Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-12


an there amt many such In Eastmont;
and, moreover, he's school superintendent,
and treasurer of the society OF course
Mr.. Fisher must have good deal of busi-
ness with him."
The minister may 60 there on business
as much as he pleases, an nobody'll care;
but when it comes to calm every other
day on that little hyaway of Kitty Glib
son, with her feathers and flounces and
furbelows, going home from meetings with
her. and lendin' on her the Missionary lier-
aid and what not, it looks suspicious, cord
ing to my way of thinkin. and if tha'
mans goin' to marry Katherine Gibson he
may us well ask for dismission fore he's
ordained"
Mrs. Champion said nothing. but there
was faint flush upon her cheek, which
would seem to mean that this matter lay
near her heart We shall see why pres
emily.
"Ktty's nice girl" she said at last -
"Who said she wasn'tp But she amt the
one for minister's wife by no manner OF
means. And then Dea. Hale would find
out t the minister didn't preach the gos-
pei, cause he didn't marry Melissa Jane,
and Mrs. Farnham would never git over
it if he didn't marry either herself or her
daughter. And that makes me think"
Aunt Roxy was fairly started now, and in
the full enjoyment of all her social talents
and amenities. Don't you remember
when Uncle Zimris first wife died, and
they sent up note for prayers the next
Sunday, and Parson Taylor said: % Lord,
Thou hast sorely afflicted our brother.
Thou hast removed his companion the
wife of his bosom, and now who shall sup
ply her place? That was when old Dr.
Brown was livin'. They set behind us
in meetin'. And the doctor he jist leaned
for'ed and touched me, and seq he, Roxy,
don't you 'spose Hester Prince and Maria
Brink said, Lord, is it I?n And that's
the question always when the minister
wants wife. Every single woman sez,
list % And I've known more ministers
dismissed fur that than fur any ore thing"
"Oh well, Roxy. Y'r bark's worse'n
yer bite, we all know and presently
the twain were on other subjects.
The richest woman in Eastmont was
Miss Roxanna Pllsbury. The last OF her
family, with no kin nearer than second
cousins, of course the disposition of her
property became a matter of interest
There was no end to speculations which
were indulged in behind her back, and
there was no lack of covert hint and open
counsel offered tor her face on the suject
Esquire Gibson hoped Miss Pillsbury
would remember the educational needs
of Eastmont, and establish permanent
fund for the academy Deacon Hale was
fond of reminding her of the dilapidated
condition of the meeting house. What
could be more notwithstanding, and
eternally remunerative investment, than
the building of new church editice,
wherein the next generation of Eastmont
people should worship God. and bless Miss
Pillsbury? An orphan asylum, dowry
fund for marriageable women, the en-
barassment of the a. B. {. F. NJ, mon
ument for soldiers of the revolution-all
thlse, and fifty more objects of charity.
were presented to Aunt Roxy everyssy wear
until she was in danger of becoming a
Rothschild, or Peabody in small way,
at least as far as the disagreeable features
of the position went. 1t was quite in vain
that she protested that she had made her
will. What if she did? She could alter
it, could she notp Or. at all events, she
could add codicil She would think of
it, would she not? And so the importu-
nate agent of the "clergyman's grand
mothers fund" would go away, chuckling
and fancying he had made great impress
sion on this rich single woman.
As for the Widow Champion, she was
quite free from any annoyances which at
tached themselves to wealth. She owned
her little homestead. She had never had
fifty dollars in her life, at one time, and
yet She was not considered poor.
Remember. my boy" said the widow
to her stalwart boy. Remember the
prayer of Ager; Give me neither poverty
nor richest"
Very well, mother" answered Tom,
laughing. ''But if man must have one
of the two, give me the riches"
"Poverty's no Disgrace"
"Of course not, but it's mighty incon-
venient." and Tom went off whistling
And in mentioning this same Thomas,
| have introduced the chief pride of the
excellent Mrs. Champion. Very vain glo-
rous indeed the widow was, and, with
some show OF reason, too, Of her broad
shouldered boy with the merry brown
eyes. Boy, his mother would have called
him still, though he was twenty last
birthday, and quite man in his own
right and his own estimation-quite able
to take care of himself, and of some 9TH
er people also, as we shall presently see.
Tom had left his mother at Aunt Roxv's
this afternoon, and, while she and her
friend were in the full career of church
argument, Toms gray pony was paving
the snow in front of Squire Gibson's door.
The horse shook his double row of bells
impatiently. and a merry laugh rang out.
as chubby little figure. well obscured in
furs and wraps. was tucked into the sleigh.
Very carefully the big hands folded the
robes about her shoulders and feet, you
may be sure OF that.
''Oh you always tuck me in so nicely"
chirped Kitty. for her CHEEKY voice always
you of bird.
ado ?" answered Tom, for the life of
him not finding anything else to say. though
he thought. "If might only do it always"
But the opportunity was lost. and so great
was the lovers confusion, that am sorry
to say that he tucked himself in by the
side Of Kitty. and gave the word to Pom
pey to start, but the animal only shook his
bells, and paved more impatiently than
ever. The horse was not untastened. Oh
how Kitty laughed then! Tom laughed
too. What else could he do? Twas
your fault y he said 20 Kitty. and I really