Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-11-18
WOODSTOCK W., WEDNESDAY, Nov 49, 1874

"Oh, Obadiah !! L hear robbers lalk'
ing !"
"Do you?" said the complacent Oba.
diah.
"Oh, Obadiah ! l see their eyes
flashing in the dark p
"Where ?" asked that stole.
"Oh, Obadiah I! the bears and lions
are after us I hear them growing
and roaring !"
"Well, Jane, what of it a? They al
ways growl and roar when they are
hungry. We must do the best we
can," said Obadiah.
From that moment, Jane de espisd
him. Had he bristled up to her side,
in a protecting cavalier fashion, and
said, Jane, there isn't q bear within
ten thousand miles of us, and there is
no such thing as robber anywhere !;
and I'll protect you against thunder
and lightning with my last drop of
blood "-the rigors of the situation
would have melted away like the
morning mist, and Obadiah would
have lived and died a respected hus-
band and father. To the last he
preserved the seven tenor of his way"
though devious one. His tranquil
ty, transcendent and lofty, came
not within the circle of earth's damp
ening influence. Jane, indignant and
out of all patience, at last said:
"Good Lord :! Obadiah, why don't
you let the mules follow their noses q
Being open to any suggestion, he
let the mules follow their noses and
straight home they went, where they
arrived in the morning, just as the little
Jew who kept the dry goods, was
taking down his shutters. Two days
afterward, Jane was heard to say, in
the dining-room of the Larue Hotel
"No; can't-I won't marry man
who knows less than a mule y
This little affair did not abate Oba.
diah's ardor in pursuit of wife, but
simply puzzled him for a day Or two.
He had a wandering, uncertain way
with him when off the scent but
qnickly anchored his affections upon
another, who looked to him no less
fair, no less desirable.
Kate Simmons was fair to look up
on and an excellent girl, but Of a deep
ly pious turn of mind which to Oba-
diah was something of an objection (;
for, good as he was, he had never
been to church in California-indeed,
he had scarcely any opportunity to 60,
since churches were few and minis
terial visits far between in small min
ing camps. However, he overcome
all scruples, and reasoned, as many a
man before him, that piety, after all,
is an essential thing in woman it
enables her to bear with much, and be
silent to the end. And here he hit on
a happy thought. 'If,' said he,
"there is any lack in me-any real
cause for so many refusals-may be
she with her Christian forbearance,
will overlook it" His first overture
took the form ola useful present /;
and, as he anticipated, so it came to
pass, that Katie did not forget her
profession of Christianity but accept
ed his gift-the precursor of so many
solid attentions, which, agreeable as
they proved, lacked that airy grace,
and delicate aroma, dearly priced by
the sex. In the town hall, at this
time, were held religious meetings, to
which he escorted Katie, not only to
please her, but his own soul had be-
come to HIM an object ofsome interest
The mild accent Of Katie's voice urg-
ing him to repentance and reform,
had not been without influence. AT
first he found it difficult to get in the
way of kneeling, rising, and setting in
their proper times but, with Katie
At his side to prompt he got on toler-
ably well. AT last the text was an.
bounced, and the minister began his
discourse in that sing-song tone pecu-
lar to those of the Methodist persua
zion. Obadiah, realizing his respect
able position lin church,) occupying a
'front.' seat, by the side of Katie, fell
INTO q train Of thought on his own &C
,ount-nothing very positive, but a
'ort Of dreamy speculation in regard
% his future. No one knows how
ong he would have gone on thus had
not the minister, who had warmed up
% his work, exclaimed, in stentorian
1oice, "Come, sinner-come to Jesus"