Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-09-13
5fliscellamu.
Worse than Small Pox.

But won't have him ! I'll neve
have him Aunt Symantha I'd rathe
have the small poxl'
"That's saying good deal for you
Huldah p remarked her aunt, remem
bering Huldah's often expressed horro
of the disease.
"She doesn't mean it p said Marths
Jane
do mean it p replied Huldah
with stamp of her little foot, and {
lash of her gray eyes which looked very
much as though she were in earnest
sd rather have the small pox, thi,
minute-yes, if | was to be as badly
marked as poor Anne Marcy, than tC
marry John Pike, rich as he is-sc
there p
But Huldah, Uncle Jake can't force
you to marry Captain Pikel''
ooh yes, it is easy for you to say that
Aunt Symantha But you don't know
He is just at me the whole time, if any
body walks home with me from meeting
or singing schools"
Anybody who for instance ?"
Well, DIR. Marcy, for instanceI" an.
swered Huldah, blushing a very little
" He has walked home with me two OF
three times, and then Uncle frowns, and
won't be decently civil, and the minute
he is gone, Uncle begins to talk about
John Pike, and to say be wont like it
Then if | answer word, he twits me OF
all he has done for me, and says that
only for him | should be in the poor.
house."
Well, you'd better be in the poor
house than married t. man you don't
like p said Aunt Symantha. But
Huldah, you need not be dependent on
Uncle Jake for an hour. lam sure Mr.
Wilson would interest himself to get you
a school!'
"I would rather do housework and
spin than keep school p said Huldah.
"Well Captain Myers wife would be
glad to have you, and SO would Mrs
Driscoll, and you couldn't want better
home than either"
II know that very well, but then, you
see, there's Aunt Prudy only for her
| wouldn't have staid till this time. But
she is as much set on this match as I'm.
Gle Jacob, only she cries and coaxes, in.
stead of scolding. And know just how
it will bel' added Huldah, in despair
ing tone. Sooner or later they will
get a promise out of me to marry John
Pike. And won't marry him I'd
rather have the small pox ten times
over |"
(" Why don't you then ?" asked Aunt
Symantha. Here's Martha Jane, and
Mary and Malvina Hedges, and ever SO
many nice girls that you know. They're
all going to Aunty Sharpe's to be in
oculated tomorrow. Why don't you
20 with them p
"Oh, do, Huldah" exclaimed Mar
tina Jane. shouldn't mind it one bit.
if you would only go with me. Doctor
Marcy says we shall hardly be sick a, bit,
and some of the select men have prom
ised us nice silk dress apiece, if we
will dance reel every day we are at
the hospital
Huldah sat silent few minutes, watch
ing her aunt's wheel, while her aunt
watched hers. Then she said slowly:
:" / hate to have the small pox; but
then l might have it any way, as there
is so much of it about"
Emmie Hoyt has got it." remarked
Martha Jane, "She came down yester-
day."
"Then have been exposed already"
said Huldah ; for / stood talking to
Emmie at the gate ever so long yester-
day. She said then she didn't feel we'll.
Yes, Aunt Symantha, | will gol" she
added in a tone of decision. 81 dare
say | should have it anyway, and they
say folks that are inoculated are hardly
ever marked. But what shall / do for
clothes? l can't go home first, Uncle
Jacob will never let me go back. He
would hardly let me come away to stay
three days, and he says as soon as John
comes, be will send for me. L wish his
old brig would 60 to the bottom, I'm
sure !"
"Oh no, you don'tl" said Aunt Sy-
mantha. You don't wish him any i'll,
only you don't want to marry him. There
needn't be any trouble aboutthe clothes.
This promise was really made to n company of
young ladies. of whom my great aunt WAS one. and
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