Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-12-29

the boys may have the widow. Bring on
your books, let's proceed to business"
Before the preceding had half been spok-
en- Deacon CluH had retreated across the
entry. At its close, forgetting his mission,
he fairly bolted and ran, never stopping
till past the pond and green, when wiping
the perspiration from his brow, he began
to gather up his ideas. Yes, the little mink
was right, he was still young and good
looking, rich, and "A man of note. Who was
this Widow Adams7 He must learn To
be sure 1t was rather quick after his wife's
death, but then, some OF these young fell
lows would obtain her, and doubtless she
would prefer an older, more s,al man like
himself. At any rate it could do no hurt 10
introduce himself He needed some pigs;
of course, on such farm there would DE
an abundance of porkers; at least, pigs
could be an excuse for a call. He would
ride up to the upper parish the next Thurs
day lecture and ascertain where the lady
resided and have a look at her, IL nothing
more. The Thursday afternoon lecture
was great institution with our foreiathers.
A half holiday to the schools, il was as reg
ularly attended as the Sabbath services,
and those, If health permitted, were seldom
omitted.
The January thaw had come. 1t was
poor sleighing, so as Deacon Cluf was an
expert horseman, he determined to take the
saddle.
The widow Adams was an orderly wo-
man-she never inlringed upon custom or
propriety; she would certainly have at
tended the lecture had not her next door
neghbor slipped upon the wet door stone
and broken her leg; consequently the
handsome widow was assisting snufiy,
clumsy DIR. Rich in his manipulations, in
stead of being present at the afternoon SER
vice.
The old, unpainted, square meeting
house, with its rattling windows and heavy
doors, basked in the sunshine upon the
hilltop. Males and females dismounted
from saddle and pilion at the horse block,
near the principal entrance; the long row
of sheds became filled with sleighs, the
square pews long seats and wide galleries
were thronged. The head choristcr pitch
ed his pipe, the tithing man with his long
pole seated himself in the gallery among
the boys the three deacons took their place
in front of the pulpit; the pastor, in his
wig, black gown and white bands, walked
majestically up the centre aisle, and slowly
ascended the stairs leading TO the high ros-
trum; the sexton stealthily tiptoed forward
and humbly seated himself upon the low
est STEP
The parson rose, psalm book in hand, the
centre door opened slowly and noiselessly,
the sexton sprang forward and ushered the
stranger who had entered into one of the
best pews, beside a very quiet, dcmure
looking young lady.
Notwithstanding her sombrc counte-
nance and modest demeanor, Tabitha Dole
was one OF the greatest witches that ever
danced 10 black Sambo's fiddle. She and
Miss Mars had attended Atkinson acade-
my together and become close friends. Ia
bitha had been visiting at the Green, knew
Deacon Cluff by sight, and had there learn
ed of his widowed estate. Consequently,
when, after service through which he had
been unusually devout, he inquired for the
residence of the widow Adams, the young
sprte at once iathomed his intention.
Now there was another widow Adams, a
woman of sixty, with two unmarried
daughters, Susan and Hannah, residing
within a stones throw of the meeting
house; thither the mischicvous girl direct
ed the deacon. But as he stopped 10 speak
TO the parson and other dignitaries, she
ran over to apprise Hannah Adams, whom
she found alone, of his coming. Hannah
was the fnancee of Tabitha's brother, man
ager of the widows farm, while Tabitha
had promised to wed Edward White, an
other young man employed upon the prem
ises.
Five minutes sufliced, amidst giggline
and suppressed CALCULATIONS, for Tabtha tC
unfold plan, and Hannah TO accede to it
by which the deacon was to he victimized
Tabitha met her lover as she returned NJ
the hill, and informed him of the part he
was expected TO play in the drama, so when
the suitor, proud of horse and horseman-
ship pranced up the long lane, everything
was in readiness for an appropriate recep
ton.
The worthy man never dreamed of any
mistake. A large substantial farmhouse
with long barns and an abundance of out
buildings, surrounded by orchards, fields
and meadows, everything evnced wealtl
and care.
Hannah answered his knock. "Yes, the
widow Adams resided there. She was alb
sont, but would return by sunset. Wout
not the gentlemen walk in and wait, tn,
ma would take his horse. Pigs, oh yes
there was quite number, he could look a
them !" so Edward White threw the bridl,
over his arm and the deacon accompanied
him to the stable. More and more pleased
after due inspection of the place and ma
ny inquiries, all of which his companion
managed to answer satisfactorily, the visit
or returned to the house, where a mug o
flip awaited him, and he was placed in
large arm chair beside the fire, in the clean
bright family room.
The logs snapped and sparkled in tn
huge fire place; the long dresser, brillian
with pewter and many hued crockery
cleaned in the freight the tea-kettl
sang merrily on the long trammel; tn
supper table, with its spotless cloth, anC
Deautlully painted cnlnhi WAS uraWh ou
in the centre of the neatly sanded iooI
When Edward White had handed him
nicely-lighted pipe the visitor felt remark
ably comfortable, and as he pufied the curl
of smoke about his head and watched pret
ty, buxom Hannah Adams as she hustle
about he thought If the maid WAS so goo
looking-and he never doubted her TO b
the serving maid-what would be the mis-
tess? lie scarcely cared, he liked tn
looks of this girl, so spry and def in he
movements.
With half-closed eyes he gazed, as tn
pies and doughnuts We're placed on tn
hearth to warm, bread, cheese and cak
cut, the toast dipped and the sausage
fried.
Chang, chang, chang came tho bells