Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-03-30

most cutting and irritating things to
each other under the garb of sympathy
and coincidence.
1t was ut the sewing society, the first
which had ''metn since Deacon Elsbree
had been gathered to his fathers.
Mrs. Smith, with an elongated face
KEY, said Il felt so bad for you, Sis
ter Hawkins, when / heard they was
going to pass your Ephraim by again,
and take man SO much younger, and
so little experience. 1t seems kinder
like a put upon You both, and a slight
upon your husban' that's now dead and
gone, it really does" And she made
desperate effort to subdue the rising tri
umph in her voice.
"Who have they picked out ?" asked
the widow, and she ''looked ready to
sink" for she had thought, "Surely
they will take Ephraim now"
Its not settled yet, but they are
tadkin' bout Car lines husban'," and
then she added, after moments pause,
81 wish things had been leetle diff
ferent with Ephraim."
Mrs. Hawkins tried to brace herself
to hear the rest. She was soon ac-
costed with, "Glad to see you ont to-
day, Sister Hawkins; shows you amt
no feeling bout Ephraims bein' slight
ed we all 'spected you'd lot on his
bein' chosen, but you see t wouldn't
do, no how"
The pale face flushed, and then she
looked up to find that every eye was
upon her, and every one waiting to see
what she would say.
| She spoke up quite unlike herself
"No, I don't see why it wouldn't do;
my Ephraim's as likely man as there
| is in this town, and there amt person
with the right to speak agin him, and
that's more'n can be said of some folks
that pear to stand better chance than
him"
1t was pretty still there for minute
or so, and then Deacon Slocum's wife,
who was hostess on the occasion, said,
" Don't you be afronted, Sister Haw-
kins, nobody blames you"
"And who do they blamel Hasn't
my son always walked 'cord'n to his
profession Z"
"Y-e-a-s, but you know what the
! Scripturs say
g know good deal that would be
a rebuke to folks / could mention. y
! But she tried to smile as she asked,
''What partickler Scriptur do you re-
/ fer to, Sister Slocum2
II don't know as | IN give you the
words straight. l heard my husband
akin it over; twas something bout a
deacon havin' wife and children L
guess that they always have to, don't
they? ~
at ought to be one of the qualitica-
TONS severely remarked Miss Shamb-
ley, a lady of uncertain age. And then
there was a suppressed litter among the
'o WiFh h lacI heart 50 so, from having
these two great trials Of her life SO
ruthlessly brought before her, in such
a public manner, twas no wonder that
her reply should have been given rather
sharply,
"Ephraim's been slow maxim up his
mind It's his way and then with a
quick glance Mt Miss Shambley, sit
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 Devil
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
hn y fn IL, md
to their anxious inquiries as to what was
the matter, only said she was tired. ="
Solomon hurried off to the society,
firm in the belief that his services could
not be dispensed with, when the "mem-
bers should start for home.
Ephraim and MS mother had long
evening together, and her trials were so
etfectually shown to her son that the in
terview closed with the widow triumph
ant and happy, and Ephraim had sub
dued look which boded well for his
mother
On the following morning Solomon
asked, "Where are you going to pick
up stones to-day, Eph 2" and was told,
!" / have other work on my hands to-
day, less to my mind, but have prom
ised mother not to try her any longer
by Sinking Solomon's eyes opened
wide, and he did not hesitate to say,
Hannah, there'll be fun now,
guess" He was instantly stopped by
a 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" 50 his
mother felt no misgivings about him as
she watched him crossing the meadows