Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-11-14
"'who is Peneloper I asked at last of

"'Who is Peneloper asked at last of
my Cousin Malvina.
"'Oh, Penelope Winder rl--well, she's a
kind of adopted child of ours She's an
orphan; and when her step-father died
she hadn't any home, and her mother was
friend of ma's--so she naturally came
to us We would like to keep her with
us all the time, but she has very independ.
ent feelings, Pen has, and likes to support
herself She's splendid hand at all kinds
of weaving, and folks send for her from
far and near. But she makes her home
with us, and as she is to come home
Saturday, we will hitch up the old bay,
and go after her.
II was pretty we'll disposed to like
Penelope beforehand; and when young
DR.. Amber, who was the beau of fthe place,
asked Malvina when Miss Wilder was
expected, felt that he had taken unwar-
rantable liberty. When 1 saw Penelope
/ understood the reason. | felt at once
that we were made for each other; and
have never changed my mind. In a
weeks time we were as well acquainted
as If we had known each other for years,
and in three weeks we were engaged.
&C 1t was very imprudent in me- said
my mother-in-law, demurely; L don't
know how came to do So
Nor II / never could guess. Well,
Aunt Abbey and Malvina both looked
troubled when we told them of it,
i am afraid it won't do, children, ,
said my aunt am, indeed. Perhaps |
ought to have foreseen and prevented.
You have heard of your uncle Abnerr
"' Mother mentioned him to me once,
/ replied, but she cautioned me never to
speak of him to father
"'Just so, was afraid it was that way
said Aunt Abbey. How folks can be. so
| inveteratc l don't know. Well, Penelope,
here is your uncle's only child. You see,
her mother married again after his death.
She was left kind of forlorn with this
baby, and asked her to come and spend
the winter with me. Old Major Winder
took great fancy to her, and-well sup
pose it was natural enough
"'Natural for some folks said Malvina
with emphasis.
"'Well, anyhow, the old man was very
good to her, and gave the child good edu-
cation. But you see he never made a
will. l used to talk to him about it, and
he said he meant to provide for Penelope
But he was taken away suddenly one day,
and the daughter by the first marriage,
who never could abide Penelope or her
mother
"'Nor anybody else, but herself inter-
rupted Penelope. L never could under
stand how she could be Father Winder's
daughter
"'She wasn't much like him, that's GER
tain; for a sweeter- tempered old gentle
man never lived, continued my aunt.
Anyhow she took everything; Pen had
hard work to get even her mothers things.
However, she did get them, at last and
then she came to us. When her own father
died l did write letter to your father un-
known to Penelope; but such letter as
he sent to me. never dared let your
mother see it, Pen, but I'll show it to you
both now
$50 she did. It hard letter-and
cruel and unforgiving. My cheeks burned
with anger and shame when l read it,
Penelope did not say word at first, but
presently she frightened up.
Uncle Nathan, am sure I'd make him
like me in spite of himself
"I believe you would said l.
"'Well, I don't know-your father is
dreadful set,' said my aunt. Anyhow,
Abner, you owe everything to your father,
and you ought not to go against him.
"'Aunt Abbey is right said Penelope,
after little pause; 1T won't do, Abner.
We must give it up for the present.
II was very unhappy at the idea, and l
daresay said many foolish things"
"That you did," interrupted my mother
"Well, Penelope was firm and when
we parted she would not even promise to
write to me. l was so down-hearted all
my vacation that father thought l was
sick, and was for keeping me at home,
but 1 opposed the plan with all my
might, as you may guess. / once tried to
introduce the subject of my uncle to my
father, but got such a answer that l never
attempted it again. | was very unhappy,
indeed; could not bear to quarrel with
my father, though l thought him very
much to blame, but neither could en-
dure the thought of not marrying Pene-
lope,
Things were in this state when re-
turned to college. l had heard from
Penelope once, through Malvina, who
told me among other bits of news, that
the Lyman family from Paulet were go
ing to move to Rochester, and that she
meant to send a parcel to mother by
them.
Toward spring l received letter from
my mother asking me to come home for
little. She said father had sprained his
ankle so he could not get about, and that
he wanted to see me. She added that she
did not know what she should have done
only for Mary Winder, young lady who
had been visiting her, and had stayed to
help.
"I found my father looking older and
more feeble than l had ever seen him.
His ankle was better, so that he could go
about the house, and he sometimes got as
far as the barn; but he had been obliged
to leave great deal to James White, his
bira5 on op6 fbinra oOOn cbOwa1 Tho
difference. l had not been in the house
half an hour before heard the praises
of Mary Winder sounded by both father
and mother.
"'She says she saw good deal of you
at Aunt Abbey's,' said my mother.
"'Oh, yes,' l answered; she stayed
there most of the time. Aunt Abbey
thinks the world of her. Where is sheY'
"'She is over at Widow Browns, sitting
with Emma answered mother. you |
know the poor child has been in decline |
this long time. Somehow she has taken |
to Mary, and feels as if she must have her |
every day
"Suppose you go over and bring her |
home, Abner,' said my father; lit will be |
quite dark, and the road is rather lone |
some.'
81 fancied my father looked at me with
curious, questioning expression, as he |
spoke, and dim wonder crossed my |
mind as to whether he suspected any
thing; but dismissed it at once, remem-
bering the letter Aunt Abbey had showed |
me. 1T can't be- thought; 'he would |
not have her on his place an hour
"'How did Miss Winder come hercP l |
asked, as mother followed me to the door. |
oh, she came up to Rochester with
fnt lxY Il
here to bring me parcel from Abbey.
SO, of course, asked her to stay and |
make visit. had a piece in the loom
which Jane Pratt had just drawn in when
she was taken sick, and nothing would do |
but Mary must finish it, She does beat |
all for weaving that ever saw. Then
your father sprained his ankle, and l
wasn't very well, so she stayed on, and /
don't know what / shall do when she