Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-03-30

or so, and then Deacon Slocum's wife,
who was hostess on the occasion, said
Don't you oe afronted, Sister Haw
kins, nobody blames you"
"snd who do they blame2 Hasn't
my son always walked 'cord'n to his
profession 2"
yeas, but you know what the
Scripturs say"
81 know a good deal that would be
a rebuke to folks / could mention. ~
But she tried to smile as she asked,
"What partickler Scriptur do YOU re-
fer to, Sister Slocuml"
81 don't know as l can give you the
words straight. / heard my husband
akin it over; twas something bout a
deacon havin' a wife and children
guess that they always have to, don't
they n
at ought to be one of the qualifca-
tions," severely remarked Miss Shamb-
lev, lady of uncertain age. And then
there was a suppressed litter among the
younger ladies.
With her heart so sore from having
these two great trials of her life SO
ruthlessly brought before her, In such
a public manner, twas no wonder that
her reply should have been given rather
sharply.
"Ephraim's been slow maxim up his
mind; tbs his way" and then with a
quick glance at Miss Shambley, cit
amt as if he couldn't get anybody to
have him, you know"
1t was well supper was announced,
and the attention of the company turn
ed to the strength of the tea and the
quality of the cake.
Poor old lady, she was quite bewil-
dered with her thoughts she wanted
to get away fror, all those pitiless eyes
and tongues, so she managed to slip out
unperceived, and arrived at home just as
"the boys were going to milking, and
to their anxious inquiries as to what was
the matter, only said she was /" tired. :"
Solomon hurried off to the society,
firm in the belief that his services could
not be dispensed with, when the "mem-
bers" should start for home
Ephraim and his mother had long
evening together, and her trials were so
effectually shown to her son that the in
terview closed with the widow triumph
ant and happy, and Ephraim had sub
dued look which boded well for his
mother.
On the following morning Solomon
asked, "Where are you going to pick
up stones to-day, Eph Z" and was told,
81 have other work on my hands to-
day, less to my mind, but have prom
ised mother not to try her any longer
by shirking" Solomon's eyes opened
wide, and he did not hesitate to say,
Hannah, therell be fun now, 1
guess" He was instantly stopped by
reprimand from his mother.
Now Ephraim was one of those
downright, 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 possibility of Martha's
saying "nay" 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, backward kind of
mon made when they come tn know
their own minds.
Solomon declared "that Eph was
making a fool of himself, going the
rounds of the whole town" and asked
his mother "what she'd bet Eph
wouldn't ask that ar Shumbley woman
to add her forty years to his'n before
he was through with it.
By nine o'clock Ephrsim arrived, but
nothing could be gathered from his
face, and he refused to answer a single
question until he had his supper. They
waited with what patience they could
Mrs. Hawkins said, she always was
dreadful trying" and Solomon thought
"Epll's symptoms good, judging from
his appetite
At last he seated himself by the
broad, open fireplace, and placing his
feet upon the fender, commenced:
went over to the 'Squire's and found
Msrthy churning; so i took hold and
helped her She said something about
my running away from her generally,
but didn't take any notice of it. We
talked over about work and one thing
and another. She laughed at most
everything, but gave me some kind of
an answer, until asked her, 'Msrthy,'
says 1, what's your opinion about rails
ing large family Dent you think,
if it's the Lords will, it is better to
have a good many children to grow up
together, than to have just two or
three, like your family and mine r.
She jumped so that we almost upset
the churn, and then she snapped out,
sEph. Hawkins, what do you mean,
I talking like that to me Don't you ever
dare to speak to me again as long as
you i've" / tried to explain, but she
wouldn't listen to a word, SO I had to
leave, and felt glad twas ordered just
as twas, for a woman with such tenn
per would make an uncomfortable
wife.
The widow groaned, but Ephraim
told hsr nos to be discouraged, for
he die nos give it up so." 81 went
from I'll ere over to Mr.. Wheeler's, and
I thought / wouldn't waste time in
compliments; so when Sarah Jane came
to the door asked her at once if she'd
| be kind enough TO answer few ques-
tions, and / told her good deal de-
pended on her answers, so / hoped she
| would tell the truth. At that she got
mad and called to her mother, ERE is
Eph Hawkins, come to take the cencus,
and he's afraid I'll tell him lies; you
had better come and answer him. and
what should she do but leave. Sister
Wheeler came, and said think will
call when Brother Wheeler is at home /;
and then left"
! Again the widow groaned, and ac-
cused her son of being more crying
than ever before. Solomon kept quiet,
for fear of being excluded from the con-
fidence of the family. Mother" said
Ephraim, "don't find fault with me,
4 for never worked so hard to please
You in my life as / have done to-day,
and have gone according to the light
had" r0e ~ nfiff
j "I know, my son, but you'll never
marry now. Oh dear, am SO tired"
4 eyes shall / did not lose cour'
age bit, but went from there to Eber
Howe's."
Z. "Don't you tell me Betty Howe is
coming here to live on"
"No, she wasn't at home, and wher