Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-07-21
BRATTLEBoRo FRIDAY. 81

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settled of course /; and left word with her
about some town business for Eben. and
came away"
"At John Reeds I found ouite n compa-
nv. You know bv the time I got there
twas in tho afternoon. Well. 7 felt so
thankful, for there was Ann Simpson, Ab-
bv Cole and Nancy Fisher. beside tho
Reed girls, somehow | didn't feel quite
as clear in my mind as TO the questions
when they were all laughing around me-"
"oh." interrupted solomon. "ir I'll only
been there"
II was bound to be serious with them
so I asked them at once If they didn't
think a woman ought to he willing to do
the milking If her husband was a farmer
and was called away on town bust ess."
"Of course" said two pr three of them
"Do you want to hire hand, Eph ? Take
me, o ! take me-" and they huddled up A.
round me until was almost crazy. l
don't know how I ever should got away
from them; but was tipping back in my
chair, and somehow il went over and
went my ful length on the floor. They all
commenced screaming, and suppose they
thought was hurt, for they called, to tholr
father, and he came running in. Says he
"Brother Hawkins, what is the matter
what have you done to frighton these girls
SOP"
"Says l, they cant he more frightened
than 7 am, and If you'll get the chair mend
ed, I will settle the bill. | wanted to talk
with you about the schools in our districts,
but guess / will see you down in the cor
ner some day; and was coming away but
my hat got mislaid somehow, and after a
long search, brother Reed lent me his best
one, and though it was pretty large, | man
aged by wrapping my handk kcrchicf around
my head Becky Reed was in the yard,
and she SAID if she found my hat, she'd
bring it over, and If weren't at home,
she'd stay and do the milking. l was go-
ing to have a little more talk with her, but
1 heard the other girls snickering and it
upset me completely
sob, Ephraim, the whole town will be
laughing about you, know"
ooh, no mother. there's no occasion, for
in all these places never said word to
anv one about marrying. and then Won
know passed it Off as though / really did
have business with the men folks"
''But what possessed you to ask such
strange questions? Why didn't you leave
all those things to time?"
"No time like the present to settle points
which might make trouble for us if left to
the future. At my age l wasn't going to
ask any girl to marry me without knowing
her views. When I got out of sight of
Reeds house l sat down on the wall and
tried 10 settle whether would give it up
and go homc or what ] had better do.
thought Of all the hard work had done ON
this place, and of what you said last night,
that you'd settle everything upon Solomon
if didn't marry in month, and he's
nothing but a child, and not fit to be trusted
with clearing up the land, so, late as il was.
and hungry and tired as I felt, I walk ed
over to the widow slater's. The children
came out to meet me; they had been cry
ing because their mother had been ordered
to have the house empty in fortnight's
time. As soon as they told me, saw what
my duty was, and why my way had been
hedged up all the day. ] staid an hour, |
guess, and we agreed upon everything, and
so think your trials are about over, moth
err, for she's going to marry me as soon rs
ever we can he published"
"She A.! for conscience sake! Who do you
meanv ~ for the w dow has three girls who
have put on long dresses and taken TO do
ipp up their hair"
"Whv motber ,tis the widow bnryolr
though if I'd thought of it I'd asked Mar
anda some questions. but It's foo late now
the bargain is made and when once have
the widow and her seven children here no.
body can COMPLAIN of NV not having a
family. think I have been led IN yreot
usefulness"