The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-01-06


get little richer, and then he intend
ed to walk boldly into the Deacon's
kitchen, and ask Becky to become his
wife.
The Deacon showed the young
minister all his possessions-his hills
and his valleys, his barns and his
clttle; but of course none of these
things had any effect on the young
prophet Becky was very shy, and
the Reverend Leander, who prided
himself on being heart killer was
pidued by her sauey ways Then
well, man always chooses his OPP
posite-he began to grow very fond Of
her The Deacon saw this with I'M
feigned delight. Such a match as it
would be.
About four.weeks from the time Of
the young minister's arrival he aston
ished Becky ono Saturday afternoon
just at dusk, by making very elabor-
ate proposals of marriage to her. BY
the way there's nothing like having
such things done up in good style
anything but to see a man stammering
and blushing, using mixed metaphors
and all that, when it is the most i'm
portant part of his life. He should,
at least, study rhetoric for a fortnight
beforehand prepare himself so "that
when the occasion comes he may be
equal to the occasion"
Now the minister's was well got
up poetical address, needing nothing
but rc-copy,ng to make it fit for the
printer. In the midst of it, the Dea-
con Numbered in, and Becky run up
stairs, and crouched down by the bed
room window. This was her first
offer of marriage; she knew that her
father never would consent to its re-
fusal What was to be done She
looked outrof the window. The stars
were shining in the sky as they had
done in days and weeks that were
gone Through the pine trees she
could see the light glimmering in
Widow SulliSan's humble dwelling,
and then the tears came to her eyes.
Did John love her? If so why had he
never told her of it as the young min
lister had done? What if he had ear
ried her in his arms when she was a
child, and taken her part in every
quarrel she had ever had with her
playmates, and watched over her with
a brothers affection She went to the
little green trunk to look at all the
trinkets he had ever given her Very
precious they We're, and yet there was
nothing tangible about them At last
She resolved to say no and brave the
storm, and upon that she settled
herself down to healthy slumber This
was on Saturday evening. The next
day the young minister was to preach
the best sermon OF all. Topography
of the New Jerusalem. Not having
any of the New York doilies in this
region, the Deacon had to do the adj
vertising himself among his acquain-
tances. He said at just astonished
him what a preacher that minister
was, and he'd give it up Mr. Hill
would make the most out of nothing
of any man he ever see So the
young divine sat up all night pcepar-
ing his great discourse.
Meanwhile John Sullivan was just
getting through restless week, and
it had worn upon him. Someway he
had not been able to accomplish mucl
at chopping, his arms We're not as
, strong as they used to be, and herwai
, growing shaky in every joint Sa ur
/ day evening he went out rs usual, to
his chores. He opened the smoke
} house door to see how his hams were
f curing, and a cloud of smoke came
: out almost sitting him. There nov
l I've got new idee, said the young
4 mani wonder how twould work.
A reckon 'twould take in his sail httl
e anyhow he's no right to Becky Pea
q body, and when mans in tigh
| place, he must do the best he can.
" Close by was a large, fiat stone
!, which John began to turn over yer.
2 thoughtfully. That evening whel
y the moon was half shining and hal
g not shining when poor Becky was S
4 sorrowfully Watching the light i
= Widow Sullivan's cottage, for the frs
o time in her life skeptieal of John
e love, the young man himself nigh
n have been seen driving down to Tn
1, Corners,
= he did his errand, then quick
g, came home, went to bed and TO sleel
y The next morning was very chill.
a 80 tl,o mind l,lav, ftf,,ll,- IN II 1iraf