite his lips, and presently he stole
kitchenward also. She was already at work.
ma handling the broom like an adept and grum-
bling in her rich brogue at the dust that had
accumulated IN the corners, for the extent of
Ansop' 5 and his fathers sweeping had been to
brush the centre of the room, somewhat to the
disadvantage of the rest
She did not look up as Anson s.Dtarad. h,,f h |