The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-09-08

'Oh uear slgbed Mis-. Staples
from behind her blue checked apron
one night as the family sat in sol
I emn council, "only twelve children
n and TO lose three Of those p
=, I'VE shall be so lonesome echoe,
the nine about to be bereaved. Blu
the good Deacon took a worldly view
of it,
II calculate there's no better dige
: ers anywhere than them boys, moth
/ er, said he, "and if the gold is in
Californy they'll find it. Seeing Absa.
e lon is sot on going, / reckon I'd bet
ter sell the yellin steers to go towards
helping him off, and if he does well he
can pay for his time afterwards and
so the matter was settled
Weeks of preparation followed, till
at length the three blue trunks were
filled with all things needed for the
pilgrimage, and the stage stopped at
the deacon's door to bear them and
their proprietors away
ut seems. most a pity to break the
set, soliloquized Mrs. Crockett, the
neighbor opposite, pausing from her
dishwashing to watch the departure.
"The dozen have always been togeth-
er Mrs. Crocketts mind was occu-
pied with her new queensware, hence
the unusual metaphor The driver
slyly wiped his eyes while the three
times eleven good byes were said, and
the three Stapleses were seating them
selves in the coach, and then relieved
his feelings by swapping his whip so
vigorously that the startled horses
trotted away with a flourish.
There was much secret weeping be-
hind doors and in other out Of the
way places that day in the deacon S
cottage and an uuwonted demand for
pocket-handkerchiefs but the Spring
work was pressing, and the family
could not long indulge in tears
They had settled down into their
old way when letters came from Cali
fornia announcing the safe arrival
there Of the gold seekers Epistles Of
the true masculine type, written on
blue foolscap and filled with such sta
tistics Of the country as could be
learned from an ordinary geography
They repeatedly told of the area Of
California, the climate, and the princi-
pad staples; but Of themselves, the
three Staples of which their mother
was most interested to know, they
said little But what man ever did
write a satisfactory home letter?
Years passed, aud, excepting by
their fathers household, the absent
boys were almost forgotten. Mean
while they had been prospecting be-
yond their most sanguinc expectations.
Absalom had long since covered his
obligations to the ~pateynal head
with gold dust, and reaping or rath-
er shearing immense profits from the
large hocks OF sheep which he owned
in company with his brothers. Not u
rancho for miles around could com
pare with theirs for size and fertility.
I've been thinking, said Seth, one
day, that we ought to have larger
stock Of merino sheep. I've a great
mind to go East and bargain for some,
and make the folks at home call at
the same time What do you say? ?"
Though little surprised at the sud
den project, Enoch and Absalom
thought it feasible
"And supposing 1 should pick up a
wife, continued Seth, deliberately
pairing his thumb nail down to the
quick, what then p
"a wife !" exclaimed Absalom, in
surprise.
A wife p echoed Enoch, in conster-
nation.
"Why, what could we do with her
here p both cried at once; forgetting
for moment, from their long part
nership relations, that Seth could
make an individual contract.
"Have you anybody in your mind ?"
pursued Absalom, recovering his
breath.
well, no, not exactly" responded
Seth; "theres Ruth Morton, 1 would
as soon have her as any girl i know
of, unless she has changed good
deal. Any way, boys, ] tell you this
is no way to live, Tn bound to marry
somebody and settle down in a
Christian way Why don't you do the
same 2"
eff we should all so wife hunting
what would become of the focks p
replied the cautious Enoch. "No, III