Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-07-23

, Ger surging Of wind and wave,
Do You hear brave little singer,
Il Singing cheerful stave?
And tremulons prayer uplifted
To One who can succor and savet'
By the 1sherman's fire at midnight,
When chapter and prayer were read
He kissed the flushed little sleepers
And bore them alolt to bed;
| But he prayed, sGod bless thee, true heartr ~
With his hand on E1iie's head.
Gods grace on the vigilant watchers,
Who faithful in dark hours keepi
When the fathers supremest blessings
Move toward US Ger life's great deep.
'fis the few that are watching and waiting;
The many are fast asleep.
THE COUNTY FAIR.
Amanda Wheaton and Nell Eustis
were neighbors in the town of Briefly
Centre, both daughters of well-to-do
farmers. They had both been at South
Hadley together for fishing touch af-
ter the district school had done its best
for them, and Nell had learned, among
other things, to play few tunes on the
piano by means of mutual aptitude
for the fine arts; and since returning
home she had found time to look after
her fathers house and dairy, and by
teaching the district school summers
they never allowed that privilege to a
woman during the winter term-she
had laid up enough money to buy a
secondhand piano in the city. When
Nell showed Amanda the money, and
confided her Intentions to her, Amanda
had new sensation. Hitherto she had
always been ahead of Nell, so to speak.
Her black alpacas had been finer than
Nell's and had borne off the palm in
the matter of trimmings, her shawls
had always been more numerous and
more gorgeous, her bonnets more snowy.
her ribbons more frequent; for coun-
try girl, in short, she had invariably
ed the styles in Briefly Centre, and
she had done them credit with her
spaskling eyes and"rosy cheeks. But
now if Nell was to have piano, if she
was to learn to play on it, Amanda's
existence would be embittered beyond
a peradyenture. There was but one
piano in all Briefly Centre, and that
was up at old Squire Brierly's, and no.
body to open it from years end to
years end.
"Oh, dear sakes! Nell," said Amanda,
"what makes you think of wasting
your money on such foolishness rs a
piano, when you don't know how to
use it, either, and it'll take up such a
sight of room 20
"Oh, it'll just fit into the niche by the
chimney" said Nell, happy as a cricket
on the hearth; sand mean to learn to
use it-see if 1 DON'T"
81 don't see who'll teach you; and it
costs power of money"
"I've thought maybe Deacon Small
might give me some hints; he plays the
bass viol IN the choir, you know. And
then folks learn by themselves. I've
read about it-there's Mozart and
'Lor sakes!'' laughed Amanda. 81
s'pose you're Mozart, or seme of those
fellows who knew music by nature.
You amt vain nor anything, are you,
Nell?"
"Maybe l am," answered Nell, pleas
antly. ssOne can't get on with trifle
of vanity; it's sort of wholesome stuff,
after all that has been said about it,
though it's like homeopathic medicine
"a little goes a good ways. But any
way could play "Fisher's Hornpipe, ~
"Chorus Jig" and "Old Hundred" at
South Hadley. And thought it would
sort Of liven father up after the days
chores were done, to hear little music,
If 1t wasn't so fine, before the candles
are lit, between daylight and dark. It's
sociable like, little music is; and then
it would be all mandy for dance any
winters evening""
"What's that about winter evenings p,
asked Tom Briefly, the squire's son,and
the hero of the place, lounging in at
the open door with that familiar air
which made him welcome everywhere.
ga dance? I'll engage you for the first
cotillon, Nellie, shall I?'
ooh, dear, no." giggled Amanda. She
going to be the band herself"
''Mandy's laughing at me" explain
ed Nell, 'because Pm going w buy a
piano with my earnings"
'Let those laugh who win," cried
Tom, lightly. "We'll play Duets to-
gether, Nell.''
"Well, Pm no company for such fa-
nous musicians" said Amanda. sI
guess I'll be going home.'
"l'm going your way" said Tom,
rising.
-"Oh, so soon?" pleaded Nellie.
81 didn't think of stopping-I heard |
the music of your voices as came BY"
"It don't compare with the music |
Nell will make on her piano."
"Well, goodby, Nell. Let me know
when you're ready to begin that duet.
By-the-way, what shall it be-"The
rose that all are praising?" and then
he went off laughing with Amanda,
and left Nell looking after them with
hungry eyes. and heart heavy with
unspoken wishes. What happiness
would there be in the possession of a
piano, or the world, if Tom preferred
Amanda? And yet, who was she to
dream of taking the fancy of young
fellow ike Tom Brierly--she with her
pale face and serious eyes and plain
ways? The women of his family had
been used to rustic in stiff silks, and
shine in sheen of lace with sunshine
and powder tangled in their curls, and
rouge and smiles on their dimpled
cheeks; at least that was the story that
portraits told, hanging and growing
dusty in the great hall year after year.
1t was hardly likely that the heir of
such traditions would think of her; and
yet it was her day dream, her aspira-
tion, that some day he might-a pre-
sumptuous dream; but lie was always
so kind, and might not kindness crys-
talize into love any day? Amanda
with vivid colors and pretty confidence
and dashing ways, might beguile the
heart of a seraph, she iancied; and, at.
ter all, Tom was only young man,
with mans relish for warmth and