Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-06-20

they're worth. AT any rate, shall take
what comes, without grumbling or com.
planning. There's a passage of Scrip.
ture that says, Though he slay me yet
will / trust in him. I've thought of that
a good many times when I've been work
ing alone in the field; and guess can
take what the Lord sends; but there are
some things men would like to force on
me amt so ready to receive
The elder couldn't think of any an.
$ wer for this, so he cleared his throat
and said,
Il should like. if you don't object, to
have season OF prayer"
II don't mind you praying" replied
Obcd, checrfully, Ill you want to, but /
guess the Lord knows all you can tell
him, and little more Folks take n
sight OF pains 10 give him information.
There's II st II small voice spoken of that
| thought heard out in TIC lot some
times, with the birds singing and every
thing still, and my heart has answered.
and I've kind of notion that that was a
payer"
Mrs. Fairman and Salomc were whs.
pering together in the kitchen.
1--WE must Try and scrape the barrel"
said the anxious housewife, so as to get
white flour enough 20 make griddle cakes
for tea; then we can put on the canaillc
bread to look like one kind You must
tell Ezra TO be sure and refuse the cakes.
He's dreadful fond of them. There's The
dried apple sauce, and little mite Of
plum preserves, just enough to help the
elder twice; so guess well manage TO
appear respectable"
The next day there came change in
the weather The cold northeast wind
gave way to south breeze, and il grew
warm and close Big. black clouds roll
ed up the sky, and anxious, longing eyes
watched it. and prayed for rain.
The shower was coming when Salome
went into her fathers room with letter
in her hand.
"Why, child said he opening it,
Bunker, the man that bought The old
Haynes place, wants to get three acres
off the back end of my land It's q
strong piece, but it goes cornering into
his'n, and there's some folks can't bear to
have notch in farm, aud guess he's
one of them kind. He offers big price,
and the money will pay off my debt to
and leave me something
over 1t does seem as though there was
n Providence in it. can't see that the
Lord bears spite TO his children. but I'm
ready to acknowledge all his mercies"
30, father. it's raining" cried Salome,
rs she rushed to the window
The big warm drops were beginning
to pattcr down on the leaves and grass.
and soak into the hard ground. Faster
and faster it came, roaring upon the roof,
while the wind swaycd the wet limbs of
the trees
That is music" said Obed, with his
face all nglow. 1T makes me think of
where The Bible speaks about the fields
yielding their increase, and the clouds
dropping lltncss' There amt no such
poetry as that anywhere.
The shrwer hail lasted long. long
time, and soaked into the thirsty ground,
and frightened the grass, and brought
ou; the dandcions by hundreds. and
opened the pink lips ol the apple bios
SONS. With the patter on the roof, and
the great peace that had fallen on his
spirit, Ohcd fell asleep.
Salomc snt beside him. Presently
there came Il tap Mt the window. She
started and turned. and there stood Joe
Dacres, leaning over the low sill, backed
by II lilac bush. just shaking out its pur.
pie plumcs. Everything was gliltering
with bright drops. and n robin was sing
ing overhead
Salome went softly to the window, and
she never forgot how that birds song
sounded She was dressed in pale blue
calico, glazy stuff, but it Just suited her
sty le and now, us she leaned out, her
light hair fell about her face.
1--WE laken the Spinner place." whis-
pered Joe, land used grandfather's
money to stock it. l feel rs strong as
fifty men, but il you should refuse TO
marry me, l should he rs weak as \
cat"
This was the way Joe proposed; and
Salome just put out her hands to him, and
for one moment her face was on. Of sight.
The robin went on singing, and tree
bough showered down bright drops on
Salome's hair, and the early roses began
TO blow, and good moist smells came
from everything, and there. over the
happy girls shoulders. was rainbow,
spanning the dark cloud, which seemed
to promise that there had come an end
of HARD TIMRs.-Golden Age.
BE A MAN.-Foolish spending is the
L. ILa,. oI ,,ararix- Do mot Ln ashamed