The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-26
DEBBY'S WEDDING.


Rokthy Rokthy Wake up and
thee how the thnow fallth, can't thee ??
No need for little Tommy to call SO
vigorously from his truckle-be in the
room next the one occupied by his two
sisters, Deborah and Roxana. Roxy
had been reused some minutes by
Debb's pleasant FLASHING of water be-
hind the screen. Now she leaned upon
her elbow in bed, gazing dolefully out
upon the snow, which had been falling
for the past two hours.
go Debby /" she cried, without an
swering Tommy's summons. "What
will thee do if it keeps on showing ?"
go, guess it will be clear before
ten, and then the folks will have mer-
ry time going to meeting in sleighs."
"But if it SHOWS all day, thy new
bonnet and cloak will be ruined,
Debby."
"Then Caleb will have to buy me a
new suit when we get to the city, if I
spoil one in his service" replied the
elder sister laughing.
Roxy removed her upholding arm
from beneath her round cheek, and sank
back against the pillows. Those few
words, "When we get to the city,"
had brought as in flash to her mind
the reflection that she was about to be
parted from this dear, kind elder sister.
The past few weeks had been SO filed
with the hustle of preparation for the
great event of this day, that little time
had been given to thinking of the COM
ing separation.
A hard knot rose in Roxy's throat,
and thick film blinded her eyes, as
1, the vision came to her of what the farm
house would be without "our Debby"
fitting round like a sweet gentle fairy,
restoring order with touch and good
temper with pleasant word.
Roxy almost hated Caleb Dawson, as
she reflected that he was to gain all that
they must miss.
"Come, Roxy DEAR" said Debby,
appearing from behind the screen, rub
ing her pink cheeks into brilliant
scarlet, "'tis almost breakfast time,
and thee should be nearly dressed by
this time. But what ails thee, dear
child /? Thee's not crying for the snow,
l hope. Tut, tut never mind"
Roxy tried to sob out an answer, but
soft hand caressingly on her wrinkled
brow, that she managed to gasp, "It is
not that, Debby, but-but-thee's 60
ing to leave the valley-and ho-ome
and ALL, and thee'll forget all about
us, and only care for Caleb Dawson. L
wish he had never come to the valley,
so do. Tommy and used to think
it fun to watch him fidget about till
thee came down stairs, and we used to
laugh to see you look so fond of each
other, and sidle so close together but
now only seem to think of thy going
away, and how bad we'll feel without
thee, o Debby p and Roxy seized her
sisters hand convulsively, can't thee
stay with us? Just change thy mind
for once"
A cloud family shadowed Debby's
sunny face for q moment, but was sue
ceeded by smile, as she replied, gent
ly and firmly, I" thee knows it is too
late for that now, Roxy, even if 1
wanted to change. But Caleb and
could not be happy unless we were to-
gether. We do not mean ever to forget
the valley, nor any of the dear folks.
We shall often run down to visit the
farm, and when We get nicely settled in
the city, thee shall come up to pay us a
good long visit, Roxy dear. The love
we bear to each other would be poor in.
deed, if it did not deepen the love we
have for others instead of lessening it."
Debby bent and kissed her little
sisters warm hand, gratifed with the
affection, yet panied that Roxy should
think her capable of forgetting home
amidst her new ties.
''It ith all nonthenth, Rokthy," called
little Tommy from the next room, "thy
wanting Debby to back down at thith
time of day. Why, sheth pathed meet
ing, don't thee know? Let me thee,
what wath it she thaid? o yeth,- my
own inclination, new thituation, inten-
tion-Caleb Dawthon."
Even crying Roxy had to laugh at
this version of her sisters passing
meeting What her sister really had
said ON the preceding First Day in the
Friends meeting house at Exton was
with Divine permission and Friends
appreciation, it is my intention to marry
Caleb Dawson" Caleb had previously
repeated the same formulary, except
that of course he said, Deborah Pan
coast, where she said Caleb Dawson
Roxy's laugh at Tommy's mistake so
far restored her composure that she
jumped out of bed and hastily COM
menced her dressing operation.
Some time before the hour to start
for meeting came, an idea entered
Roxy's little head, which, instead of
being dutifully expelled, was allowed
to remain until it had grown so large
that it was impossible to rid herself of
it. Why could she not go up to the
city in the same train with her sister,
not discovering herself to the newly
married pair until the end of the Jour
ney, when it would be too late to send
her back She had a whole dollar of
her Own, which would surely be enough