Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-07-21

rains being sltghted veal 'spected you'd
lot on his bein' chosen, hut you see 1t
wouldn't do, no how
The pale face flushed, and then she look
cd up to find every eye upon her and ev
cry one waiting to see what she would say.
She spoke quite unlike herself "No,
don't sec why it wouldn't do f; my Eph-
rain Is as likely man as there is in this
town, aud there ain't person with tho
right to speak agn him, and. that's more'n
can be said of some folks that pear to stand
better chance than him."
It was pretty still there for a minute or
so, and then Deacon Slocums wife who
was hostess on the occasion, said, "DOn't
you be fronted, sister Hawkins, nobody
blamcs you"
"And who do they blame hasn't my son
always walked cordin' to his profession9"
"Y-e-a-s, but you know what the scrip
lures say"
81 know good deal that would be a re-
buke to folks 1 could MENTION" but she
tried to smile as she asked, "what peHic-
ular scripter do you refer to, sister Slo-
cum?"
81 don't know as | can give you the
words straight. | Lcard my husband
talkin' it over; twas suthin bout dca-
con havin' wife and children; guess
they have TO, don't they?"
at ought to be one Of the qualifications"
severely remarked Miss Shambley. lady
of uncertain age. And then there was
suppressed litter among the younger la
dies.
with her heart so sore from having these
two great trials of her life so ruthlessly
brought before her in such public man
ncr, twas no wonder that Mrs. Hawkins
reply should have been given rather sharp
ly.
"Ephrai MS been slow maxim up his
mind, tits his way and then with quick
glance at Miss Shambley, ait amt as if he
couldn't get anybody to have, you know ~
It was well supper was announced and
the attention Of the company turned to the
strength Of the tea and the quality of the
cake.
Poor old lady, she was quite bewildered
with her own thoughts and she wanted to
gel away from those pitless eyes and
tongues, so she managed to slip out unper-
ceivcd, and arrived at home Just as "the
boys" were going to milking, and TO their
anxious inquiries as to what was the mat
ter, only said She was "tired.'
Solomon hurried off to the society, firm
in the belief that his services could not be
disl ensed with when the members should
start for home.
Ephraim and his mother had long eve
ming together, and her trials were so effect
ually shown to her son that the interview
closed with the widow triumphant aud
happy, and Ephraim had a subdued look
which bodied well for his mothers wishes.
ON the following morning Solomon ask
ed, "where are you going to pick up stones
today, Eph?" and was told, 81 have other
work on my hands today, less to my mind,
but have promised mother not to try her
any longer by shirking."
Solomon's eyes opened wide, and he did
not hesitate TO say, Hannah, there'll he
fun now, | guess" He was instantly stop
ped by reprimand from his mother.
Now Ephraim was one of those down
right, 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.
| do not think the good woman ever
thought of the posi- bility of Martha say
ing "no" 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, kind of backward men make, when
they con 10 know their own minds.
Solomon declared, 'that Eph was max
ing fool of himself going the rounds of
"what she'd bet Eph wouldn't ask that ar
Shambley woman to add her forty years to
his'n before he was through with it,
BY o O'Clock Ephraim arrived, but moth
ing could he gathered from his face, and he
refused to answer single question until
he had supper They waited with what
patience they could. Mrs. Hawkins said
mon thought "Eph's symptoms good, iudg-
ing from his appetite"
At last he seated himself by the broad
open fire place, and placing his feet upon
the fender commenced, 81 went over to the
,,lI. ka,1 a,,1 ''a,.o,, s,'''" "i"9' oO
,t,,,,,. aI'o,,t 49,, .,,,,,,i'' ~.
,.a,'a,aII,, ,,',I ,,,,'',. t,,a ~ - ''o,
:, w. ,,,I.a, 1'' ,''. - 49, -
H',. -. 80 ,, 80 ,''" o".
'''"s NV ''"o','' 7"' ''"s"," AZ '"oN'
'"I"1' '"' s",' ''' 'o'o N'"u VI "','
'"', ""''' "sNe" ".'' ""',""' s"SS y
"h"' your oi'i"i 'n apou' r'lS'ne large
nanny uoh you 'nii'h' u " 'he Loru
WILL II Is pel'er TO nave good many chill
dreh 10 grow up together than To nave Just
TWO or three Ike your family and mine ?
She jumped so that we almost upset the
churn, and then she snapped out. "Eph.
Hawkins, what do YOU mean hy talking
~