The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-10-30

come to my senses when | ousted 'em 0
jess. And by.and-by il was jess ,ha
came sparkling o'nigbts, and sa, q winte
evenings over the emben, and be was s.
son spoken and pleasant tha, even moth
er forgot her vera,iou. Cshc always SCI
store by John, mother did) Wei, iF
the spring we were married, jess AMI
me, and had string Of pearls and /
real silk bridal dress, and | felt kind o
lifled like when the girls crowded round
rue and hoped "a be happy-l hoped SC
too; wasn't sure Of Il.
Remembering the days that came ailer
can't recall one hard word ! ever heard
from jess. We weren't near enough to
each other to quarrel; we just laid apart
/ like two old volumes; there wasn't any
fire 'twiKi us, nor any thing 'twirt us,
either love or laughing, whereas John
aud bad always bsen bubbling over one
way and another
! worked hard, for my silk dress aud
necklace were all had Of riches; aud
cut up the gown one day to make a cloak
for the baby. You see | couldn't give up
my pride, and was just as high spirited
as ever. But our farm did not prosper
and Mrs. Plumber came to live with us,
to look after things, she said; and she
got TO plying him every now and then
for marrying poor wife, and-oh, well
what's the use Of king?-sometimes
couldu't help wishing John Stringer''
strong shoulders were at the wheel, when
was working myself to death morning
and night for nothing.
Then when baby grew bigger took tc
teaching an A b G class, as used to be
fore was married; but what little
knew had run wild since then, and
couldn't keep The boys straight somehow
and the girls didn't care about samples
tor the sewing machine had ridden right
over everything Then Jesse fell i'll ot
| the fever, and with all the tuming and
freting aud nursing of his mother, aud
with all my watching day and night
somehowhe slipped of between us. Anf
found myself widow, with the ill'fared
wasted farm on my hands, and Mother
Plumber drizzling aud maundering ailel
Jess in way to break my heart.
But kept my spirit up yet, and ad
vertised half the place for sale at tho
court house; for If / could sell 1t W,
should skin through somehow on an acre
or two, thought.
Well, who do you suppose came ovel
one sunny afternoon as | was sanding
the kitchen? Who, to be sure, but JOIN
Stringer, large as liie-a little gray may
hap, and little more angular, but keen
and strong as ever. He'd use for tina
bit OF land, II seemed, and had had biz
eye on 1t along back. Always was want
ing what wasn't his, Mother Plumber
said. She owed him grudge for being
more forehauded than jess.
II took a deal looking after, and law
yering and surveying an the Lord only
knows what to settle it.: and used L
see John Stringer's STOPPING shoulders
and broad felt hat down just beyond thu
rise of the meadow time and again. Blu
he scarce ever came near the door, til
one day--I can't tell how it was--wher
the settlements were to be made, jus
took baby up stairs and had a good cry
for that bit of land had been Jesse's ia
vorIte piece, and Mother Plumber haC
been marrying me all day about it.
The ways of Providence are so strange
said Mother Plumber, laying her spec
down atop of the big Bible, aud and put
ting on that awfully patient air whicl
was wearing me to skin aud bone-pas
finding out. Now if jess had married
Sophie Mills, that was and you--
But / did not wait to hear any more
AS | say, just caught up baby and wen
on to the garret. And while sat by th
cobwebbed window Mrs. Barret, Sophi
Mills that was--went riding by in he
new spring wagon, she and her half doz
en- children, round and rosy as barre
of apples. Sophie nodded aud smiled t
some one coming up the road; and look
ing along saw John Stringer walking
thoughtful like, right up to our gate, jus
La he mead IN ppuun Ia gpBrftuu iuUa "a
John never had any foolish ways abou
him. saw Sophie look back at him a
she and the children, with their 1utterin,
ribbons and gay ginghams disappeared d
the turn Of the road. Then smoothe
my hair aud washed my face aud wen
down. The time Of settlement had com
| knew.
Mary Ann, said John gravely, The law
yer will be here presently; but reckol
we eau make II all clear in our own miut
without his help. And rye-I'ye settle,
! II in fact, that there are certain condition
, on which l'll take the land--if you agree
Then flew into a passion. You'y
been long enough making up your min
says |. / don't throw my land at an
body's feet, and haven't asked any IA
vors Of you, leastways, John stringer.
! Softly, there, softlyl says John, puI
ting out his hand. Don't be ia a fiurry
t little woman.
John stringer, says /, all 10 bea
} you're just the same mau you was year
ago when YOU always thought / was I'll
! log up every time YOU got out Of temp,
, yourself
And weren't you, little woman sai
Il John, quite grayeIy. Dou'twomen fylL
GiwAys Ike their own way better tha
D anything eIseI
, You DON'T know anything about w,