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


:, month after his arrival at homo he
: was married to Miss Ruth Morton
T. the young lady for whom he had OK
' pressed moderate regard, and, having
also secured the coveted merinos, re-
l turned with his trophies to California.
Absalom greeted his new sister-in-
: law with an undisguised admiration.
You're a lucky fellow" he re-
p marked in confidence TO Seth. care
there any more girls like Ruth ?
Did Won pick out a wife for me ?"
"Botheration p said Seth, in answer
D to the last query Il had so much on
my mind that l forgot all about you
But pretty girls are as plenty in
Woodford as blackberries. You see
what have done, go and choose for
YOURSELF" And Absalom went.
Poor Absalom went Though time
had harmonized his features some
what, still he was not what the world
calls beautiful. % His hair had grown
darker, but the most charitable could
not conscientiously call ii auburn, and
his complexion had lost its former
ruddiness only to assume tinge of
copper. Yet was he firm of belief in
his destinations, and as he serenely
mounted the well-remembered coach,
on the last day of his journey, no dis
agreeable consciousness Of an ugly ex-
terror rufled his self-complacency.
The Staples family were assembled
about the kitchen fire that evening,
eating their supper of hulled corn and
milk, primitive fashion, with their
bowls in their laps, when little Mar
tina, who from her perch in the cherry
tree had played "Sister Ann" rushed
into the room III much excitement, de-
claring that the stage was turning up
the lane.
1t must be Absalom has come :"
said chorus ofvoices, andall sprang to
welcome the guest, some Of the young
er ones in their haste, forgetting to set
down their bowls, aud making their
( course across the floor by numerous
galaxies All but the stoical deacon
who never abridged his meals on any
pretext.
My dear Absalom, how handsome
you've grown exclaimed Mrs. Sta
pies, blinded by motherly fondness
and her newly-assured spectacles, and
embracing him frantically. His sis
ters followed her example, and it is
almost wonder that he had strength
left to shake hands with his brothers.
and his father, who had at length fin
ished his repast. Verify, nothing ex-
ats a man in the eyes of his kindred
like a protracted absence. As boy,
Absalom hld not been surfeited with
caresses.
Greeting over, his first manly i'm
pulse was to visit the stable. The old
rerhorse had since died, full of years
but destitute Of teeth, and as to his
successor
"The beast was sturdy, large, and tall
With mouth Of meal, and eyes of wall f."
and did not suit Absalom's aristocratic
ideas, so he immediately set about pur-
chasing a steed for his own use.
Sparing neither trouble nor expense,
he soon drove home with such an es-
Enlistment as had never before graced
( Woodford. He had made a good in
yestment; his horse was faithful
runner to advertise his masters i'm
portance The young ladies peeped
through the blinds rs Absalom drove
by, the young men We're filed with
envy, and crowd; collected around his
carriage when he alighted at the post
Office. Daily increasing in popularity,
he was invited to all the entertain
ments of the village, and was as
punctual in attendance upon them as
the deacon was to his conference meet
ing, for he made it a matter of princ-
pie never to omit an opportunity
for making new acquaintance among
the ladies'; and Mt every evening party
he might have been seen, with an en-
barrassed yet concealed maner, en-
deayoring to make himself agreeable.
Desperate hard work it was for such
novice in the art, and time hung heavi-
ly on his hands; and though at least
once in five minutes he drew out his
gold repeater this pleasant diversion
did not hasten the tardy hours. He
was getting inpatient, and began to
consider this business of selecting a
partner tedious. None of his former
playnates suited his taste; they were
much too old for him now. There
were pretty girls enough, as Seth had
said, but Absalom had objections TO