Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-03-03

Althea. Il guess it was the wind after
all that shut the pantry door in my face
didn't know but you might have done i
with long-hauded skinner or some
thin, SOS 10 have crack with Steven
but could have told you twant no use
There's no palaver about him. A gals
gal to him, and uothn' else.'
"a primrose on the rivers brim,
Ayellow primrose was to him,
And it was nothing more,"
| muttered under my breath.
whats that? said Miss AIthea, y
amt deaf, only you talk so quick.
"A bit of poetry, that's all
'Oh, | thought you'd heard about
them Primrose girls; they do say that
Steven Frazer is kind of hankering after
Liuy. She took the first premium, ten
dollars, for her butter, at the last cattle
show, and she makes all her own gowns
and bonnets.'
They look so ! said l, spitefully, for
Miss Althea always did bring my bitter
streak to the surface.
Looks amt everything, g,Sylvie, though
it's done good deal for your family.
The Frazcrs always look out for wives
that can turn off good days work.
Steven might have been kind O. senti-
mental when he was young, say sixteen
or thereabouts; but he comes of timber
that hardcns as it grows old. If you
could get him, Sylvie, you'd do better
than all your sisters.
Il hope you won't put any such no.
tions into her head till after house clean.
ing said mother, with one of her low,
billowy laughs, which always exasper.
ated Miss Allhen. She never showed
more than four teeth in wiry smile.
mo need to put EN- in; they're in the
grain with all your girls; but I'm a
wastn' Of precious time. I only run
over for minute while them pillow
cases was on my mind
Don't be in haste your cat won't
be lonely | said, with pretty sarcasm
worthy Of Miss Althea herself! was
ashamed of it before her scant skirts
were out of the doorway.
You have too much patience with
her; it ceases to be virtue / SAID,
answering the reproach in mothers eyes.
You don't even resent the sights she
puts upon your girls
That's because she has none of her
own it's the pity of it that smooths my
feathers when they begin to bristle,' said
mother, gently. I'VE were girls to-
gethcr, Althea and !, and you don't
know what manner of woman 1 might
have stiffened into if | had lived on toast
and tea all these years, and lain awake
on winter nights to hear the wind blow
around lonely house
Mother, SAID l, dashing sideways at
the subject which filled my thoughts,
do you think some women are preor-
dained from the beginning of the world
to be old maids?
ut may be so, but am sure that no
woman was ever single except by her
own choice there comes to every wo-
man at least one chance of marriage, if
she have the presence Of mind to grasp
it.
Marriage yes, but suppose she wants
love? | am twenty-five, and no one ever
said, i love you
Some things go without saying said
Steven Frazer, appearing suddenly at
the south door. Il went off and left the
eggs after all, and so came back for
them. l have overheard no treason ex-
cept Sylvie's last speech. Does every
man have one chance Of marrying, too?
Yea, verify, Steven; one chance of
somebody's loving him for himself, let
him be ever so awkward and disagreea.
ble.
That's good news, said Steven.
I've half mind to tell you a story
said mother meditatively.
with all my heart; the eggs can
wait
you know what rough husk my
brother Shubael wears to all the world,
but you may never know the warm heart
that he hides under it. He was always
like that from boy, but he used to Suf.
fer from the most intolerable bashtulness.
He was in a fame if girl looked at
him; if she spoke, his tongue Glove to
the root of his mouth. | never pitied
anybody so much in my life. 1t seemed
to me that he only needed to begin to
pay attention Gas the phrase is) to some
nice girl in particular to find out that
there is very little in any woman to
make man afraid of her.
Il lay in wait for Shubael's opinions,
till l discovered that he had faint lik-
lug for girl who was every whit as
bashfnl as himself. 1t was impossible
for either TO go half way. was foolish
enough to take the girl into my plot,
which dazed what wits she had when
ever Shubael went near her, and NIL the
more because she really preferred him
to any one else.
Il worked his courage up 10 the stick
ing point of asking her to le, him 80
home with her one dark night from a
quilting aud was describing my sue
cess TO your father, as we were taking
the longest way home, when Shubael
passed us alone, walking very fast.
Il knew my plan had fallen through
when I caught sight Of his whimsical
face. had invented the mildest of for
mulas for him to use, aud he declared
he marched up to her like martyr to