The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-04-13


next tbsme put in her way with such
safoit carelsssuess
when Eliza went home soon after.
Mhly went Il The gate. and finally
along the as lar as the third ma
pie tree.
! thought you we're my friend. MI.
y, said she bitterly. But you knew
how lougod 10 bear whatever else
yeur Aunt Betsey could tell
Sol am your friend. your true
/ friend but sou hooked as though there
was dagger sticking 10 your heart,
and was not going 10 LET her 20 back
to Dorset With any story about you to
tell Miss Halsey. Besides, she had told
all she knew, and rome she guessed, al
ready, Don't cry, Zay. have a pre-
sentiment il viii all come out right
yet
Right meaut to these young girls
the way most desirable in their finite
eyes, that saw such a little way into life
and the great Beyond
50 Milly went back to the gossiping
aunt, and Eliza went forward to take
up the burden Of life from which the
sun Was darkened, and the moon with
held her light But
"rhe darkest day,
Live till tomorrow, viii have passed away
And already the word bad been spoken
that should turn the color OF her fate
Aunt Betsey was right about a great
many things; and at the very moment
she WAS taking her pinch OF snuff, and
unconsciously thrustng poisonened ar
rows into the heart Of Eliza Orange,
the same subject was being discussed
by Frederic Chestnuts father and moth
er in the clean and airy kitchen OF their
farmhouse.
Did you give Frederic hint OF how
you felt, mother? asked Mr.. Chest
nut, anxiously.
Not word for nor against. Iwould
not. l treated the girl Just as well as
knew how, though / could never stand
it with the Dudgeon blood. ! always
did feel as though was a porcupine
with my quilts out whenever saw one
Of the family, even as long ago as they
and we were young together, though
don't know any reason why replied
Mrs. Chestnut, stopping a moment to
mediate upon the metaphysical side Of
the question, We'll, SO it is, she re-
sumed cheerfully, after an unayailing
pause; some folks can't bear cheese,
and / never took to the Dudgeons.-
But, nevertheless, I shall try to treat
Freddy's wife like daughter, whoever
she may be; so / showed her my chees-
es, and took her out TO see the garden
and the pig, and never breathed word
for nor againstto Freddy, Only as she
was off putting on her things in the real
Dudgeon way, dawdling and dowdy, l
just said to Freddy, sort Of aside, said
|, next time You come. bring Eliza.
And he never said word, and / never
said word / wouldn't.
All! kind-hearted Mother Chestnut!
Unconscious influence is sometimes
mightiest; and word spoken in due
season how good il is.
Frederic didn't tell you, / suppose,
asked Mr. Chestnut, anything about
what r,ade the trouble betwixt him and
Eliza Orange' Or wasn't there ever
anything to it only our surmisings, af-
ter all p
Well, I don't know, replied Mrs
Chestnut, all the more cheerful TO bal
ance the gloom of her husband, 4 guess
they liked each other, no mistake about
that; but they are both pretty proud,
and pretty stuffy, and / mistrust that
something has gone wrong chat they
won't either and come back Of. But,
then, nobody can tell the betwixts and
betweens of couple Of young folks,
and themselves as little as anybody
Young folks don't know moro than
couple of rabbits what they want and
what they ought to want, and they are
Just as apt TO stumble on the wrong
thing as the right thing, pursued Mrs.
Chestnut, with the wisdom Of expert.
ence and long observation stirring in
her brain. Why, / cant say positively
there was any certain engagement,
or the like Of that. bat supposed it
was an understood thing. Well, ! don't
know, father, il will come out right
one way or the other, and talking will
not feed the pig, or pick the peas for
breakfast tomorrow morning.
So saying. Mother Chestnut put on
her sun bonnet and went briskly out,
with pail Of milk in one hand and an
empty basket in the other. II was not
her heart that was on an anvil, and she
could comfort herself for her disap-
pointed expectations by the homely du-
ties Of her homeiy life.
Meantime, al the same moment, Fred
eric Chestnut, alone in his counting
room, trotted his foot aud thought