Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-01-30

|
said she.
"Ah! And what does Bella say q
returned the dacon, looking as though
it were a question of investing in real
estate, or of the price of gold.
"Bella doesn't say anything" | re-
piled. "Certainly not before she is
asked"
"You needn't wait long, if that is
ALL" answered Deacon Shackelford.
"I'll ask you now. Have you any OBJ
lection to an offer of marriage from
Mr.. Brodhead? There'
"He is very bashful man, Mr.. Brod-
head is, Bella, and so be got us to help
him along a little. Why, he is in love
with YOU" interposed Mrs. Deacon
Shackelford; "he is in love with you
down tc his boots.
"Let it run down to his toes, them"
said l, beginning to feel like new yeast.
"But you can't have anything against
the man. persisted Mrs. Deacon.
"And, think after while you won't
have your Grandfather and your Aunt
Susanna to talk to, and you will miss
it if you don't have somebody in their
place. 1t is best to think of these
things. And you won't find kinder
man if you search the worlrl over with
wax candle, than Mr.. Brodhead."
"N[r Brodhead is well enough, Mrs
Shackeltord. | don't deny that But
the idea OF making proposal of this
sort through 'middle-men! 1t is too
absurd!" said laughing, and putting
on my hat.
So | went home to my classes in en-
broidery, and drawing, and wax-work
to making Aunt Susanna's caps and
grandfather's coffee. My life was full
of monotonous work in those days ;
and sometimes | had strange, uncom-
Portable impression of being machine
wound up and running without any act
of its own.
One evening when | was putting
away the silver after supper, and feel
ing the creak and crank of the wheels
more than usual, as though the ma
chinery needed oiling, the front gate
slammed, and steps came along up the
walk.
II knowed some one was coming.
I've knowed all day some one was talk
ing of coming said City Pullen,
who, "to accommodate" as she often
told us, had kindly consented to rule
over our kitchen and us with 4 rod Of
hard pine Gin the form Of a crutch.)
AS City had no home, no money,
and only one foot of her own, but as
good as four ears and two tongues, it
might seem sometimes the accomoda-
ton was two sided. However, things
arc not what they seem.
81 knowed it was Mr.. Corliss!' pur
sued City triumphantly, as grandfath-
er opened the door and disclosed the
figures of our minister and his wife
Il can tell his step as far off as car
hearit Did you ever notice his eyes ?
she continued. "They look like two
holes burned in a blanket. And he
holds his head just like Deacon Shack
elford's old white horse"
Then she disappeared into the kitch.
en- with her crutch and the cat, while
Aunt Susanna put in her teeth, and on
her black silk apron, and went witt
her Westinghouse step into the parlor
When / followed soon after, | founC
her talking in as steady flow as the
waters came down at Lodore. to Mrs
Corliss, who sat by the woodbine win
dow, with her hands folded in black
uetted mitts across her lap, and hel
tea-colored curls shaking their heads
as it were, at the world and its vanities
While grandfather, who had been thu
senior deacon for fifty years, and ha(
no idea that even the church edifice
could stand without him, was already
deep in discussion with Mr.. Corliss up
on the question then absorbing and dis
turbing us, as to whether our Sabbatl
School should hereafter be called ;
Sunday School.
/ 81 can never consent to have re
ligious organization known by heath
: Ell name," grandfather was saying, as
had heard him say half hundred time'
before.
And Mr.. Corliss, with his serene
white head bent toward him, was think
inc how he could braid in one of the
5 fossilized fathers and the versatile som
3 of the church.
4 So there was nothing for me to DE-
but to sit and smile, and listen; fo
4 grandfather and Aunt Susanna were no
t the persons to yield the floor when i
A was once theirs by priority.
"Mr. Corliss, is it not time for us t,
: go?' said Mrs. Corliss, at early star
rising, with her measured dignity.
$ "Certainly, my dear" replied Mr.
r Corliss, rising at once, with his heat
g still bent to catch grandfather's las
: sentence.
: "Bella, put on your hat and wall
. out with us little way. 1t is charm
r ing evening" said Mrs. Corllss, turnin!
| to me after taking ceremonious leav'
: of Aunt Susanna.
e Of course. l went for my hat.
e should as soon think of insisting ol
\ breathing in an exhausted receiver a
!, of refusing to follow a suggestion 0
Mrs. Corliss. Or so l supposed them
V But l trembled in my heart, and bega
t to run over in my mind all my littl
4 over-dones and under-dones. She ha