Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-25

Betsy's heart was set on the match Now,
If yon don like Il man. the fact that he
wants to marry you makes You dislike him
all the more. Moreover | did like some
body else. and | knew that he liked me.
That somebody was Lewis Howell. We
had been neiohbors always till father died.
and | think our love grew up with Us, for
don't remember when it began. All,
well, children, Lewis has been dead sixty
five years. The little oak sapling that
sprouted out of his grave over in Fairtown
burying ground is big tree now. 1t
can't be long before they lay me beside
him.
: Aunt Betsy did not like Lewis. She
said he was worldly and unsteady-tha
his father had been a soldier in the old
French War, and that Lewis was just like
him. Then Lewis wasn't Friend, but
went to the Episcopal church, for there
was one here then. Aunt Betsy would
never let me see him if she could help it.
and never would allow that we were en-
gagged. 1t was Just a boy and girl fancy.
she said, and would soon pass away. She
had an inward persuasion that she should
see me married to some steady Friend,
who was able to take care of me, and moi
to wild, worldly young man, who cared
more for fishing and shooting than for
anything else. Now when Aunt Betsy
had IN inward persuasion of anything, she
was mighty apt to bring it to pass, and
that was one reason why | disliked the
idea of going to live at Abrams. | WAS
determined to marry no one but Lewis. |
knew that he was neither wild nor world
ly, and that he was laying up money to
make a home for me, though he couldn't
lay it up very fast because he had to help
his father. who was lame and Il good deal
past his work. My father had always
loved Lewis, and well remember hearing
him say that he wouldn't want me to do
better than marry him. Aud then | did
SO despise Abiram
well, | thought it all over and tried to
get the best light could, and ut last
seemed to see my way clear. | would 60
with Aunt Betsy and help her get set
tied, and perhaps stay through the heft
of the summers work. and then, if
didn't find myself comfortable. | would
hire out to do either spinning or house
work. | wasn't Il bit afraid of making Il
good living. | could spin my days work
ii run and a half of warp or two runs OF
tilling-and get through by three o'clock,
and wasn't afraid to show my thread
either linen or WOODEN, besides anybody
/ in Greenwich"
/ You didn't do crochet work i'll those
days" remarked Violet who WAS making
4 dainty little blanket for some baby OF
other.
No. 1t wasn't the fashion, though VIC
/ did make mittcns and gloves with Il hook
too. But we had plenty Of nice pretty
work. ne ting ana kn0tting,-making tat
ing You call it, amt sprigging on muslin
and creWel work, and piecing hedquiltS
Well ~ | said, mtde up my mind that
would 20 with Aunt Betsy. h Il | wouldn'
I stay unless fouId it comfortable.
1t wasn't comfortable at all. Aunt
Betsy w;ls close enough, bat Ahir:tm Wa,
far worse. 1t was save, save, scrmp
scrimp, from morning till night. | wa>
fond of new milk fresh from the COW, and
| used to take a drink almost every night
but If Abiram saw me, You would think
had stolen five pounds by the fuss he made
He said there was skim-milk en- nrugh if
must have IT, and every drop Of new mill
robbed the churn of 80 much bitter.
suspect Aunt Betsy gave him Il hint "bou
shat, for he came along one night when
was milking. and told me he hoped
wouldn't mind what he said, but woul,
help myself To all wanted. After that
never touched it again, and took rea
dislike to it.
" But the scrimping wasn't the worst o
it by great deal. | began to feel like ;
! fly caught in II spiders web | coul,
hardly ever get chance to speak to Levi:
never alone-and Abiram was alwav:
in my way. hanging round and giving m,
presents and trying 10 make himself agree
able. Aunt Betsy watched me as Il ca
watches Il mouse, and by and by it begar
to be said about the village that | was en-
gagged to Abiram. | told Emma Parvin
who was my most intimate friend. to con
tradict it everywhere, and so she did; bu
a great many believed it. Even Lewis al
most began to doubt, because he never
could see me alone. About this time he
went across the creek, and took on will
James Whitecar, who had deal of stOcl
and horses. James did we'll by him. fo
Lewis was very knowing in such matters
and he began to lay up money. Well, o
conrse we saw less of each other than ever
but his going was an advantage in on,
way. Old tucle Jacob, IN old negro
used to paddle across and up and down tn
river, fishing. He was u good friend t,
both of us, and used to carry our letter
/, back and forth Then every morning a
Just such an hour Lewis used to wave hi
, handkerchief ont of his window and use,
to wave one out of mine. So we knew
that all was we'll
, Aunt Elizabeth had looked uneasy for
few minutes and us grandma paused t
: take mp Il stitch, she said mildly
= Some people would say, grandmother
> tbnt II of IN, hn Low
stories into the heads of these Young girls
Grandma looked up, and her still brigf
eyes winkled little
Elizabeth said she; does thee kno,
that the white kitten had her nose in tn
cream this morning?n
Yes, answered Aunt Elizabeth; "
saw her
Did thee show her the way to the milk
Elizabeth?"
, "No"' said Aunt Elizabeth. surprised.
+ On said grandma, Il didn't kno,
but some one had put it in her head
Aunt Elizabeth smiled, and went O
g with her hemstitching.
: - But there was another thing which ar
+. noyed me almost as much rs the love
making" continued grandma. 1t WI:
s as | said. in the year 1774-the year befor
5 the war. The whole country was stirre
, up against the British, and their unjust an
illeg taxations and other oppressions-
2 though | do think the bad manners an
Z arrogance of the British officers and gov
q ernors had almost rs much to do with til
=. business. The tax on tea had caused spt
/, cially hard feeling, and you know ho,
they served the cargo which was brougf
, Boston. When we got the news of til
D Boston tea party, rs it is got to be calle'
e there was IA good deal of division of opir
S ion. Most of the young men We're on til
!, patriot side, and SO were many of the ol
/ ones. but still those were not wanting VIII
d. called the business a shameful Outrage
| and stood up for the b itish through thic
: and thin. Abiram was one of these IN
: Aunt Betsy another, and they used
S abuse the patriots anil uphold the Britis
/ till they made my blood ftirly boil.
7 Well. one day, along in the last of o.
toher, Abiram said he was going to Phils