National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-04-19

bNNi was litNiHi, 'h l'AH' ''' hNNN'N'
IIester's face was very red but she main
tanned herself bravely by the frying kettle,
and in q few minutes slipped fritter,
brown, puffy, hot, with little spraugles
and crisp bits clnging to its edges, on tq
the old gentleman plate. His face re
laxed slightly, and n sort of.luicness crept
into the dry wrinkles about his mouth
Presently two more delectable brown
puils took the place Of the one that had
already vanished and the modified look
stole up to the knobby old nose, and high
er still to the keen gray eyes, and softy
united the twisted knot of the eyebrows
"Wal, Joel, how's the Jedge Z" in q pa
cfc growl.
Joel almost sprang off his seat, the
question was so sudden aud startling.
so, he Judge; he we'll" stammered
the young man, turning several shades Of
red in quick succession.
Making money hand over fist, III
warrant"
Yes, he is doing pretty we'll" replied
Joel, so painfully confused that he dropped
lump of salt into his tea in place OF
sugar.
utll INV ltIo uuNS Bbl I'iS ilchho,
and sharp claws y said the Squire. The
best way Is to give EN- wide berth.
There's an old saying used to hear when
| was boy tell the truth and shame the
devil; but guess the devil don't often
get shamed that way by lawyers. There's
one thing will say for the Jedge, though;
he's the likeliest of the lot. and he freezes
right snug 10 his business; but that amt
family trait, is it ~
"What, honesty ~ returned Joel; so,
yes, never knew dishonest Selfridge."
"llumph, ,"grunted the old Squire, "did
you ever know shift!ess Selfridge But
there amt no use asking questions. Every
thing has got g new-fangled name. What
are lazy folks called nowadays, Hester ?
You have thaught school and ought to be
acquainted with fashionable names"
"I'm sure I don't know" said Hester,
bending her head down over the fire.
"Now recolect They're called gen.
tleinan Of leisure. If the Jedge can afford
to keep his relations without work, why
it's mighty fine thing for them, and |
don't know as IT'S any business of mine,"
and with a metallic sound in the chest,
which might have been either laugh or q
chronic cough, the old man arose from the
table, set his hat determinedly upon his
head, and went away out of the house to
do lis evening chores.
The lamp was lit, the fire well trimmed
and bright. Hester brought forth large
pan Of rosy-cheeked apples (Baldwins) to
pare for the last batch of mince pies. The
keen knife glanced and shone, and pretty
red rings slid down from her comely
hands. Mrs Preston was at work on a
long gray sock, sock anybody might
know belonged to the old Squire they
had seen it in China. Joel had taken from
his pocket the joints OF his flute, and was
screwng them tightly together, and as tho
cd man opened the door he heard hi.
dame say -
"Come, now, Joel, give us General
Greene's March, or Yankee Doodle.
There's the Squire coming in, and he's
fond Of music, too"
" You can't eat it or drink it," growled
the Squire, as he took his own particular
arm chair, and drew is up to the fire, and,
pulling off his heavy boots, held his stock
in! -s., 4 feet to the genial blaze.
But your ears can drink it, respond
ed the old lady, not knowing she had
made a pretty speech.
Joel played one old mir after another.
and the walls echoed the strains pleasant
ly which seemed trying to bring the differ
ent heart beats there under the root-tree
into consonance and harmony. When the
music ended, the old man, who had been
pondering with lis chin sunk in his stock,
drew back little, and laid his hand rath-
er heavily upon the table, and said, break
ing out suddenl y:
81 s'pose the up-shot of the business is
young man, you want to marry my girl
You've KEEP running here pretty nigh a
year and half, and the matter must end
some time or other. Tain't my fashion to
daub much with untempered mortar, and
| tell You plainly what I've got against
you is your want of stiddiness and propen-
sity to fool away your time, and live on
other folks. don't propose to support
no son.in-law with my hard earnings
Everybody round me must use his own
hands and feet, and put in as much as he
takes out. Now that's the long and the
short of it, and I'm prepared to hear your
vlewsp
Joel, thus summoned. looked as if he
would much rather run away, but he stood
his ground and spoke with his eyes cast
down, and his face slightly pale, while the
Squire's shrewd, keen countenance was
turned attentively toward him.
81 do want to marry your daugh-
tor ~ la haron and I sbYrlJ hn, ID
for your consent long ago, but knew you
were prejudiced against me, and opposed
to taking me into your family. It don't
seem quite fair to condemn a man before
he has had a trial. Hester shall not re-
pent if she marries me-"
" Fine promises never raised hill of
potatoes" said the old sarcastically. II
know good clean timber when | see it,
and | know q crooked stick. | tell you,
young man, you've got to put by your fine
airs and buckle down to hard work before
you earn a living for a family. I'm agin
shiftlessness. tooth and nail, and always
was. But, Hester, what have you got to
say?n
Hester had held the apple she was par
ing suspended in her hand. The color
varied in her cheeks, and now a tide of
crimson swept over them. Her voice fall
tered. and almost broke at first, but it
gathered strength and went on, so clear
and distinct, that it seemed as though the
old clock in the corner even stopped to
listen. Father" said she, al hope you
won't oppose US till the last have tried
to please you, and be a good daughter,
but there comes a time when a girl must
listen to her own heart. | have faith in
Joel, and so am willing to go with him
any where in the world. Whatever is
against him now will all come right. We
will make our way together, and what he
haS 10 hanr md snff.nr ,rill hear md srf.