Connecticut western news., 1874-04-17
THE JUNKET AT THE SOUIRE,S

There was just three of us, Thank.
 ful, Keturah and Jerusha. I was Jeru.
 sha, and mother often said if there had
 been but two she couldn't have got
 along, for Thankful wove, Keturah
 spun and I helped her about the house.
 work and getting wool and flax ready
 for their use; and if there had been
 four of us one must have been idle. and
 mother abhorred idleness.
 Maybe you think you know what
 summing and weaving are, but vol,
 would change your mind if you had
 seen Thankful's and Keturah's work. Such webs of toweling and tablecloths. all ot the handsomest patterns, flowers and diamonds and stars, your snow drops don't compare with them, and the counterplns (Grandma meant counter p0nes) and blankets, and cloth for the family wear-but dear me I can't tell you half the things Thankful wove and Keturah spun. I don't know but there is as much work done now as there used to be, but it's of a different kind. Now it is riding, walking, and fixing up for callers, and going to the opera, balls and concerts with the beaux. But beaux were as plenty in those days as
 Ao"' JoS s'Ao P1ouOloE, TOT then W1VeS were a help instead of expense; and where now a man cannot afford to mar ry, then he could not afford to remain single.
 We used to call young men sparks. l can't tell why, unless because they made flame ill the girls cheeks.
 Jerusha was what would be called now hirt. She had lots of sparks and dreadful life she led them, encourag- ing one moment and frowning the next. She was full of fun but dignified when occasion required. She liked Ephraim Williams best of all, but she was very careful not to let him know 1t.
 But Thankful was different. She was calm and gentle, and never cared for any one but Jabez Arden, nor ap- peared to.
 They kept company for a long time and never had but one falling out that know of, and that was just before Squire Doolittle's Junket.
 l remember we'll the day and all about it, for it was my first party, as girls say now, and I was half crazy with excitement, for Abel had promised to take me and was to wear a white dress just like my sisters. They had been out bleaching and were just as white as the snow. They were woven of linen and shone like satin when they were ironed. I don't just remember what there was to do besides, and as I can remember everything else we'll enough think it must have been deal as it is now, more fuss thar fixing and more worry than work. At any rate mother said we need not do our tasks that day. and 1t was late for breakfast when Jabez came in, but we were at the table.
 "How do you do ?" said father, '' stinging cold ain't it |? Won't you set mp and take bite ?"
 Jabez.
 .'Do set up," said mother, "I hain't got anything fit to eat, but maybe you can make out if you try"
 After good deal ot urging Jabez lrew up and father heaped his plate. and mother said as she passed the rye cakes and biscuit, "They ain't nothing like so good as your mothers, Jabez."
 . "But Jabez said they were the best he ever eat. What are you smiling at child P It was considered good man. 1ers then to say you hadn't anything 1t to eat, and for the other company to praise it, and Jabez was always very polite to our house and mother thought | 1im "proper nice."
 They talked about threshing and sled | ling and his mothers rheumatiz, so it | vas some time before he got chance 5o ask if we were going at the Junket 70 Squire Doolittle's.
 don't know what possessed me to | 10 as ] did, but said right off, "Yes, we are all going. I am going with Abel, and Keturah is going with Eph- calm, ii she don't change her mind, and 5ilas Deane has asked Thankful.
 So he had, but Thankful refused be- cause she expected to go with Jabez, lnd knew it as we'll as any one, only liked mischief.
 The girls looked mad and so did Jabez when mentioned Silas, because 5ilas wanted Thankful and of course | Jabez was jealous and he took it that 'he had promised to go with Silas and 70 never asked her himself.
 Father scolded and Keturah said I | ought to be made to stay at home to | punish me, but Thankful never said | word, only I knew she felt badly. When got chance so Keturah would | 1ot see me, told her I was sorry. She 'aid it wasn't any matter.
 Silas heard somehow that she was 1ot going with Jabez, and so he asked | Ter again, and Thankful said eyes" 7" his time. She didn't seem to care lbout going, but she was very anxious % look well. I didn't understand it, put she was beautiful when she was 1ressed for the party. Her gown, as told you before, shone like satin, md the stars woven on it seemed to ! U supposa Yon think fhav