Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-11-26
WIDOW CoBB'S FIRST LOVE.


warmth ami decrepit yellow dog lying
full in the reflection Of the yellow blaze,
wrinkled his black nose approviDgly as be
turned his hind feet where his fore feet
had been. Over the chimney hung sever
al tine hams and pieces Of dried beef
Apples were festooned along fhe ceiling
and crooked necked squashes We'd with
led peppers and slips Of dried pumpkin, in
garnishing each window frame. There
were plants, too, on the window lodges
horse shoe geraniums and dew plants, and
: monthly rose, Just budding, 20 say moth
ing cf pots of violets that perfumed the
whole place whenever they took 1t into
their purple heads to bloom. The floor
was carefully swept, the chairs bad not q
speck of dust upon leg or round, the long
settee near the fireplace shoue as lit had
just been vanished; and the eight day
clock in the corner had its white iSce new
ly washed, and seemed determined to tick
the louder for it. Two arm chairs were
drawn up at a cosy distance from the
hearth and each other; candle, q news
paper, pair of cpeclacles, dish of red
checked apples, and pitcher Of cider
filled little table between them. In one
Of the chairs sat comfortable looking wo-
man of about forty>fve. with cheeks as
red as the apples and eyes as dark and
bright as they ever had been, resting her
elbow on the table and her head upon her
hand and looked thoughtfully into the fire.
This was the widow Cobb, 'relict' OF Dea-
con Levi Cobb, who had been moldering
into dust in the Bytown church-yard far
more than seven years. She was thinking
of her dead husband, probably because
all her work being done, and the servant
gone to bed-ihc sight OF the empty chair
at the other side of the table, and the si>
lence OF the room made her little lonely.
Seven years. so the widows reverie
ran. III seems as If il was more than fifty
and yet don't look SO very old either.
Perhaps it's not having any children to
bother my life out, as other people have.
They may say what they like, children
are more plague than prsfit, that's my
opinion. Look at my sister Jerusha, with
hei six boys. She's worn to a shadow
and I'm sure they have done it, though she
will never own it,
The widow took an apple from the dish
ard began TO peel it.
How dreadful fond Mr. Cebb used to be
of these gratis. He will never eat any
more of them, poor fellow. for / don't sup
pose they have apples where he's gone to.
Heigho. 1 remember very we'll how 1 used
to throw apple parings over my head when
was girl, to see who was going to
marry
1lrs Cobb stopped short and blushed.
In those days she did not know Mr.. Cobb,
and was always looking eagerly to BEE il
the peel had formed a capital S. Her
mcditations took q new turn.
How handsome Sam Payson was, and
rusha says he went away from our village
just after did, apd no one has heard of
him since. And what silly thing that
quarrel was! If had not been for that
Here came long pause, during which
the widow looked very steadfastly at the
empty arm ch,ir OF Levi Cobb, deceased.
Her fingers played carelessly with the
apple pairing, she drew it safely toward
her, and looked around the room.
Upon my word it is very ridiculous,
and | don't know what the neighbors
would say if they saw me-
siiIl the plump fingers drew the peel
1sarer.
But they can't sec me, that's comfort
and the cat and old Bowse will never know
what it means. OF course. don't believe
anything about it.
The pairing hung gracefully from her
hand.
But still should liFe to try it would
seem like old times, and
Over her head it went and curled up
quietly on the floor at little distance
Old Bowse, who always slept with one
eye open, saw il fall, and marched delib
erately up to smell it.
'Bowse, Bowse, don't torch it, cried hi.
mistress and bending over it with beat
ing heart she turned as re as fire. There
was as handsome a capital as one could
wish 10 see.
A loud knock came suddenly at the
door. The dog growled, and the widow
screamed and snatched up the apple par
ing.
It's Mr.. Cobb; it's his spirit come back
again because tried that silly trick, sh,
thought fearfully to herself.
Another krock louder than the first, ant
mans voice exclaimed:--
'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 tht
hill side.
A stranger, said the voice.
what do you want?
To get lodging here for the night
The widow deliberated.
Cant you go ena There's house hal
a mile further on, II you keep TO tie righ
hand side of the road, and turn to YOU
left after you get by
IT'S raining calls and dogs, and I'm very
delicate, said the stranger, coughing. Tn
wet to the skin. Don't you think you car
accommodate me-? Idont mind sleeping
on the floor -2ss
Raining, is ita l didn't know that,
and the kind hearted little woman un'
barred the door very quickly. Come In
whoever you may be. / only asked yot
to go on because l am lone woman, will
only one servant In the house