Litchfield enquirer., 1868-08-06

could not bear it any longer alone and so she went to good, sympathetic Mother Lapham-the kindly providence that had always made crooked straight, and rough places plain for her; and the providence, nkew1se, that had perceptibly or impercep. tloly shaped her ends heretofore.
 There. now, what a shame! Lucretia de. serves to be drowned she cried "Lucre- tia'' was the cat
 And immediately Daisys burden Tighten ca Just by being shared, though the ssprov- ldence" only pittied without seeming to see any way out of the wilderness. But the next morning after breakfast
 Mrs. Lapham followed her husband to the stoop. Peter, said she, in housewifel, tone, hadn't you better take grist ot wheat to mill to-day? We are not quite out 1 It IS true, but there may be some delay in the grinding; and it is we'll to be in time. you know
 Certainly, certainly replied Peter. ''You liked the grinding of the mill over at Riverside, you concluded?
 Well, don't know, Peter I've been thinking perhaps you had better try them at Boxbury again. That is little father. to be sure, but we go to Boxbury oftener and 1t seems more in our way. I guess per haps I'd try Boxbury mill this time,' said Mrs. Lapham, starting to go into the house and then coming back as though she had thought an after-thought "Oh! seeing you are going to Boxbury suppose you ask D.. Gorton, if you happen to meet him. to just stop and look at Johnny next time he passes tuis way. am not sure as he needs the wash for his ear any longer,' said she carelessly.
 But her words were, as the crafty woman expected, like the Fourth of July firecrack- CT at Portland In half an hour the wor- | rled father had put up his wheat harness ed his horse, and started in high haste for Boxbury; and before dew-fall Dr. Gorton's gray horse stood at the gate once more.
 La, now! It is too bad to trouble you to come on purpose over this long road for such a triie; but thati is just like one of Peters fidgets. l dare say he gave you to understand the boy might not be living when you got here, said Mrs. Lapham, with the same old merry sleigh bell jingle in her voice. Johnny, dear,' she contin- ued, ''don lean on the window-ledge: I am afraid you will throw off the plants. Don't you remember how the cat overturn- ed the pot of daisies one day-that time when your arm was sore, you know-and broke off some of the prettiest buds; and how sorry Daisy was?''
 Dr. Groton gave quick look toward the ledge and saw standing there the three nium at the ends and the daisies in the middle. Then he gave another quick look at Mrs. Lapham; but she was futtering off to get vial for the ear-wash. "Dalsy, said she, with her head in a cupboard of old stores, wont you just step into the west room and bring my glasses: think l left them on the mantle stree Daisy was folding clothes at the ironing table, quite unconscious the gray horse was within any number of miles. So she dropped the sheet she was snapping out, and went without any hesitation, and with her sleeves still rolled above the red mark on her arm. She went through the door hastily without seeing Dr. Gorton, who stood at the side till he touched her arm, saying with professional gravity, That is a good scar. Then he added, Ill the same tone, as he touched the pot of daisies with the same finger, Is 1t 10 maogvov still?
 And Men the sun shone for the first time in a month. And the sun shone and the birds sung and the daisy grew pink and the mignonnette and rose geranium grew fragrant; and so, after all, this earth was designed for heaven
 Mother, here are your glasses,' said Johnny, appearing in the kitchen presently With eyes as big black as beetles back; T suppose 1 ought to have brought them be fore, when Daisy first gived them to me- suppose ought to; but the con 'ersation was SD in 'ereslng dinn't like to come out of the west room before'
 - So that was the end of that, or rather the beginning
 Well, we'll, there is the COW money, you know. Just what old Spot calves and her cheese and butter came to. But that is all put away Tn the bank to Daisy's name, snug and tight; and guess whether or no we hadn't better let that be right on interest, and not touch 1t for her setting out. I've got means; and Daisy has been 8 good girl to us just like our own, as it were; and if you think best l guess we won't say any thing about the cow-money, only to give her up the bank book when she comes to leave, said Farmer Laham, rubbing his head.
 Polly was not the woman to object, and thus there was truth in the story which foated over to Boxbury that Dr. Groton's wife was 8 woman of property with money in the bank:
 One autumn evening long enough after this, Farmer Lapham hurried into the kitchen where his wife sat peeGng peaches for preserving, saying, eagerly: Polly, Polly, step this way won't you? There are some travellers out here that want to stop with us to night. They asked me if there was a tavern near here, and when they found there was none nearer than Hostel lers over to Riverside they seemed so dis appointed that I said they were welcome to stay here if they could put up with our accommodations; but the woman wouldn't hear to getting out of the chaise till had come in and asked you.'
 'To be sure we can keep them and be glad of their company too, said Mrs. Lap man, as she hastened out with ready hospi- tality
 The strangers were an elderly couple, quite in the Indian Summer of their lives, social and genial, and in half an hour the women were like old friends together, drinking their tea and talking. about their children, their cheeses, and their cares.
 I want to know if you ever ate any soused salt salmon! We'll now, I tell you it is mighty nice. You take salt salmon and soak 1t Tn plenty of water for twenty four hours' changing the water several times,' began the guest, Mrs. Hawthorn.
 That IS naa'ans all over, broke 1n ner husband: sMa'am always has her head full of her recipes. and she is always glylng somebody one. The neighbors from lar and near come to her just as though she was the town cookbook.