Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-01-09

thirsty that night, mt any rate, 1t seemed
to me as | drained the goblet that no
water had ever tasted so sweet The sill
yer was simple enough with its chasing
and Latin inscriptions, but it spoke TO me
ol weary journeys through days and
nights in mud spankers, y Over, the wide,
lonely plains of the Northwest; OF bull
dens under which strong man might
well have ialtered, borne with calm, un
tlinching courage; OF wounded men in
dreary hospitals starting at the sound oi
the clear, helpful voice, and glancing up
with fearful JOY as that woman's shadow
fell into their pain and loneliness.
Before we had finished our supper Mr..
Livermore cntered-a line-looking, ralh.
er portly gentleman, who evidently has
relish for n joke and profound faith in
looking on the bright side OF things. He
reminded me Of some jolly English
squire, who would enjoy riding to cover
in the dew and sunshine OF an autumn
morning, and spurring on horse and
hound to the chase with the bravest, but
he is in reality the pastor OF Universe
list church in Hiugham. 1--WE exchange
works sometimes" said his wife, with u
laugh. when there is a high pressure
of business on me he obligingy spares
me the trouble Of writing an editorial" 4"
and. in turn, | occasionally preach tor
him" Despite the appalling fact that his
wife is IN editor, n lecturer. m occasion
al preacher. and leader in the Woman's
Rights Movement, nobody, seeing them
hall an hour together, could doubt that
the bingham pastor vas n proud and u
happy husband.
After supper We went over the house.
and Mrs. Livermorc took me into her
sanctum. quiet little nook, and as order
ly rs Sir Walter SCOTS library aL Abbots-
tord. From the bacl: windows the idyl oil
Mrs. Liyermore's home burst suddenly
upon me in the shape of Crystal Lake,
delicious little sheet Of water on whose
shores her house stands 1t was Just at
sunset, and the winds were out. and there
was very dazzle OF silver waves along
the banks as first caught sight OF the
little lake between its low lying shores
Here. too. lay dainty little rowboai, ,iusl
fitted for the fairy stream ii was to nayi
gate.
But the cream OF the evening was yei
To come. At last we were quietly settled
| down in Mrs. Liycrmore's own room lol
the talk" we had been so long p,omi,
ing ourselves. 1t was talk which, loI
loving no law, glanced all over Mr.,
Ii ermore's life. The stately matror
WA, again child, with Copp's Hill Gem
etery for her play ground, and without /;
fear OF the quiet sleepers under her riot
Gus sport. She drew herself a wild, i'm
/ pctuous. oyclhowins "tomboy' OF girl
! brimming with lun and mischief; tn,
strong. native, vital forces in her bring
mg her forever to griel yet never per
manently checked; the champion alway
OF the poor and iriendlcss; and strang'
underlying sadness getting sometimes t
the surface through all the boisterou
mirlh and mischief. This woman wa,
evidently cut out on Il grand pattern iron
the beginning. The royal Hebrews III
junction OF mot sparing the rod wa'
faithfully observed in the training OF tn,
eager, intense, tumultuous New Englan,
girl. She was sent supperless TO bed
she was defrauded of that cIownins
treasure anil delight of childhood, Satur
day afternoons and she cried hersel
sick, or would if any such thing haC
been possible TO the fibre that went /,
the making OF the Stout, robust little
figure, and wished she was dead, ant
then broke the cords which held her
prisoner in the chair, and, mounting that
made it serve for a pulpit and prcache,
10 the walls, warning sinners 10 "lle,
from the wrath TO come,n while lathe
and mother wonld stand listening outsid,
in amazed hewilderment at the child,
passionate eloquence. Sometimes, too
the old Baptist deacon would look mourn
fully at his daughter, and say, "lf yor
had only been boy, Mary, what ;
preacher in that case you would hay,
made would certainly have educate
you for the ministry, and what world o
good you might have done!n But it nev
er so much as entered the Boston dea
cons heart that this strange, impulsiye
fiery little soul, whose sex he so keenll
deplol ed, had her own work to do in thC
world. and would yet hold vas; masse'
breathles, under the power of her logic
the magic charm OF her eloqncnce. Bu
the years went on, and the Boston dea
cons daughter grew into girlhood and
wOmanhood, with her alfelouS energy
with her keen, alert mind. with her hun
cry greed OF knowledge, with her swiIl
scorn of sophistries, but with the warm.
generous heart, little steadied with the
gathering years, as swift and helpful now
as in those old days when il danced in
Copp's burying ground, and was the
champion OF all the poor, neglected chill
dren.
when we were married. said Mrs
Livcrmore, with that humor whose cur
rent plays anti sparkles through all the
earnestness of her talk, "our capital con
sisted of books. did oil my own work.