Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-01-06
WIDOW COBBs FIRST LOVE.

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broad hearth Of the old farm house kiteh
sn--a cat and three Kittens basked in tht
warmth, and decrepid yellow dog, lyins
full length in the reflection Of the yellow
blaze, Wrinkled his black nose approyingiy
as he turned bis hind feet where his fore
feet had been. Over the. chimney hung
several hams and pieces OF dried f
Apples were festooned along the ceiling
and crooked neck squashes Wed red with
peppers and slips of dried pumpkin, in
garnlshing each window frame There
were plants, too, on the window lodges
horse shoe geraniums and dew plants, and
a monthly rose, just budding, TO say moth
ing Of pots Of violets that oerfi,sled the
whole place whenever they took it int
their heads to bloom. The floor was care.
fully swept, the chairs had not speck oi
dust upon leg or round, the long settle
near the fire place shown as if it had ju t
been vanished, and the eight day clock
in the corner had its white face newly
washed and seemed determined to tick
the louder for it. Two arm chairs we're
drawn up at cosy distance from he
hearth and each ether; candle. news
paper, PAIR of Spectacles, dish OF red
checked apples, and pitcher OF cider,
filled a little table between them La one
Of the cha rs sat comtol tablelookipg <
woman Of about forty five, with cheeks as
red as the apples and eyes as dark and
bright as they ever had been, resting her
elbow on the liable, and her head upoa
her hand, looking thoughtfully into the
fire. This was the widow Cobb-'relct
OF Deacon Levy Cobb, who had been
moulderjng in the dust in the Bytown
church yard tor more than seven years.
She Was thinking Of her dead husband.
probably because her work being done,
aud the servant gone to bed-the sight ol
the empty chair at he other SIDE OF the
table, aud the silence Of the room, made
her little lonely.
Seven years $50 the widows revere
run. 1t seems as twas more than fifty
and yet l don't look SO very old either
Perhaps its not having any children to
bother my life out, as other people have.
They may say what thy Ike out children
are more. piague rhan pro6t-that's my
opinion. Look at my sister Jerusha,
with her six boys. She S worn % shad-
ow, and I'm sure they have done it,
though sne will never own it,
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began to peel it.
How dreadful fond Mr. Cobb used to
be Of these gratis. He will never eat
auy more Of them, poor fell ", for don t
suppose they have applaa ss9.ere-i,es s gone
to. Heigho !! | remember very well how
I used to throw apple parings over my
head when | was girl, to see who [ was
going to marry
Mrs Cobb stopped short and blushed.
In those days she did not know Mr.. ,:obb,
and was always looking eagerly to see if
the peel had formed capital s. Her
medi;ations then took new turn.
How handsome Sam Payson was, and
how much | used to care for him. Jeru-
Sha says he went away from our village
just alter did, and no one has heard Of
him 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 steadiastly at the
empty armchair of Levi Cobb, dece ,sed.
Her fingers played carelesSly with the ap
pie pairing; she drew it safely to her, and
loUked around the room.
'Upon my word, it is very ridiculous,
and | don't know what the neighbors
Wo'd say if they saw me-
St Il the plump fingers drew the peel
nearer
But they can't see me--that's com
fort-and the cat and old BoESe will
never know what it means. Of course |
don't believe anything about it,
The pearlng hung gracefully from her
hand.
Still | would like to try it would
seem like old times, and
Over head it went, and curled up quiet
ly on the floor, at little distance. Old
Bowse, who always slept with one eye
open. saw it fall, and marched del Der te-
ly up to tmell it.
'Bowse, Bo#se, don't touch it, cried
his mistress; and, bending over it with
beating heart, she turned as red as fire.
There was as handsome capital S as any
one could wish to see.
A loud knock came suddenly at the
door The dog growled, and the widow
screamed aud snatchiog up the apple par.
ing.
Its Mr.. Cobb; it's his spirit come
back because tried that silly trick she
thought fearfully to herself.
Another KNOCK, louder than the first,
and man voice exclaimed:
'Hillo, the house =
who is it p asked the widow, some
what relieved to find that the departed
Levi was still in his grave on the hillside.
A stranger, said tho voice
what do you want ?
'Io get lodging for the night
The widow delberated.
Cant you go on? There 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
Its raining cats and dogs. and | am
We: y delicate, said the stranger coughing
| am wet to the skin. Don't you think
you can accommodate me? [ don't
mind sleeping on the floor