The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-30
l'anelope's Web.

Penelope's Web.
NV father and mothcr.in.aw we're sit.
ting, one on each side Of the open fire.
My father was reading the Countrv Gen.
Hemdm my mother was knitting nit.
tcu. She usually was knitting either "A
mittcn,or little red stocking or baby's
shoe, or a wristlet or shawl Her eyes
wcre not good by ga'-'ghi; aud as she was
a manager Of the Old Ladies' Home. a
visitor At the Orphan Asylum, and a
friend and protector to forlorn children in
general, She was never at a loss where to
hestow her knitted goods. Not baby
on our square but came into an inherit.
'ucc OF mothers pretty work as surely as
into world Of sin and misery
Missing the click Of the needles, as one
does quiet sound to which the ear has
grown used, | looked up. My mother
had laid down her work and was engaged
in tying knots at different intervals 10
Ieugth Of doubled worstcd Ny father
had dropped his paper, and was regarding
her with an amused smile, ia which there
was "A world Of tenderness and gentlcpess.
What are you trying to do mother
dear ? said | at last.
Il am trying to see whether | can re.
member how used to make harness (? au.
'wered the dear old lady, with smile
and little sigh. Not the kind they put
lpon ho ses y she explained, seeing nv
,iuzzled look bat that which hclonps to
l loom
Il never saw loom y said |.
'Ah, then can hardly make you un-
ierstand. The harness is a very essen
iaI part Of an old fashioned loom.
Did you know how to weave? [ ask
cd
That she did, as well as Perelope her
namesake = said my father answering for
ner. 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 | 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 continued,
, after pause, that [ owe my wife to her
skill in weaving
Tell me about it = said | glad OF any.
thing to divert me You see my husband
was away about bis business as an insur-
lncc adjuster,and there had been so many
rad accidents that | could no help being
anxious about him
Yes do, father = said nv mother.
'M ell, you must know then, the old
Gentleman began; that | was an only
child, and my parents naturally thought
goo5 deal of me, They moved from
Vermont into the Geuesce country at
very early day-indccd my father was
one OF the first settlers Of Bloomfield
Some day we will go back there aud see
the old place 1t was wild enough when
they went there; but in my time the
wilderness was subdued, and blossomcd
like the rose My father iarmed two
hundred acres, and owned a sugar. bush
aud a potashery. Potash used to 5e
called Genesec money il those days. be.
cause the merchants made their remit
tances to New York and Montreal in that
coin. We'll, | always had turn for
books and study, and | was not more than
twelve years old when my father promis. /
ed me, that if would stay and help him
I'LL was eighteen, he would send me to
college. was very happy in the pros.
pect, for from She moment he said SO, |
knew the thing was As sure rs any hu.
man arrangement can be. s. went to
school winters, doing my Latin and Greek
with the minister, and helping on the
farm III summer, till | was eighteen.
Ny birthday came in Junc,anI my moth.
er began directly to make my new shirts.
Mother = said one day; why did
my father select Dartmouth for mc?'
Your father and his brother both went
there, and his folks lived in that neigh
borhood,' answered my mother.
Il never knew my father had broth.
er! said |, surprised.
My mother started, and looked trou.
bled. Then she said, impre,sivcly 'Ab.
ner, you must never mention the matter
to your father. He never has spoken hi,
brothers name since he moved out here,
aud he will not allow me to do so. You're
named for your uncle, but then it was
your grandiaiher's name as WELL
But how did it happen? p asked
- What was the cause OF the qnarrcl, 10,
suppose there was IA quarrel p
"A girl, of course = said my mother,
sitl tone of bitterness, very unusoal
with her. Your father thought there
was only one woman in the world, aud
that was Penelope Morrill, and she
thought there was only one man in the
world, and that was Abner lIoyt |
don't know how much she was to blame.
My sister Abbey always took her part,
and said Penelope was over persuaded by
her folks to say she would have Nathan.
Anyhow, she broke off her engagement
to your father and married Abner. Then
your father married me, and we moved
out here. That is all | know.
Did Uncle Abnor have any family 2
| asked, after short silence.
Il believe he had. They moved away
from the place, and both he and his wife
died young, Abbey always kept up her
friendship with Penelope; ; but | asked
her never to say anything about them in
her letters When you are in Vermont,
Abner, You must go to see Aunt Abbey
We'll, went to college, and much to
my delight | entered in the Sophomore
year. I got through my first two wears
with credit and in my second summer, I
determined to take Paulet in my way and
60 to see Aunt Abbey.
'Paulet is very queer little place. with
more ups and downs, and wooded noun
tain sides and running brooks, than ever
| saw before. Aunt Abbey lived in n
tiny red house. lust Mhere The .littln pan.