The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-07-01
She That Was Patience Hitchins

A>atuic seemed IuSJ ready 10 IalnG, ana SO
did Mrs. Moscly, when from her chamber
window She spied Patience IIitchins sigh
ING on the door-stone. 1t was bad enough
that oppressive day to discover mould in
the cake-chest and a blight on the cherry
trees; but to see the mould and blight,
embodied in Miss Patience, crossing ones
threshold, was great deal worse; and
Mrs. Mosely was heard by her kitten to
say that she "should give up
On second thought, however. she did no
such thing but possessing herself of the
camphor bottle and touching look of
resignation, descended to find her guest
seated on the lower stair, wearily tan
ming herself with her pocket handkerchief,
which it was Miss Hitchins habit to hoist
rs signal Of distress when suffering from
an attack She laid it now across her
chest, and mutely folded her hands above
it while waiting for her breath to over
take her Sitting bolt upright against the
balusters, with her veil over her face, she
| looked, IN her striped gown, not unlike
the dlgnlied flower known as Jack in
the-pulplt," If Il mature maiden of forty
might be likened to any of the floral
creation.
1t may be, with her closed eyes, she
seemed to Daniel kilgore like the Sleep
ing Beauty OF his dreams. for he gaZed at
her through the doorway. with mouth
agape, for iull minute before he remenl-
bered to ask Mrs. Mosely where he should
set ont ''that ere rhubarbn
con. wherever you can find room,' she
said, too intent on reviying Miss Patience
to pay much heed to her hired man, who
stood watching her rs she removed her
visitors's bonnet and Sprinhled her face
with camphor.
| "She doesn't seem to come to. Shan't |
| lay her on the lounge" said he, compass
sionately, advancing toward Miss Patience
with arms extended
"No. no." cried Miss Iiitchins, ..com-
ING to'' precipltately, and waving him
back trantically with her back-mittcd
hands. ITS gone now. It's nv heart y
Daniel looked as aghast as though She
had made a tender confession while Miss
Patience, rocking back and forth iii her
own arms, proceeded to pity herself audi
bly,
This is nothing to the turns have
sometimes. There are hours upon hours
when | am 50 distressed | don't know
whether I'm in this world or the next.
But I'm better than deserve to be, and
feel to be thankful that | am rs we'll as
what am.'
on don't say soN calculated Daniel,
rather awkwnlly.
Not that it would matter much if |
was to die beings lone woman So" sighed
Miss Patience.
"perhaps it would be rs we'll to plant
those roots before the sun gets hotter"
suggested Mrs Mosely, opportunely; and
Daniel retreated, his honest face aglow
with sympathy
"She looks pindlin', that's 4 fact"
thought he, tcndery stroking a wlted
rhubarb leaf; ''seems to need chirking mp,
| wonder who She is, and Why She isn't
somebody Y For Daniels bachelor in-
stincts assured him ut the first that Miss
Ilitchins was u spinstcr
Had he lived long at Quigsby, he would
have known also that she was Il homeless
orphan, with u crushing legacy OF hypo-
chon'ria, spending her life in an eternal
round of visiting. She settled down like
4 dreary fog in the various homes into
which she came; vet every body spoke
we'll of her for her Kind heart was brimtl
of sympathy for the rest OF humanity as
for herself.
She and Mrs. Moscly coming down the
gravel walk, presently found Daniel seat
el on the wheel barrow musing.
elm studying out a place for that rhll-
barb he explained, "rskiv his eyes on
Patience.
Now it isn't to be supposed for 4 mo-
ment that Daniel was mdulging in 4
figure of Speech in which "rhubarb'
stood for Miss llitchins;' but it is never
theless certain that at the very moment Of
their approach he was thinking, II wish
had a home to take that poor creature
to-" tur, by her own statement, Patience
was 4 ''lone woman" and Daniels heart
always soitened toward such.
In many respects that organ was like u e.
winter "Baldwin;" it was sound at the
core, it was always aglow, repeated bruises
made ii more mellow. Consequently Dan
iel ''dropped into' love, as readily as >ias
Wegg dropped into poetry, and it had
long been h's earnest desire ITO settle
down." as he expressed it, carrying out
the poetic figure in which he spoke of him
self in his bachelor life, aS Il 'bird on Il
wing"
But unfortunately, ladies were not
fascinated by Daniel! "He was well
enough they said; but they all wanted
to let we'll enough alone; and besides, he
really couldn't afford to light the hymenial
torch now, with fuel so dear, and such
tax on matches. 1t is a melancholy fact
that Daniels very susceptibility had been
the cause OF his poverty. 1t must be con-
iessed that his irascble old father had
never believed in love-or if he ever had,
Daniels mother had shaken his faith
and he had no patience with his sons in
durable heartburn. But his railery, scold-
ING, and downright anger We're alike in
vain. Daniel wrote love sonnets under
his fathers very eyes. and drained his own
purse in paying the travelling expenses of
his marriage proposals, with u persistency
which is beyond all praise. when we con
slider the disheartening retusals which ney-
eli failed to come by return mail
This state of affairs could not last al
ways AS Daniel grew softer, his father
grew harder, till one fatal night exasper-
ated beyond measure at the then object of
his sons atfection-a country miliner who
couldn't make bread-he willed his snug
little farm TO Il widowed sister, .vowing
that not u cent Of his property should be
used lor the support OF that doll with
cruel act but the old man was rendered
sptelul by a week of sleeplcss nights, in
which Daniel had given vent to his tumul-
tuous emotion in practlcing "Ossian's Sere
made" and 1.-The Lone, Starry Hours, on
a cracked flute
Soon after Daniel was dsinherited, the
milliner discovered that she "had not
known her own mind" and. the month
following, Mr.. kilgore the elder settled
his last remaining obligation-the debt of
nature-leaving his only son bruised in
heart and bereft of fortune. For few
days Daniels flute walled forth the most
doletul tunes, among which could be dis
tinguished, ''I'll hang my harp on the will
lowtree,' and, GAS on some lonely build
ing's tops" but gradually it glided into
llvelier airs, till finally taking up the costa
eulogy of esquire Jones's Daughter" it
thus proclaimed its owners restoration to
his usual health and spirits.
Then, hearing that work was plenty
1l.,.. 4 4