The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-12-11


The year was getting on. Summer fruits
were ripenlng. Ii had been warm
spring, and hot weather was upon us
early.
One fine Sunday morning George Reed
came out Of his cottage and turned up
Piefinch Lane. His little girls were with
him, one In either hand, In their clean cot
ton frocks and plnaforcs, and straw has.
People had gone Into church, and the
bells had ceased. Reed had not been con-
stant In attendance since the misfortune
In the winter, when Major Parrlfer put
him into prison. The months imprison-
mcnt had altered him; his daughter
Cathy's mysterious absence had altered
him more; he seemed not to like to face
people, and any trife was made an ex-
cuse to himself to keep away nom ser
vice. To-day 1t was afforded by the ba-
by's illness. Reed said he would take the
little girls out bit to. keep the place
quiet.
Rumors were abroad that he had heard
once from Cathy; that she told him that
she should come back some day and sur
prise him and the nelghbors, and she was
s.all right, and he had no call TO fret after
her." Whether this was truth, or pure
rumor. Reed did not say he was closer
man than he used to be.
Lifting the children over u stilc In Pie
finch Lane, Reed strolled along the cross
path of the field. IL brought him to the
high hedge that skirtcd the premises OF
Major Parrifer. The man had taken Ii by
chance, because II was quiet walk. He
was passing along slowly, the children
having run into the field, on which the
second crop Of grass was beginning to|
grow. when voices on the other side OF
the hedge struck ON his ear. Reed gent
ly put some OF the foliage aside, and look.
ed through, just as Major Parrifer had
looked through the hedge In Piehneh
Lane ut him that Sunday morning some
few months ago.
Major Parriier had been suffering nom
q temporary indisposition. lie did not
consider himself sufficiently recovered 10
attend service, but neither was he Ill
enough to lie In bed. With the depart
ure OF his family for church, the Major
had come strolling out In the garden In an
airy. .dressing-gow and there saw his gar
derner picking peas.
.Hoiioa, Hotty. This ought to have been
done befere.'
Yes, sir. I know IL; rm little late
or three minutes. The cook makes fnss
III pick 'em too early; she says they don't
eat So WE'LL
The peas was for the delcc tatlon of the
Majors own palate, SD he found no more
FAULT. Hotty went on with his work, ana
the Major gave general leok around.
On a wall near, ut right angles with the
hedge through which Reedwas then peer
Ing, some fine apricots were growing,
green yet.
These apricots want timing, Hotty,'
observed the Major.
Il have thlnncd 'cm some, SIR
.Not enough. Our apricots were not rs
fine last year rs they ought To have been.
I said then that they had not had sufficient
room to grow. Green apricots are always
useful; they make the best tart known
Major Parrifer walked to the green
house, outside which n small basket was
hanging, brought Il back, and began to
nick some OF the apricots where they
looked too thick. Reed, outside, watched
the proccss-not alone. As luck had IL,
a man appeared In the field path. who
proved 10 be Gruff Blossom, the Jacob
sons' groom, coming home to spend Sun
day with his friends. Reed made sign to
blossom for silence, and caused him to
look ON also.
with the small basket half full, the Ma
jor desisted. thinking possibly he had
plucked enough, and turned away carry
Ing IL. Hotty came out from the peas
then. his task finished. They strolled
slowly down the path by tho hedge; the
Major first, Hotty q step behind, talking
about late and early peas, and whether
Prussian blues or marrowfats were the
best eating.
DO you see those weeds In the onion
bedr suddenly asked the Major, stop
ping as they were passing L..
Hotty turned his head to look. A few
weeds certainly had sprung up. He'd at
tend to Il on the morrow, he told his mas
ter; and then said something about the
work accumnlatlng almost beyond him,
since the boy had been at home IN,
Pick them out now,' said the Major:
there's not a dozen of them.'
Hotty stopped to do as he was bid. The
major made no more ado but stopped also,
ne himself uprooting quite half Of the
weeds. Not much more, In all, than the
dozen he had spoken Of; and then they
went on with their baskets To the house.
Never had George Reed experienced so
much qualification since the day he came
out Of prison. Did you see the major at
its-thinning his aprlcotl and pulling up
his wecdsy he asked ofsGrun blossom.
Aud Blossoms reply, grs6 as usual, was
to ask what might be supposed to all his
eyes that he shouldn't see.
Very good = said Reed.
One evening In the following week.
when we were sitting out on the lawn'
the squire smoking, Mrs Todhetly nurs-
Ing her face In her hand, with tooth-ache
rs usual, Tod teasing Hugh and Lena,
and up In the beech-trec, u horscman
rode In. II proved to be Mr.. jacobson.
Dwaft Giles took his horse, and he came
and sat down on the bench. The squire
asked him what he'd take, and he chose
cider; he was so thirsty he said. Which
Thomas brought.
Here's TO- began Mr.. jacobson,
Have you heard what's upr
I've not heard anything answered the
Squire.
Major Parrifsr has got q summons
served against him for working In his
earden ON Sunday, and u to appear be-
fore the magistrates tomorrow, contln.
ued Old Jscooson, drinking OF q glass Of
cider at draught.