Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-08-27

1 6f damaRinz sonaethinE. He was ar
/ ravsd in the glory of a clean shirt, an,
/ his best Sunday broadcloth, with whicl
he never seemed to get on easy, famil
lar terms.
l ing the Jealous twinge which this com
plimenf to Hopes appearance haG
awakened by a tug g the Deaconh
wafstcoat and twiteh at his neeker
chief. "You can be about as soft il
your remarks as any man ever saw
and I must say It amt becoming a dea
con of the church"
At an early hour of the afternoon
the Bellamys and Floods drove up IL
their respective chari0ts. There Werl
two of the Flood girls, much more
dressy, with their exaggerated water
falls and frizzes. than plain, quie
Hope. Folks in Drastic were unchar
liable and malicious enough to Say
that Ann Flood had spread her littlG
net to catch the minister. Gossip is 8
naughty thing, I know; but what
would the hum-drum villages and
droning, sleepy country neigh bOrhoods
do without it 2
Poor Ira was chore-hoy. He had to
put up the horses, and give them food
and water. Nobody Thought about
dressing him up and bringing him into
the parlor to see company. Little.
shy, bashfuI Petty had had her light
hair braided and tied with her best
blue ribbons; and nov she was sitting
at Cousin Hopes sIdzy listening to a
verv funny story of two pet Kittens
Ira 1ouQed rather bitterly for the time
to come when he should be his own
man. beyond anybody's beck or call.
He would show folks that there was
something in the awkward, green boy;
and then, perhaps, they would deign
to notice him. -
He twitched savageIy at the horses
heads, and made them back and kick
some. until he began TO reflect that.
after al. it would be better fun to go
off into the woods than to sit poked up
with lot of girls, who would make
him blush mp above his big ears every
time they looked his way. Another
consolatory reflection was that there
were to be Waffies and strawberries for
tea that evening.
The front door was wide open and
leaf shadows palpitated on the hall
floor. and dappled the muslin window
curtains. There were rose scents and
odors of new-mRde hay coming in -
and not far of, in the pastures, focks
of sheep and COWS were nibhling the
short, sweet grass. The duSt-cOated
humble bee went diving into the cups
of the hoIlyhocks, and inuumerable
robins DiDed and tWittered from the
maple-bouRhs. Little curdy masses OF
cumuli went Iazily drifting along thro'
the blue, towed by the fresh breeze.
that brought now and then sugges-
tion of mint and sedge from the brook
side. T <n ta
The girls cheeks wore soft, peach
glow, and Mrs. Pritchard's parlor was
filed with the sounds of chatting and
goOd-humored funH Hester and Ann
Flood drew out their crOcheting. Hope
hemmed a tiny eambric RUNE. Mar
tina Bellamy, the most bewitching lit
lte hiEt in Drastic, was winding creWel
from q skeiR which the old deacon
held over his big knuckIes. He was
as merry as d lark, and the brown
wrinkles and crowB'-feet round his
mouth and eyes allied up with ssun-
shine when N 1rs. P.'s visual Organs
happened to be off guard.
The elderly ladies had put their
heads close together in the corner, be-
fore the yard gate clicked and some
body said, "H-ush, he's coming. y
The girls SET tied back and tried7t0 look
demure and Indifferent, as the minis
Jer's tall form crossed the threshold.
He was q slight man, on the hither
side of forty. There was student cut
10 his black clothes and white choker.
His linen, frayed a,little at the edges,
and the weed on his hat told sad, sad
ssT hope I see you we'll, Sister Pritch-
,rd." and the minister bestowed a
grave greeting on the assembled COM
st7ies, I am grateful to say always
sniov com fortablsd health. How is
ssHelen is such dear, sweet, pre-
,ious, little creature" put in Ann
S6Thev are almost too WE'LL" and a
faint smile crossed the, parson'sr we'll
IiscipIined features. @It is wonderful
now soon the carnal heart begins to
manifest its tendencies in young chill
1ren."
sFYou can't break yearling colts,'
said the Deacon, cheerily, land little
folks will caper, spite of the bit and
saafffe .a'F 81 Hz a#a aGH g@FEH@8E#E
Especially Gvheng they ares mother
less, - added TAnn FlOody 7AEith tender
glance of her eye.
Hope shrank out of sight, with in
ytinctive shyness; but before long Mr..
chair had edged over to her
corner. HesWanted to inquire about
Brother Woodruff, up at Brantville-
how he was getting aIong with his
charge. and if the Lords work was
PROSPECTING among the hills. His in
5etest in Brother Woodruff and the
condition of Brantville was
so AAlE4b 4AA3tGAAi
until Mrs. Pritchard said, with a little
sabdued exu1tation in her tome
Please to lay by. yoT1e work, ladies,
and walk out to teas', =. - ~ +, -za.z
The low westering sun was shining
into the dining-rOom windows with Q
mellow glow, that touched the fragrant
steam from the teapot, and cast. rich
Teathery biscuits, and butter smelling
Of June clover. Hope had her place
next to the minister, where she was to-
serve the traWberFies; and after the
rattle of chairs had subsided, and the
hush, fi1led with Mr.. Stoyer3s grave
voice asking blessing was broken
Rachel brought in her first instaIlmeni
Of waffles, brown, crisp, and tender
enough to melt in the mouth. toa -
Everybody went of into raptures
over them; but the DeaeOn's wife cas-
down her eyes, and said 'sshe didn't
think she had had quite her usual
luck Mrs. BelIamy was asking foi
The recipe, when Hope becanle eon-
sciOUs that Ann Floods gaze was q ked
upon her with no very loving look =
"Five cups of flour, did you say ?''
Mrs. sPFitchard caught her attention
5traying OF toward Mr.. Stover, as he
explained to Hope why he had never
exchanged with Brother Woodruff
The good mans earnestness. did no
dDDGaE 20 4AEGII5E6 Win MS ADDSEAbe-
he had taken his third dish of 4beFriea
and the Waffies melted from his plate
rapidly. eN AsaAAJ eNfoe E*3'
Ira and Petty, who were Obliged to
wait, took up their post of observation
behind the kitchen-door, and noted
some of these facts with ever-increas-
ing alarm.
There goes the very last plateful Of
wafHes,H = i Whispered Ira, as Rachefi
again made her lappearaneeoi I'll saw
saw Rachel sCrape utthe dishg There.
Mr.. StoYef has took another. 'Jimnlir ny.
don't he hang on well2 o Pett thert
won't, be q taste left for us, nor berrs
nelth TlSa land the little wRberinR
mouths fairly ached. H'r
The Deacon was in clOver-the whole
length of the table from Mrs. P.'s eve
with Hester Flood on one side, ana
that little witch, Martha BeIlamy, Oh
the other. If there was anything the
Deacon did enjoy, it was sitting be-
tween two nice girls. Every time the
came round, he extended
his fork .andb took one, as. .biandl vas ID
the supply was to last forever. His
better half understood the true state
of the case, and she fairly agonized to
giF6F tlhe good man hinf With ReF
rather heavy toe.
The cream-cal1es came in lust in time