Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-17
ar openet, the dairy room door, and

suts,v openefS the dairy room door, ani
bringing forth a tall, upright churn, she
ouietlv placed it between the sleeper:
Knees. and then noiselessly covering the
fire with ashes she blew out the candle
and joined the gay quartette in the nex'
room. ~
A little suppressed laughter and the
Young men went to their chamber, while
the girls betook themselves to their sleep.
ing apartment, bedroom adjoining the
kitchen.
need not say that though the bed was
sought it was not to sleep.
Towards morning Deacon Cluif awoke,
rubbed his eyes and shook his benumbed
limbs. Over went the churn with great
bang and rattle on the broad black hearth.
The cat. with terrible sissing flew up the
chimney and took refuge on the lup hole.
The widow lifted her night capped head
and muttered that the uncanny witch
Goody Sleeper was at her tantrums riding
broom stick What was she up to now !?
Some mischief at the barn, she warranted,
she must cut some hair from one of the
critters tails and burn it on the morrow.
Comforted at the thought of this specific
d0dIIiSL evil, SDC UCLCQ oi ttSsoih.
the deacon was becoming conscious of his
whereabouts and situation. A good deal
ashamed, vastly provoked, yet in spite of
his ire somewhat amused, he silently
CROPPED out his hat and coat from the entry,
then as quietly made his exit from the
front door, which had been considerably
left unbarred.
Making his way to the barn, by the
:. -. = al. lo hic
horse, the b-idle hung upon the stall, but
the saddle was missing. A bare back ride
of ten miles was no pleasant prospect,
bnt after searching awhile the deacon con-
cluded it must be done. He was only too
glad to have the moon suddenly obscured,
that he might escape being recognized by
any chance wayfarer.
Nothing occurred to interrupt his lonely
ride. Near dawn he sarrived at his own
door, a wiser if not sadder man.
Some weeks latter, upon rising one
morning, our hero espied what at first he
took for wild animal perched in tree
opposite his chamber window, but which
upon examination he found to be his miss
ing saddle.
All parties kept their own counsel. The
year waxed and waned. Choir singing
was established at the 'Green," even Il
bass-viol had been introduced, much to
the horror of the older members, who
were scandalized at such Papistical in
novations. The young and beautiful
Widow Adams has become Mrs. Elbridge
Clifton, and Hannah Adams and David
Dole had been cried three times in the
meeting, when the post brought letter
to Deacon Cluff What was his astonish-
ment to find it an invitation to the we'd
ding.
Taking heart Of grace he determined to
go. t<8
: On lovely winter evening he again
found himself riding up the long lane. The
large house was thronged. The bride and
her bride maid, Tabitha Dole, looked as
lovely as maidens ever looked. Miss Sn-
san as mistress of ceremonies appeared to
great advantage; both the bridegroom
and the groomsman, Edward White, were
especially attentive to the deacon. Mrs.
Adams, little voting the reason, chided
him for not before renewing his visit. Miss
Adams sweetly hoped they should see him
again. She did not hope in vain.
The orthodox year Of mourning having
ended, after little eoquettish prudery the
lady consented to fill the vacant place in
the daacon's household, and before the
lapse of another year his family received
a mistress and his children mother who
verified the scriptural description OF per-
feet woman. "Her children rise up and
call her blessed, her husband also, and he
praiseth her; her own works praise her in
the gates"
In his later years Deacon Cluff was fond
of relating how he found his second wife,
not failing to assure his hearers, with, a
merry twinkle of the eye, that he had
never regretted his visit to the Widow
Adams. = Western World.