The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-03

WIDOW CORES ERfsSs hV
The fire cracked chcerfully on the broad
hearth of the old farm house kitchen, cat
and three kittens basked in the warmth,
and decrepit yellow dog, lying fun IN ,ne
reflection Of the yellow blaze, wr,nklea ms
black nose approvingly as he turned MS
hind foot whore his fore feet had oeeh.
Over the chimney hung several fine hams
and n;eces Of dried beef. Apples were ies-
tocaed along the ceiling, and crooked .necs
souashes We'd with red peppers and Slips %
dried pumpkins in, garnishing each wiz
dow.frame. There were plants TOO. on
tba window ledces-horseshoe geraniulhs
and dew plants, and a monthly rose lus'
h,,5a;no r. say nothing Of pots OF Vlole.s
49, ,assumed the whole place whenever
tLa., ri. !, into their heads to bloom.
N.Y. aoor was carefully swept, the chairs
I'd not a sneck of dust upon leg or round,
.ha ,a,,r settee near the fireplace shone as
:s;. ba5 inst been vanished, and the eight
a. a,nct n the corner had its white face
y,iy 1sasbed, and seemed determined to
t;.r tbe louder for it. Two arm-chalrs
we're drawn up, at q coy distance from the
hearth and each other; candle, news
naner. o pair of spectacles, dish OF red
checked apples, and pitcher of cider, tllled
a little table between them. In one of the
chairs sat comfortable-lookiag woman OF
ahout forty-fve, with cheeks as red as the
apples. and eyes, as dark, and as bright as
theyhad ever been, and resting her elbow on
the table, and her head upon her hand,
hooked thoughtfully into the FIRE. This was
the widow Cobb" relict" Of Deacon Levi
Cobb. who had been Wondering in the dust
in the Bytown churchyard for more than
seven wears. She was thinking of her dead
husband, probably because-her work being
done. and the servant gone to bed--the
sight of his empty chair at the other side OF
the table and the silence Of the room made
her little lonely.
"Seven years!'' SO the widows REVERE
ran. ait seems as if twas more than
6fty-and vet / don't look so very old
either. Perhaps it's not having any chill
dren to bother my life out, as other people
have. They may say what they like, chill
dren are more plague than proft-that's
nv opinion. Look at my sister Jerusha
with her six boys. She's worn to shadow,
and Pm sure they have done 1t, though she
will never own 1T"
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began to peel it. -,
WV oeSN~
Of these CRAFTS. He will never eat any
more of them. poor fellow. for don't sup
nose thew have apples where he's gone to.
Heipho | remember we'll how l used to
throw apple-parings over my head when
I was n girl, to see who l was going to
marry" .a..,,
Mrs. Cobb stopped short and blushed.
In those DAYS che did not know Mr.. Cobb,
-
the peel-had formed capital ). Her
meditation took q new turn. y
elbow handsome Sam Payson was, and
how much used to care for him. Jerusha
saws he went away from our village just
since. And what silly thing that quarrel
was. If it had not been for that"
Here came long pause, during which
the widow looked very steadfastly at the
empty armchair of Levi Cobb, deceased
Her fingers played carclessly with the apple
pairing. She drew it slowly towards her,
and looked around the room.
upon my word it is very ridiculous, and
l don't know what the neighbors would say
if they saw me-"
Still the plump fingers drew the peel
nearer.
"But they can't see me-that's COM
fort-ani the cat and old Rowse will mover
know what it means. Of course l don't
believe anything about it,"
The pairing hung gracefully from her
hand.
"But still should like to try; it would
seem like old times, and" -
Overhead it went, and eurled up quietly
on the floor at little distance old towse,
who always slept with one eye open, saw
it fall, and marched deliberately up to
smell it.
"Bowse, Bowse, don't touch it! " cried
his mistress; and bending over it with
beating heart, she turned as red as fire.
There was as handsome a capital S as one
could wish to see.
A loud knock came suddenly at the door.
The dog growled, and the widow screamed
and snatched up the apple-paring.
It's Mr.. Cobb; it's his spirit come back
again because l tried that silly trick" she
thought fearfully to herself.
Another knock, louder than the first, and
q mans voice exclaimed -a,
"Hillo, the house,"
"Who is it ?' asked the widow, some
what relieved to find that the departed Levi
was still safe in his grave upon the hill
side.
"a stranger" said the voice.
"What do you want F'
g To get lodging here for the night"
The widow deliberated.
"Can't you 60 onH There's house half
mile further on, if you keep to the right
hand side of the road, and turn to the left
after you get by" ,-4-l -
"It's raining cats and dogs, and Pm very
delicate" said the stranger, coughing.
"rm wet to the skin, Don'tyou think you
can accommodate me? | don't mind sleep
ing on the foor."
g Raining, is it l didn't know that 7 !;
and the kind-hearted little woman unbar-
red the door very quickly. :" Come IN,
whoever YOU may be. | only asked you to
90 on because am lone woman witt
only one servant in the house."
The stranger entered, shaking himself
like a Newfoundland dog upon the step,
and scattering little shower of drops over
his hostess and her nicely swept floor.
"Ah, that looks comfortable after man
has been out for hours in o Storm" he said
as he caught sight of the fire, and striding
along toward the, hearth, followed by Bowse,
who snuffed suspiciously at his heels, he
stationed himself in the arm-chair-Mr.
Cobb's arm-chair-whioh had been SACRED
to his memory for seven years." The widow
was Mortified, bat her guest was SO weary
and WORKOUT that she could not ask him to
move, but busted herself in stirring up the
blaze that he might the sooner dry his drip
ping clothes. A new thought struck her.