The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-10-12
Forty Pairs of Stockings.

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and given to him in care for the Winter
Mission, which supplies warm clothing tc
the suffering | have written my thanks
on the paper on which the worsted is
wound, and hope one OF my neices will be
willing to do so much for a poor old wo
man who wants to do what little good she
can The worsted will knit forty pairs Of
Stockings
How absurdr cried Miss Becky. And
did you see the ball p
It's the most immense thing said Miss
Hannah. We'll, poor Grandma Skitlmorc
was always good to US. OF course, we'll
do what she asks us
Knit forty pairs Of stockings p screamed
Miss Patty.
The idea = cried Miss Jane.
4 never heard anything so ridiculous as
that remark, Hannah Foster, sneered Miss
Becky.
We'll, then,' said Hannah, IN do it
myself shouldn't like to disregard poor
grandmas last wishes
She was SO polite to YOU, YOU know ;
said Jane,
She said that | was the plainest one of
the lot said Hannah, but very likely it
was true. At all events, she liked my
ginger bread
Liked her ginger bread = cried Jane
Becky, | believe ones name has an in
iluence on ones life and actions She re-
loices in her gingerbread, and is happy in
knitting forty pairs Of blue worsted stock
ings.'
'Oh, you needn't complain cried her
cousin. Its bad enough to be Hannah
and Lana hrIt 70
Patty
The Misses Linn and the Misses Foster
were cousins. Their parents had never
been rich, and had all died young, but
not before they had impressed on the
minds Of their children that Grandma
Skldmore was Il relative of whom great
things were to be expected.
AS each was born she had sent her COM
mands as to its christening to its parents.
Hannah, Patty, Becky, and Jane, all owed
their names to her. and considered them
selves somewhat i'll used in being cut Oft
from so many that were pretty, elegant,
and fashionable However, the hope of
the legacy which was sllre to come some
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them that they had not the charms sift' f{au
hoped their descent would insure them,
and that Hannah was the plainest of the
lot. However, when she went home she
gave them each & new dress and {; dozen
pocket handkerchiets, and declared that
Hannah's ginger bread was better than
she could make herself. And when she
died they had all been sent for to hear the
reading of her will. 1t was an expensive
Journey and Il fatiguing one, and Hannah
had been sent to represent the others
Hannah, the eldest, hopelessly turned
thirty, who had II plain face and a sub
dued manner, and SO little spirit that she
had declared that she did not care in the
least about being named Hannah Any
thing unpleasant which was necessary to
be done in that household of four had al
WAYS been done by Hannah, from time
immemoral.
Now, having brought home that great
ball of worsted-worsted enough to knit
forty pairs of stockings-rolled up in one
immense sphere, she had her task before
her. and in the intervals Of cooking, dust
ing and mendng, she worked at it faith
fully Also, when each pair was done,
she carried it to the Rev. Mr.. -, and
left it in his charge for the .Iinter Mission.
1T was poor grandma's WISH she eN-
planned She desired to knit these stock
ings and she asked me to do as | am do
ing. | suppose it seems odd
But the good clergyman did not think
it was odd and told Hannah So He was
Il grave middle-aged man, but Hannah
liked him. and there was much pleasant
talk during these little visits. When at
last, the ball was nearly knit away Han
nah felt that she would miss them very
much 1t was with quite a sad heart that
she felt the last stitches slip over the
needles
Il shall never see him again, she said
sIIe certainly never will care to trouble
himself about seeing the plainest of the
| lot Well Grandma, your stockings are
done, and have some pleasant memories
| for them
As she spoke, the long fold of stiff paper
on which the ball had been wrapped tel
upon the floor,
And Your thanks are written here, sale
Hannah Twill read them when | come
back, and she put the paper into her let
ter-holder Her time was full, and SHE
had need to make haste, if she would see
the clergyman before he left the little Of
flee Of the Winter Mission
Poor Hannah's heart was very full wher
feelings such as those that had lately come
to her came when carly girlhood is long
past, they are not lightly to be put aside
When She entered the office and saw the
face she liked SO well-though most wo
men might have cared little to look upol
it-she had need to be very brave, but sht
said her few words calmly, and woul(
have uttered good-by as calmly, wher
something happened that rendered he1
mute with astonishment. The clergyman
had taken her hand as in adieu, but in
stead of dropping it he kept it, and sud
denly inclosed it in both of his
i cannot bear to let you go thus hi
said You may think me odd, very pre-
sumptuous-I am a strange man, | be
lieve-but like you so. you could lik'
me as well-not that expect that but
suppose YOU understand me-could yol
make up your mind to be my wfeP'
Hannah was always very much ashamed
of it, but by way of answer she quietl,
tainted away
In the cleaning two people walked to
gether, arm in arm, toward Hannah
home. And on Hannah's finger was
plain, old-fashioned ring, that had bee1
her lovers mothers wedding ring. Man.
glittering, begemmed circlet is less wor
thy of typifying such sacred promise q
each had given the other that day, as tina
worn bit of pure gold with the gravel
motto, Until death do us part within il
At the door they said good-by until til
morrow. There was great excitement i
the little house as Hannah entered
Why, Hannah, where have you been
cried one girl.
How mean to 60 off without telling us
cried another.
i don't see how l could tell when di
not know until an hour ago. said Hannah
why. how red your cheeks are AM
you've got ring that | never saw before