The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-03-31

n. L.
= "Dont you be afronted. Sister Hay
kins, nobody blames you.n x
And who do they blame7 Hash
my son always walked 'cord'n to hi
profession ln
Yeas, but you know what th
{ Scripturs say" fsgr
II know good deal that would b
n, rebuke to folks could mention. -
But she tried to smile sas she asked
ID " What partickler Scriptur do you rt
fer to, Sister Slocum ?n
81 don't know as cln give you tn
words straight heard my husban,
~ akin it over; twas something bout
deacon havin' a wife and children;
Z guess that they always have to, dom
theya"
1T ought to be one of the qualifica
q tions, severely remarked Miss Shamb
ley, lady of uncertain age. And thel
there was a suppressed litter among tn.
younger ladies'.
With her heart so sore from having
these two great trials of her life sc
ruthlessly brought before her, In such
9 public manner, twas no wonder that
her reply should have been given rather
sharply.
" "Ephraims been slow maxim up his
mind; It's his way" and then with a
quick glance at Miss Shambley, IL
amt as if he couldn't get anybody to
have him, you know.
1t was well supper was announced,
and the attention of the company turn
ed TO the strength of the tea and the
quality of the cake.
Poor old lady, she was quite bewil-
dered with her thoughts she wanted
to get away from all those pitiless eyes
and tongues, SO she managed to slip out
unperceived, and arrived at home Just as
g the boys were going to milking, and
to their anxious inquiries as to what was
the matter, only said she was &c tired. !"
Solomon hurried off to the society,
firm In the belief that his services could
not be dispensed with, when the tfmem-
bers should start for home.
i Ephraim and mis- mother had long
evening together, and her trials were so
effectually shown to her son that the in
terview closed with the widow triumph
ant and happy, and Epkraim had SUBJ
dued look which boded well for his
mother.
On the following morning Solomon
asked, "Where are you going to pick
up stones to-day, Eph7" and was told,
!" have other work on my hands to-
day, less to my mind, but have prom
ised mother not to Ftry her any longer
by shirking." Solomon's eyes opened
wide, and he did not hesitate to say,
" Hannah, thereu be fun now, L
guess. He was instantly stopped by
8 reprimand from his mother.
Now Ephraim was one of those
downright, upright kind Of men, to
whom the battle is more than half over
when once they have resolved, so his
mother felt no misgivings about him as
she watched him crossing the meadows
in the direction of Squire Whipple's.
l do not think the good woman ever
thought of the possibility of Martha's |
saying "nay" to such an offer, but as
the day wore on and he did not come
home, she smiled to think what ardent
lovers these quiet, backward kind of
men made, when they come to know
their own minds.
Solomon declared "that Eph was
making a fool of himself, going the !
rounds of the whole town" and asked |
his mother "what she'd bet Eph |
wouldn't ask that ar Shumbley woman
to add her forty years to his'n before
he was through with il"
By nine o'clock Ephraim arrived, but
nothing could be gathered from his
face, and he refused to answer single
question until he had his supper. They
waited with what patience they could
H. J
dreadful trying, and Solomon thought
(" Eph's symptoms good, Judging from
his appetite.
At last he seated himself by the
broad, open fireplace, and placing his
feet upon the fender, commenced: /" 1
went over to the 'Squire's and found
Marthy churning; SO took hold and
helped her. She said something about
nv running away from her generally,
but didn't take any notice of it. We
talked over about work and one thing
and another. She laughed at most
everything, but gave me some kind of
an answer, until 1 asked her, sMarthy, i
says ], what's your opinion about rails
ing large familyl Dent you think,
if it's the Lords WILL it is better to
have good many children to grow up
together, than to have just two or
three, like your family and mine 81
She jumped so that we almost upset
the churn, and then she snapped out, 4
GO Eph. Hawkins, what do you mean,
talking like that to mei Don't you ever !,
dare to speak to me again as long as
you live. y I tried to explain, but she
wouldn't listen to word, so / had to
leave, and I felt glad twas ordered Just
as twas, for a woman with such tenn
per would make an uncomfortable
wife"
The widow groaned, but Ephraim
told her "not to be discouraged, for
he did not give it up SO. !" 81 went /
from there over to Mr.. Wheeler's, and
[ thought I wouldn't waste time in
compliments; SO when Sarah Jane came
10 the door asked her at once if she'd ;
be kind enough to answer a few ques- /.
lions, and / told her good deal de- ,
pended on her answers, SO 1 hoped she
would tell the truth. At that she got /,
mad and called to her mother, ERE is
Eph Hawkins, come to take the cencus,
and he's afraid I'll tell him lies; you
had better come and answer him, and
what should she do but leave. Sister j
came, and / said I think viii |
call when Brother Wheeler is at home
and then I left
Again the widow groaned, and ac-
,used her son of being more "tryingn
han ever before. Solomon kept quiet,
Tor fear of being excluded from the CON
idence of the family. ''Mother, . said
Ephraim, "don't find fault with me,
ior never worked so hard to please (
you in my life as / have done to-day, !
md have gone according to the light I !
had"
al know, my son, but you'll never !
marry now. Oh dear, i am so otired." II
eyes shall did not lose cour- ]
age bit, but went from there to Eben
Howe's.1
Don't you tell me Betty Howe is
coming here to live on {
"No, she wasn't at home, and when K
| asked her mother as to Betsy's !
views, she owned that Betsy hadn't
any, so that was settled, of course. and i
I left word with her about some town
business for Eben, and came away.r