Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-04-19

open, because they look pleasant; and her
notion is to make life cheerful
We'll" sighed Aunt Prissy, 81 should
think poor Miss Jerome would almost groan
in her grave. They know how to make the
money fly; and man would need a pretty
long puss that would marry one of them
girls. To my thinking, they Il stay single
many long day. Sensible young men like
our Asa amt gOin to be kitched by such
highly tightly creatures, with rag bags
stuck on the back of their heads. | say
them jerome girls is highly tightly creatures
with their new notions; and for my part, [
pity Uncle Abner, for don't believe he has
any peace of his lite
lyon needn't pity him." quietly remark
ed Mrs. Babbett. Bless your heart he
likes it. You never saw good natured old
man yet who wasn't pleased to have his
girls pussyiDg around him. 1t viii keep
him smart for ten years yet.
Wall" remarked Aunt Prissy. taking
up her knitting needles again and begin
ming to clank them vigorously. Il guess
he'll have a chance to keep them by him
yet awhile. They amt going to marry off
SO dreadful easy, let me tell you Our Asa
and Henry Fisher love to run there, aud
they II fool round as much as you please !;
but when it comes to marrying that's anoth-
er story.
Uncle Abner won't wart his girls to
marry any more than other folks, and |
shouldn't be bit surprised if they was old
maids after all, said Mrs Babbett
A number of days passed, and Aunt Pris-
sy got the notion into her head that there
was a mystery going on in the house-some-
thing to be hushed and kept out of sight.
She had heard her brother Ben and his
wife talking late at night; and Asa, her ia
vorite, seemed hardly himself. He hurried
in to his meals, and was off again, appear
ing to have lost all his relish for jokes and
fun, although he was unusually particular
about his clothes. Nathan, the younger
brother, kept nudging and poking Asa; and
twice he made him downright vexed, so
that Uncle Ben was obliged to speak, al
though there was I queer, dry smile curling
round his lips at the time. Aunt Prissy
pricked up her ears and opened her eyes,
and wondered what was to pay, but she was
too proud to ask.
L should just like to know what Asa
brought home from Milton in that big paper
bundle, said she, trotting out after sister
in law into the sweet milk room.
why, did he bring home a bundle ?" in
qnired Mrs. Babbett, and looking half guilty
at her pretence of ignorance.
Yes, of course he did and you know
well enough, Mirandy. There's some con-
jaring going on in this house, that you re
all trying to hide from me; but thank the
Lord, my curiosity won t kill ME 7 and she
founced back into the sitting-room before
Mrs Babbett could devise an answer.
In spite of her offended dignity, the old
lady kept thinking of that bundle; and at
last she opened the chamber door and crept
up the stairs, and slipt into Asa room, soft
ly pulling out the bureau drawer, for fear
Mirandy should hear a squeak and guess
what she was about.
Il yum - she exclaimed aloud, ''if here
ain I a bran new suit of clothes; the finest
kind of broadcloth, as smooth and shiny as
satin, every bit good enough TO be married
in, and better than his father ever had since
the day he was born. The extravigant
young dog | wonder what nc wants of a
white vest p
When Mrs Babbett came into the sitting
room really to slick up bit after her morn
ing's work, there Aunt Prissy sat in the
cornering window, with the dimity curtains
futtering in the fresh breeze, and breaking
the shadows Of the morning vines and bal
sains opening white and red, in the little
strip of ground beneath. The Jerome
place looked just as open and inyiting as
usual with dew clinging to the pink roses
about the porch and pair of tripping
hands playing a tripping tune on the piano.
Aunt PrisSy had forgotten her tiff, and
thought best TO conceal her discovery con
cerniug the clothes.
Land o Goshen, said she, all Of a sud
den, IF there amt our Asa going into the
Jeromes front gate. What. arrant can he
have at this time o day? And Henry Fish
er has just hitched his horse by the post.
think them girls ought to be ashamed of
themselves. Uncle Abner is coming out
now, and Matildy has run out after him
with that rag bag stuck on the back of her
head all frizzled and frowzled. / don see
how anybody can call that girl purity. She 5
fussing round the old man, brushing his coat
and quirking up his hair, and he looks as
pleased as Cuffy. | do believe Uncle's get
ting childish Mercy on,us Mclindy, Elder
Halleck has just arriv' in his shay; and
they've brought out into the stoop some
chairs, and Uncle Alb has gone round the
house with him. I've SIS good mind as ever
| had to eat to happen over and see what
it's all about. Couldn' you trump up some
excuse for me, Melindy? You know don t
want to have it appear as if | mistrusted
anything.
'You might borrow nutmeg" replied
Mrs. Babbett, demurely, looking down at
her work. Il thought l should make some
cake, and we are just out.
That the talk said Aunt Prissy. So