The Republican journal., 1872-07-11

I
said it was the first present he ever made,
hut that isn't hardly likely" said Mrs.
! Blatchford, mildly. "Doremv was RIGHT
| though, her mother hail solid comfort in
| those boys. She taught em to read. too. !"
| 'To readr [ exclaimed
Its tact,' replied Mrs Rlatchforl,
| ENJOYING my surprise. ''She knew pretty
much OF the Bible by heart, and Doremv
| would set 'em at some chapter and tell
her what it was, SO she could correct 'em
Us they read 1t used to be kind of like a
| picture to see the old lady sitting there in
her chair with them two chubby rogues
| leaning against her and spelling out the
| good words as sober as ministers and
| Doremy sewing away rs fast and smiling
| to herself. Doremv wasn't never hand
some, but always thought she grew bet
| ter favored after she had the care of the
| little ones. Somehow there is something
real heautitying in loving and doing
| t isn't skin-deep prettineSs that | mean,
| but "A kind of Il look folks has TO admire
''It they have the ewes to see it." | sug-
| ge>tad as the good woman gazed medita-
| lively over her Spectacles Us if bringing
| up the vision of some face so beautiful"
''Folks mostly have the eyes. the shut
| ting 'cm up is what hinders their seeing"
| replied she. brisklv. But maybe you're
| tired. | never know when to stop talk
| ing. specially when its about Doremv
| and the boys.
'Thtre'S no romance about the story.
| but seems to me it tells considerable for
| woman's courage and patience, and smart
| ness. too, There's a saying about old
| maids children, and [ must say [ rather
| expected Doremv'd bring 'em up either to
| have their own way in everything or never
| to have it AT all. But they're Just right :;
| healthy, well-mannered and loving their
| Aunt Dory, rs they called her, Just as
much as they'd ought to love her. And
| that is saying considerable" add Il Mrs.
| Blatchtnrd, with emphasis. rs she husled
| ont of the room obedientlv to the oldclock' 5
| Wheezv signal of the tea hour, which, like
| the laws of the Medes and Perslans.
| altered not in this primitive region all the
| year round.
Three summers went bv before quiet
| little CherrywoOd again held me as a
! seeker after rest and refreshment among
| It's hills and hOspitable rustic people.
! Once more widow Blatchtord opened her
door to me and installed me monarch of
her excepting room,' and the breezy
chamber above it. 1t was not to her dis
pleasure that one of nv first inquiries
| should relate to Doremy Fletcher and her
| adopted children.
There, knew you wouldn't forget
| about them :" she said delightedly. 81
| thought you'd like TO hear of it when
| things happened as they did You re-
| member told Won how we'll Doremv
| trained the boys. Well it was the fall
| after you lett that Squire Luces wife died,
and along the fall after he spoke to
Doremy. Said he had noticed how will
she brought up Johnny and Jimmy. and
he had seven boys and girls needing to
be taken into hand, and-well, the mp
shot was Doremv could be Mrs Luce tor
saying so. What did she think of it Il
| don't know SAYS she. kind OF flushed up
| but steady spoken. ''Tisn't exactly my idea
of marriage to make Just a convenience
| OF ii. And | can't say that | feel a call
| ING toward your children rs did to my
| boys We'll says the Squire, cant You
| take it as il kind of duty Besides, | cal
| culate my wife will be considerably re-
| spected, anu have Us good as the best,
How about JOHNNY and jimmy
| says She. Well saws the Squire again
| about the bnvs-l calculate to do well hy
| them, of course Might bind out one.
and let the other help on the tarm guess.
They are Old enough TO work consider
| able He talked n spell longer, and
| Doremy listened quiet rs ever. Then
says she, 4 thank yon kindly Squire
| Luce, but don't 90 to house that isn't
open to my BOYS too. DO ynu think I've
| loved 'em and worked for 'em all these
years to turn 'em off now for seven
strangers And You expect that silk
| dresses will make it easy. Furthermore,
she says. Il amt very Young now. bat
| do hold to love being the only ground
| for folks to marry on and that's ont Of
| the question for you and me-
The Squire was real provoked, hn
| my, his feelings wasn't nothing to the
| feelings Of other folks when they found
out about it Singular how interested
| every body is in the settlement of what
don't concern but two people, isn't it ?"
said Mrs. Blatchtoid. taking breath after
her eagerly-told story.
$50 her and the boys live rs they did ?'
| said.
That is the best of it, said my smiling
hostess. '.Along back two months or so
when every body had got tired of berat-
ing Doremy for throwing away her bread
and butter, and sacrificing herself and her
blind mother for those boys. a stranger
came to town. He was a nice appearing
man from the West, and began to inquire
all round for any family by the name of
l1apgood. Come to cipher it all out, why,
he was Eben Hapgood's brother, and own
uncle to Doremy's twins. He had worked
along until he was tolerably rich and con
cluded to come East and hunt up his
brother, never expected not to find him
alive, you see.
"Well, he was Just delighted with the
boys ;seemedas if he couldn'tmake enough
of them. His mind was set on taking 'em
home with him, and who could gainsay
it? He was rich, had no children. and
was their next OF kin Doremv's heart
was like to break, but she faced the trial.
4 ought to feel it 4 Providence,' said She
i suppose. They are getting to need
better advantages than can give them;
mothers failing, and can't even do as
much as have. ! must try to be willing
another should take what | amt equal to
carrying; and not stand in their light
But my boys. I'd keep you if | had a
right, and nothing should part us this side
Of heaven
had her eyes But Jimmy hueged her
IL
bell, 4 won't 90, Aunt Dory. Not step
from you It's getting my turn to work
for you soon
Then Silas Hapgood spoke DO you
s'pose I'd part Il mother and her children?
If anybody has right to these boys. it is
her that has toiled for them since they
were born. Miss Doremy, you have been
lending to the Lord for nigh fourteen
years, and his pay is pretty certain, but |
want you to let me have a hand in settling
too. If you and mother will come with
the boys, I'll take them. Not without
I've enough and to spare flor us all my
wife askes it of you to come and be our
dear sister, and the boys mother; | ask
it of you; and if you'll say yes you will
make glad hearts. There isn't no obliga
ton in it, for we owe you more'n money
will pay for saving our nephews from the
poor-house and bringing them up to what
they are. Come. Miss Doremy, say yes,
and don't part me from my only kin; for
| won't take them without you, and |
want 'em as only a man can whose own