Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-09-30

many things that wouldn't bear examina'
ton. have always felt ashamed of the
whole performance
Marrying me included. | suppose
Well. mattcrs went On so for some weeks
took hold OF the farm work, and soon
got things into shape again. l went
down 10 Commencement and graduated
aud then came back to take hold of the
harvesting. had quite made up my
mind by that time to be u farmer
"When the hult of the harvest work
and ChceSu-makinS was over, Penelope
proposed to my mother that she should
draw in piece OF fine linen. for which
the yam was ready. When she camo to
examine the loom, she found the harness
in need OF repair, and rs making harness
is best done 10y two pair OF hands. she
asked me to help her"
Il don't know what the harness is!
said l.
"Wcll. it is the sy stem of strings in a
loom, by which the threads oil the warp
are alternately raised and depressed so Is
to allow the passage Of the shuttle.
These strings are knotted in "a peculiar
and somewhat intricate mauner. We
were engaged in this process when my
father passed through the room.
".Ihat's right, Mary" said he. liar
ness him up tight"
"'Shc has done that already " said /,
speaking without inou-ht.
Mary looked scared.
$50 much the better. ,l,d my father.
i hope you viii both 20 rs well in double
as YOU do in single harness So saying,
he went into The next room and shut the
door
- wonder ~ neither my father suspects
anything" said l. Mary looked very
grave, aui bad to repeat the question
before >hc answered.
"'l don't know " neither he does or not :
out one thing know Abner: | shall not
=, on la thi, Way any longer. !, is Il
sAamc To deceive him aud ylur mother as
We atc doing. have lc.. uneasy this
long time. aud now have made up my
mind shall tell him The truth this very
day.
"'Aud suppose he ordcrs yon cut oil
The house -ud |.
"'l'hen must 20"
".And forbid me ever TO see or speak
10 You again"
"'Thcn We must wait Anyhow,
Abucr. wc never c.m expect or pray Tor
- blessing While Ne 90 on in thi. way
"Wc,., We argued the matter bacS and
forth did not feel easy myself, for
WAS brought up to think lie the meanesi
ct al, things. Finally it was agreed that
wc should explain matters that very
evening, only insisted on taking the
the ia,H on myself.
$50 We did. Alter prayers that night,
| told father aud mother that Mary aud
were cug .cd. aud only waited for their
consent
".AiI Iisht" answered my father. !
couldn't wish tor better daughter thar
Mary. and Im sure mother will say the
same
".Yes. indeed. said mother, wiping
her eyes. 1 haco hoped all along that IT
would be so
"Mtry WAS now very pale, but she
spoke out quite clear and steadily;
".lm afraid you won't say 80 when
YOU know all about it, Uicic Nalhm"
Mother started at these words and
lalned ~ pale as Mary herself, bu
father only said quetly-'Why not p
MARY went ON, and told the story in
- lcw word, as possible. When she ha1
finished ,hcre was silence like death loi
minute or Two literally dared no
look at either father or mother. Ere ,
eu,Iy my father spoke:
"'Alary and Abner-dO YOU think thai
your father is 50 blind that he cannot see
hole through ladder
Neither ol Us answered, but there
was something in his tone which seemed
to I'M weight Of my heart. Father
went on:
IL Lesau to CUES, the sccrc. before
Mary had been in the house three days,
and then An accident made me certain.
happened to want some papers which |
had put in the cupboard in Mary'S room
She was out with mother. When
opened the cupboard. the first thing
SAW was a little Latin Bible. knew il
in a minute, even without the writing on
the IL, leaf. II was one | had given Il
Abner on the very last birthday we had
spent together I'm not good at descrlb
ing my feelings said my father in
Trembling voice; but as l opened th'
book it seemed rs if my brothers face
loohod from the leaves st me-. | put /
into my pocket and went out in the woods
to the polashery. stayed there the
whole day, and children, il ever any man
had hand to hand fight vito the devil,
did that day. Bat | wasn't left alone
as | deserved, and gained the victory
That very night, coming home,l sprained
my ankle. At first | thought | would
tell Mary directly, but then | said to my
self, The child hts cJm5 here 10 see il
she can't coax me round. I'll let he
,,,nrl- II ouf her own way y