The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-07-16
a. UAPrENEp 80.

with bim upon sggb seemingly unaal.el
for eN,myagauoe at s8 lalo period iu
BIO. bul stephen had lleaecd all remarks
by saying quietly:
The cage will be a nice one, and old as
am may snare q bird to put in It, il l
cannot catch one.
And with carved work aud gliding was
finished what had been begun, and the
Jews mansion stood without a rival IN
the village
Yes, Stephen Dinghy was a jew, and
bad a Jews talent for money making, and
also a Jews talent for money keeping
The best store IN the village was bis, the
best house in the village was his, and,
aside from the wealth contained IN these,
Il was well known that he owned much
real estate and had a great deal Of money.
Mammas bad smiled approyiugly, aud
daughters bad sighed scntimentaliy st
him for thirty years, but be still remain
cd a bachelor Evidently there would
now be a change, TOR he certainly could
not intend to live alone in that grand
house, nor would be be liable TO let it
stand uutenanted and board out. Mrs,
Gnmshaw, the widow, reflected. Who
knows who il may be, she said suggest
lively, and bought her daughter Mehitable
a new dress, and herself new bonnet 49,
But Stephen Dinghy did not call. Sally
Porter, staid maiden lady, reflected, II
Is not impossible, said she suggestiyely,
and she arranged her false teeth and
false hair to perfection, and fixed over
her silver grey bombazine and wore it
every evening. But Stephen Dinghy did
not call.
In every family in town where there
were marriageable daughters the most
perfect order, neatuess and decorum pre-
vailed for six weeks, but Stephen Ding
by did not call. Meanwhile people talk
ed and wondered and gossiped again.
In little brown farm house far out of
the village dwelt Mrs. Grandson and
her daughter Martha. When Martha's
father died there had been heavy bills to
pay, and Mrs Grandson had been oblig-
ed to mortgage her little farm to Stephen
Dinghy in order TO procure money
Stephen had waited long, and Mrs,
Grandson had many times wondered at
his forboarance, for he was called hard
hearted, eXacting man, and frequently
she had been unable TO meet her pay
ments when due, though both herself and
Martha sold and picked berries and took
IN sewing to add to their little hoard of
money. The explanation, unlocked for
as it was surprising, came at last, One
bright beautiful autumn day, while Mrs.
Grandson had gone to pick blue berries
in the three acre lot, and Martha sat at
home sewing in the little sitting room,
Stephen Dingby's carriage stopped at the
door and from it Stephen himself alight-
ed. Martha quietly kept her scat until
she heard his knock at the door, then she
arose and opened it.
am very sorry, sir, she said, in reply
to his inquiry for Mrs. Grandson, but
mother is away, and will not return be-
fore noon.
Ii is just as well so, he answered, for
after all, Martha, my business relates
entirely to yourself, and perhaps it is
better that | should speak my mind to
you alone.
Martha bushed and trembled at the
earnestness of his tone, for she could not
guess what II foreboded. Perhaps Jacob
was in trouble, perhaps but she had no
time for further supposition, for her Wis
itor, at her invitation had already entered
the house, aud was seated in the chair
opposite the one occupied by herself
Sewing, eh, Martha? lac questioned
| Do you like 10 sew for living?
Oh, no, sir, not at the price we get
[ here, aud often think il it were not foI
/ leaving mother alone, would 20 to some
large city aud seek profitable employ
ment until our debts to you are paid.
Ahcm, ahem, said Mr.. Dinghy. Have
you seen my new house, Marthar
No sir, was the reply, but | have heard
OF its beauty; they say il is far the finest
house IN town.
They say rightly, then, for so it il, and
| intend that she who is TO bc mistress
I of il shall be the finest lady in town.
Then you are 10 be married, Mr.. Ding,
( byy
/ hope 50, II she whom Intend to ask
will marry me.
I've 10 doubt but that she win, sir
should suppose that the richest aud By
no means the worst man in town might
readily find a lady who would be willing
to be the mistress of the elegant mansion
How would you ike the position, Mar
I thaf
Me! exclaimed Martha, bcwildcred
surely, sir, you ate jcstiug. You NEAR
honsckcepet.
/ said mistress, aud lmcan wife. Mar
( tha, he added impressiVcly, ! came hcrl
to-day to ask you to be my wife.
+ am sorry for you then, for / cannot
accept your offer. love somebody else
/ Lowell Love somebody clscl wha
does a young pih like sou know abou
love, Marths2
+ know, said Martha, that IL l. by ~
TIC sweetest aud best Of an blessing
youchsafed as, and that whatever else 90
earthly lives may gain. ii thgy gain no
This, they are miserable
True, true, child, said stephen, softly
while a shade passed over bis features
Yonr experience has been better thar
mine Who tsneht gau thfs ola 0lt