Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-01-30
COURTING BY PROXY.
BY FRANCIS LEE.

"Indeed," said the deacon's wife. |
knew by that she hadn't heard a word
| had been saying.
"Why, yes" | repeated, good deal
discouraged, for | saw | must begin
again at the very beginning-"she is
more than a hundred years old, and
entirely destitute. Yet she did not
complain of anything but the cold
She was formerly a slave in Kentucky,
but somehow strayed away up here,
and now has outliyed everybody that
ever belonged to her. If could man,
age to get her in the Coored Women
Home for the rest Of her life, should
be glad. But as she isn't a resident OF
the city it will be necessary to pay hel
board. A dollar week, Mrs. Hoy1
thinks it is
"Certainly, that would be the best
thing to be done, replied Mrs. Deacon
waking up little. "Still, | don't know
what we can do until we have called {
meeting of the society"
|, That was so much like her! If the
vestry had been on fire she would have
stopped to call meeting ofthe society
before she would have ventlred tC
throw on dipper of water.
"But the poor creature is freezing
and starving said | impaticntly. Can
you, as president of the society, empow
er me to give her at least one of those
waddcd sacques we have on hand?"
81 don't know but might go as fa
as that, thought suppose it isn't ex
actly in order," returned the deacon'
wife, leaning back in her chair, an(
smoothing the tablc-coyer between he
thumb and finger.
She seemed to be meditating, so
waited for minute, and then she sale
abruptly-"What do you think of Mr.
Brodhead, Bclla?'
''Thcre | shouldn't wonder if h
would give lis something handsome !!
| exclaimed, going down on my knee
in my heart for my injustice. ''He is
man of means, and generous man
I've always heard
The deacon's wife looked puzzled.
"Oh! your old colored woman? 2 sh'
said directly. II wasn't thinking abou
her, I was thinking Of you. Mr.. Brod
head has a very high opinion of you
Bella, did you know it,
"What do you mean, Mrs. Shackel
forl?" said l, as surprised as thougl
the man in the moon had wlnked a
me. For my friends all know how
detest such talk. And besides, l neve
considered Mrs. Shackeltord that sor
of woman. Her attention is general.
centred in the society and her flower
garden.
But fo once some other idea haC
taken possession Of her mind, and a
her thoughts always ran in grooves, sh
never could harbor more than one at
time
''Mr. Brodhead is a nice man, and
fine looking man." she said. looking q
me sharply. "a man of means, and
generous man, as you say.
IL suppose so" | replied, gatherin!
my shawl about me.
"Oh! don't 60 yet, Bella. l wa
wanting to see you, and consideryo
dropping in quite proyidential. Th
deacon and l were speaking of callin
on you this very evening"" said the des
cons wife, putting out her hand to okee
me from rising "and when | saw you
blue shawl turning in at the gate,
said to myself, that's as marked tok
en- as Rebekah at the well, with tn
pitcher on her shoulder ] haven't tn
golden earrings and bracelets to offe
you, but | have all the rest" she addec
laughing nervously.
Just then the deacon came in. No'
there is in the opinion of his wife br
one reason why Deacon Shackelfor
did not make the world. He found
already made. And when he came i
she looked up at him as though Atlt
had come, and she could safely dro
the world on his shoulders, and so o
lpicking up golden upples, -