Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-03-11

preach against conformity to the world.
He was sincere, earnest man, and he
preached with all his might, emphasizing
and illustrating his words by pointing with
his blunt finger at the scarlet shawl and
pink roses. So if anybody had neg elected
to look at them before, they looked then.
Among those who were obedieut to the
ministerial fore6nger was Abnsr Stanton,
the village blacksmith.
Abner Stanton's heart was good deal
like his iron-not easily melted but
when it had once been hammered into
a shape, there it was, fixed and stead.fast.
And to-day Aunt Augusta's eyes went
through it like red-hot arrows as he recred
around at her from behind one Of the pill
lars in the gallery.
The next day he came to get a vest
made. The day after, he came to bring
the buttons for it; and the day after that
he thought, as he was gong by, he would
call and see if she had everything she
needed, and how soon the vest would be
done. 1t was not two days more before he
was there again to bring letter.
Il happened to see it at the post-Ofiice
when l went after nay paper, and so |
brought it along. l could as well as not, !"
said be.
The letter was from Sam Averil, tell
ing about the luck he had had in mining,
the weather, and the fact that he was
we'll. Nothing more; nothing about the
home he was building in his fancy, and
the figure that was always central in his
thoughts.
{" hope" said my uncle Nathan, "you
are not foolish enough to set your mind on
such rolling stance Sam Averill. lie
has no continuity to him"
elf We are going to hunt for a man
that has no faults in this world, we'll have
a long road Of it, returned Aunt Augusta,
bearing down the heavy preSsing-iron upon
her seam as though she were trying to
crush the life out of something.
In less than a week Abner Stanton
called again. He thought perhaps bliss
Augusta didn't know the swamp-pinks
were out, and so he brought her hand
ful that he got on the way over from
Cowesette.
Aunt Augusta had a weakness for fow'
ers-she and my mother arc alike about
that-and she put cluster of the boss
oms in her hair at once, and another at
her throat, while Abner Stanton looked
at her with admiration in every hair of
his head.
elf you were sister of mine, you
should always sit in rocking-chair and
wear swamp pinks !" said he.
"Abner Stanton is most excellent
man," quoth Uncle Nathan, when he had
gone his way, "an esquire and head man
in town. He's all wheat and no chaf.
He'll make first rate of husband, and
the girl who gets him will get prize"
Aunt Augusta made some fierce cllpp-
pings with her great tallor's shears, but
she said nothing, and presently went up
stairs to answer Sam Ave:ils letter.
The mex. day Abner Stanton called to
see Uncle Nathan on business, and she
sent her letter to the Office by him. So
the months drifted along one after another
like pictures IN a magic-lantcrn. Abner
Stanton came often ON one excuse or an
other, or on none. He brought flowers
and berries strung on grass, and sweet
Aag-root and birds eggs. He was never
lnstrusive with his love, but he made
Aunt Augusta conscious Of it every step
she walked and with every breath she
breathed. 1t was below her, above her,
and all around her. He often brought
her letters from Sam, aud carried hers for
him to the office.
"All things are fair in love-" said he
to himself. So now and then he forgot
to mail, or to deliver one, dropping it in
the fire instead. At last, as his love grew
hotter and more impatient, he kept them
book altogether, and still never allowed
Aunt Augusta to loose sight or thought
of himself.
Thus the time passed, until Sam Aver.
i'll having made and lost and made again
his twelve thousand dollars among the
copper mines. came home to marry Au.
gusta and settle down."
Suddenly one day he appeared before
my uncle Nathan, travel-worn aud brown
and shaggy. My uncle received him with
great oordiality.
"Sam, I'm glad to sec you p said he
"How have you Jared all this great long
time ?"
Fair to middling. Where's Augusta y
returned Sam.
"Oh, Augusta! She is all right. You
go to the tavarn and fix up, and III find