The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-09-17

In the rural districts Down East, in
early times, the good people had such
habits of industry aud rigid economy
that they seldom gave, or attended par
ties, unless such as were cloaked under
the names of raisings qultings, huskiugs,
or apple.bees; thus, the apple-bee, fraught
with momentous consequences to Mapcs
and Timms. was but a social party in dis
guisc-a few apples being pared, quarter
cd, corcd, aud strung in the early evening
for appearance sake.
As usual, Eliza Reed was the belle of
the occasion. Good looks, entire self
possession, and keen, satirical wit always
assured her that position aud this night
she shone with unusual brilliancy, until,
as the hours wore away, and Mapes came
not, she began to lose berselfin pondering
why, and at length she asked Timms:
is your friend Mapes ailiDgT
Il guess not replied Timms; saw him
to-day. He wasn't complaining.
He denies himself much pleasure,
said Eliza, 'in not coming hore tonight,
for this is the place where we always
have good time Aunt Judy knows
how to give an apple-bee.'
You let Mapes alone answered
Timms he knows what he's about
What do you mean ? asked Eliza.
oh, | mean, replied Timms, that
Mapes is the prince of good fellows, and
gets invitations where the rest OF us
don't
Where is Mapes tonight {? asked Eliza
now fully aroused.
L don't know For sure, answered
Timms. He told me to-day there were
special reasons for his coming here,
but that he had an invitation to the
rich and aristocratic Squire Huntoon's,
who is celebrating his daughters birth
day, and that he didn't know which way
he would go - and Timms turned away
to talk to the next prettiest girl in the
room.
Pettcd young women are seldom logical
or patient. When the party broke up,
Eliza accepted Timms' escort to her home,
and before they arrived there, she had
consented to become, with the least rossi-
bic delay, Mrs Timms. The next morn
ing the engagement was announced, and
preparations for the wedding commenced.
Timms was exultant-happy Timms
For few days Timms was not much
seen in public perhaps for want Of cour-
age to wear his blushing honors openly ;
perhaps for want Of courage to meet other
contingencies-wh knows? But man
can not make arrangements for his own
wedding from fixed standpoint, and be
was compelled to venture out. La quiet
and secluded by-way he met Mapes. The
meeting to him was surprise ; he smiled
feebly, and extended his hand. But
Mapes, intent on business, strobe square
ly up to Timms and planted a vigorous
blow on one of his eyes, which caused
that gentleman to measure his length in
the dust. Timms spraug to his feet and
showed fight; but another blow on the
other eye sent him again to grass, where
he continued to lie
Get up said Mapes.
You'll knock me down again, said
Timms.
Yes returned Mapes, / will
Then | won't get up said Timms
You're an Internal scouudred, said
Mapes.
Il can't help your saying So, answered
Timms.
You sawed the log said Mapes.
What log p asked Timms.
You sawed the log repeated Mape'
advancing step.
'Yes-stop, said Timms Il sawed thu
log
WELL you needn't think, said Mapes
that after your marriage you're going tt
tell that story. and make me a laughing
stock.
IN never speak Of it, whined Timms
Perhaps you won't said Mapes blu
9 I'm going to swear you before ge
' through. There's another thing; yol
r. won the woman BY your trickery, and
u know it is in you to abuse her; so In
. going to swear you to treat her kindly.
IN swear said Timms.
u Hold up your hand said Mapes.
= Timms held up his hand.
70 - Now, repeat after me: Il, Sila
II Timms, solemnly swear that | will neve
I" bring to the knowledge of any huma
J" being that l sawed the log whereof
u Daniel Mapes fell into the creek and los
~ wife and. further, that will, she con
J. senting, marry Eliza Reed, aud alway
y treat her kindly so help me God
y Tlmms repeated the oath, rerbatim.
le Now, get up and 20 home,' said Mape
~ Il dou't thiuk you'll be married till you
T. eyes get out Of mourning, and by tha
Sc Sc time I'll be far enough away. But don
Ol r think III lose sight of you; and if 20
0' don't keep your oath, you'll see me-
Timms arose from the ground, shoe
~ off the dust, and walked away but whe
u he had secured safe distance, he shou
u :, ed back exultingly:
~ 'Mapes, she's an angel
I'd In twenty years Daniel Mapes ha
or learned many things, aud among the
"a this Life is very much AS We make i
Of la other words the world is like miro
he and looks at us with the face we presen
he 1t returns scowl for scowl, and smile ft
IA smile. 1t echoes our sobs aud @,
an laughter. To the cold, it is as icy as Il
n northern seas ; to the loving it is as balm
no as the isles Of the tropics. He had lear
N, ed still harder lesson; which was
nd forget the grieis, the sorrows, the slight
"a. the wrongs, and the. hates Of the pas
70, The effect of this lesson was to make
mo appear that the lines, to him, had fall,
in pleasant places, His rotund form al
IN firm muscle bespoke good dgestio
ma while cheerful countenance told
,st mental peace. A fair woman named hi
m. husband, and children called him fathe
av A beautiful home iD Santa Clara Vail
~ was theirs besides which. Mupes b