Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-09-30
Stlttt Storp.
PENELOPE'S WEB.

My Iather and mother in law were
sitting. one on each side OF the open fire.
Ay father was reading the Country Gen
AsmaH-my mother WAS knitting nit
ten. She usually was knitting either "a
mitlen. or lille red s,ocking, OF baby'>
shoe, or wrisilet. or = shaw. Her ewes
were no, good by Gas light; and, as she
was a manager Of the Old Ladies Home,
Il visitor At the Orphan Asylum, and a
friend and protector to forlorn children
in general. she was never at a loss whore
to bestow her Knitted goods. Not baby
on our square but came iuto an Inherit
ance OF mothers pretty work a. surely
As iuto a world OF sin and misery.
Missing the click OF The needles. as
one does miss quiet sound 10 which the
ear has grown used, looked up. Ny
mother had laid down her WORK. aud was
engaged in tying knots at different in.
tervals in 4 length OF double worstcd.
My father had dropped his paper, aud
was regardids her with an amused smile,
in which there WAS world OF tenderness
and gentleness.
What are You trying TO do, mother
dear?" said /. al last.
Il am trying to see whether | can rc.
member how l used 70 make a harness ?"
answered the dear old lady, with a smile
and little sigh. Not the kind they
put upon horses" she explained, seeing
my puzzled look "but that which belongs
to = lOom."
Did you know how TO weave?' !
asked.
That she did. as well rs Penelope her
namesake :" said my father, answering
for her. Il think, however, she would
have disposed of the suitors more easily
than that lady did" And my father
quoted some Greek which sounded very
nicely though l didn't understand it. The
old gentleman read the classics a great
deal in the original, and was rather fond
of quoting them. Il believe he con
,inued. after pause, "lhat Owe my
wife to her SKILL in weaving"
Tell me about il - said l, glad OF
any thing to divert me. You see my
husband was away about his business as
an insurance adjuster. and there had been
so many bad accidents that | could not
help being anxious about him.
"Yes, do. father r said my mother.
well. you must know, then,' The
gentleman began; that was an
only child, and my parents naturally
thought deal OF me. They moved from
Vermont into the Geneses country at q
very early day-indeed my father was
one of the frs, settlers of Bloomfield
Some day we will 20 back there. and set
the old place. 1t was wild enough wher
they went there; but in my time the viii
derness was subdued, and blossomed like
the rose. My father farmed two hundred
acres, and owned sugar bush and 8
potashery. Potash used to be calle,
Genesee money in those days, because
the merchants made their remittanceS Il
New York and Montreal in that coin
Well, | always bad turn for books an'
study, and was not more than twelve
years old when my father promised me
that if would stay and help him till
was eighteen, lie would send me 10 col
lege. was very happy in the prospect
for from the moment he said so, knew
the thing was as sure as any human
arrangement can be. So | went t'
school winters. doing my Latin an'
Greek with the minister. and helping ON
the farm in summer. ill was eighteen.
My birthday came in June, aud mother
began directly to make my new shirts.