The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-10-16

Is
carr for hrr a. she meriied. So she sal
down with heF back 20 Tie bushes, snd
when EbeHerar knew by the low sobs
that reached him that she was crying, be
let 80 the bushes carefully, so as not TO
disturb her, and walked on home.
lie lay awake llll long after midnight
that night. His thumb psined him some
bat biz slecplesuess wss not caused Who'll
ly By lhat.
lie was thinking Of the time, many
years back, when Polly Virgins then a
rosy girl Of eighteen, was very dear TO
lin. lie remembered how she had gone
to Dame Chanwicks apple cut one nigHt
with Jim Winters, aud that she dirtcd
with him an the evening. lie remom-
bcred, too, how angry and Jealous he was
about 1t, aud that he treated her eoldly
and never sought 10 WOO her allcr that.
Tie made q resolve at last, and then he
closed bis eyes aud went to sleep--to
dream Of tables Of all kinds, with sofas
and blue dishes, aud rolls Of carpetiug
aud poppy ond marigold seeds by the
busheI being piled promiseuously in his
I front yard, aud that be was giving to the
whole q coat of white paint.
Then be was stretching aud taking
down a carpet in the garrett and
/ lie awoke with groan He must have
been hammering away at his sore thumb
for it was tnrobbing and aching terribly.
Sleep was out OF the question now, so
Ebenezer got up aud lighted candle and
walked the bare floor til daylight, won
derng why he had never felt so lonely
before, and thinking as he had never
thought before that bachelors life was
( a wrctchcd one.
A few days after her walk on the beach
Polly sat knitting in her sisters best room
when that lady came in from the store,
whittier she had gone for roll OF but
/ ter.
Sakes alive, Polly, you will never be-
lieve il! Ebenezer Stickney is turning
everything inside out and up side down
at his house They're painting the house
outside, aud papering and whitewashing
inside, and he's got Jim Black there clear
ing out the yard. didn't think much
abont all that, for land knows the place
needed it, but just as left the store what
should stop in front Of the miller's gate
but two loads Of bran new furniture.
Then said to myself, that means some.
thing. spoke to Sally Brown about it
and we both say there's wedding
ahead.
Mrs. Betsey Carver was so excited over
this piece of news that she did not notice
how pale Polly had grown, nor that her
hand trembled so that she dopped halt
the stitches Off her knitting needle. So
she ratified away:
| reckon | know who he'll marry.
That brazenfaeed Murray girl, that sets
right in front Of him every time he goes
to Yittoria to church. She's had her cap
set for him two years, Sally says, and at
last she's trapped him.
Poly's face was flushed to crimson
now. She made no reply, but bent over
her work, nervously taking up the stitch
es she had dropped.
If she loved Ebenezer Stickney her sis
ter did not suspect it. just then Kate
Rice, Ebenezer's little niece, came in.
Please, Miss Polly, uncle Eben sent me
down after the seeds you said he could
have.
Let me see, said Polly musingly. o,
yes lie wanted we should save him
some cucumber seed
It's flower seed he wants, ever so many
kinds, interposed Katy.
never promised him any as know
of; didn't s'pose he cured for such things,
said Polly a little spitefaly, as she tbo't
of Lucy Murray in connection with Ebe.
nezer's flower garden Then she added
meekly:
Your uncle is welcome to what have
left.
The little girl received the seeds and
bounded away saying;
The beds are all ready and rm to show
UuncIe Eben how to SOW them.
Then back she came again:
forgot | was to ask you which are the
morning glory seeds. He says you told
him they must 90 by the window.
never told him any such thing, but
there, ,thems EN-.
Yes, ma'am.
= Who is he going to marry now there.
T a good girl
Don't know, but guess mother does
? She told me she wouldn't make the car
} pets unless be told her. But she won't
tell, though I've coaxed her ever SO much
} How funny it will seem 10 have uncl,
, Ebeu married
: There's your mother coming now viii
her bonnet to be trimmed, aud size dom
leave this house until she tells, said Mrs
Carver.
Just as though you didn't know already
said Mrs. Rice ia answer To the alI-im
portant question. Hasn't the bride cleo
told you,
OF course not or shouldn't have to asl
you.
Oh, well then, mustn't tell, butI vii
= say, Polly, and Mrs Rice spoke mis-
cbieyiously, you're very exactiug, Plen
l ty Of girl. wouId jump at the chance L
D marry Ebeu and leave the fixing up til
{ aficrward.
D What do you mesns 0 how I am IN
suited