St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-07-19
Ezekiel's Calculations.


/ spread out before INN WAS one Of re-
markahlc beauty. but he seemed un-
conscious of its charms. Ezekiel Pratt.
owner of the finest farm, the best horses.
and the biggest barns III all the country
round. was calculating. This t;t\oIitc
mental exercise absorbed him. Ezekiel
was short III stature and thick set. His
small, Keen eyes glanced shrewdIN from
htncath shaggy hrowS. and his small
ears were oNcIShadnwed h\ buShl locks
of black abundant hair. EZckierS tr;I-
ture> We're harmonious. He WIS ac-
counted Il good looking man. He owed
no man Il penny. BN his nrighhols h,.
/ WAS considered rich.
Ezekiel had been twice married. His
mother WIS at present keeping house
tor him. and taking care of his children.
They Werr expecting company at
! Ezekiels house. Ezekiel WAS hurry ing
to meet the train this bright. still morn
in@ III carly summer. EZekiels thoughts
were busy.
'Shc never would have quit teaching
and come up here if she hadn't IL par
| ticular idce. calk late. She amt the
girl to act without Il motive" and hc
reimed the graNS around IL curve of the
| river road, and at the light touch of the
/ whip they sped on towards the OsSe-
/ gatchc depot.
| Ezekiel waS on his way to meet his
| pretty Young sistcr-inlaw. Priscilla.
/ who had written and asked his mother
| If II would bc convenient to them to
/ have her come and STAY with them IL
while. She had closed her school. and
| if they did not write her to the contrary.
/ she would come and spend little time
among the hills. She wanted to see
/ the children and the old place. To-day
WAS the time appointed for her coming.
/ Ezekiel had done IL great deal of calcu-
lating within IL few days. He made IL
mental abstract of these calculations as
he drove along the rivers winding
course.
just eleven months next week it
will hc since Ellen died. Priscilla came
and took care of her then. PriSSy
showed herself Il powerful worker at
that time. considering the gentecl way
she has. She never >hirked particle
She didn't expect to find Ellen 50 sick
she said. Likely enough she wouldn't
have come if she had known there WAS
50 much to do. Still Pri>sy was always
| willing. Pri>>y is one of the willing
| kind"
whoa there, Silas. FriSky creetur.
amt You Want Il tight rein Guess
| Ezekiel Pratt can give N"u that. Gue>s
/ there isn't much he has control of that
| he cant rein in.
"\ow Ellen was just about as trisky
az that ere colt. when got acquainted
with her. She was Il pretty girl: al
WAYS smiling and SAY ing IL smart word {:
! always ready To go or To come. Ia laugh
"r to cry. My SakeS. what Il spirit she
| had She had It power of working.
! too: | calklatrd on that. We had not
been married two Years before she
sohered right down wonderful. There
wasn't IL better working Woman amy
where III the country. if do SAY it,
She had sick spells. but She worked
| right on, summer and winter. She WAS
the best wife i'll these parts anNW here
around. Steady at business daV and
night. cooking. and mrmdug. and dairy
ing. and tending babies. and every thing
looked a. neat and slick a> ii whistle
Times are different now, and Ezekiel
sighed.
"Mnthcr she's come To stay; hui she's
getting pretty old. and things 90 to
Waste considerable. Pri>>N'> coming
means something. I'm calk lating. She
sets Il heap 10y the children. She knows
there amt such Il farm ANY " here about
as ours Is, if it is of the main road.
She il Il thorough going, industrious
%lIl. She wouldn't br stopping teach
ing now. If ii didn't mean S"mcthing."
The GraN> here. struck the old plank
road. and Ezekiel whose Stit1,ntd Joints
rchrlled al the .iolts. hrIced himself and
drew III the gIal>.
"N"W. PrI>>N, shes Il stirring "irl.
he resumed when he struck the clay
road again. It ncuIlm"u good teacher.
81 they say. The children need teach
ing hrlieNc she'd make every bit a.
smart II woman :l> Ellen was. She
! knows how to take care of lac sick. too ::
and my rheumatic begins To trouble me.
considerable. PlsSN took all the care
"t Ellen, and seen to everything. and
kept every thing going Oh like clock
| work.
ELLEN didn't need Il great sight done
for her, il j. true. She kept up till the
last minute. Then the fever came. and
Prl~>l came and took charge of every
thing. Ellen didn't speak from morn
ing till night when she lay there. But
then, she hadn't been much of IL talkrl
for Il good many Years. always rather
discouraged long stories. They hinder
work. 80 does Il great sight of reading.
Now. PriSSy Is most too fond of books.
that's one trouble but Ellen was 50 at
the first. PriS>N would get to taking
an interest in saving. She'd come into
traces same as the others did. | calk' :
late"
CHAPTER ii.
Il calk1atc," said Ezekiel. that
things are working pretty smooth
This calculation of EZekiel'S was
made about week after the date of
our first chapter.
Il never saw il girl take hold of things
so. She's making over her own dresses
for Mag. and cutting over my old clothes
for Sam. She's fixed up their rooms
with pictures that's nonsense, to be
sure: but then it goes to show which
way the wind blows. and she's pleasant
us IA basket of chips to mother. | don't
care about much talk myself, but
then she'd get over that | expect
never see her settle down and take to
work more cOntented. She knows there
is no place like the old farm. It's good
deal better for her than teaching. She
gets on too high train. sometimes.
amusing the children. but | keep "a
steady hand. She'll prize her fortune
all the more if it don't come too easy
1t spOils women to let 'cm know YOU
set great store hy 'em. Makes them
too eXacting. Besides, 'tisn't as though
Priscilla brought property with her.
Teachers don't lay up Il great deal
Now, when | come to terms, shall tell