The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-10-21

father another hearty kiss as she unwount
the wooden comforter encrcling his neck
Then, after pause, she asked; "Doe
. not that make ninety pounds you havt
paid 2"
"Yes, ninety pounds. It's good deal
amt it7 All saved, oo,by you and me
Polly"
20 father, don't do much 10 it.
you weren't to deprive youselI of comforts
why, we shouldn't have paid off twenty o.
it,"
"Dor't say that, Polly. If it was no
for your earnings, how could put mJ
, wages into the savings bank, as do near
ly every month 2"
r "Wcll, daddy dear, you know it's only
you I've got to live for" said the CIR
archly.
"Whats that you say ?" replied old
, Abel, highly pleased with his daughters
: remark, but determined not to bo hood.
winked. "How about Tom Smith Dye
mean to say you don't care for him ?"
f "Hush Don't speak SO loud"
Polly blushed, and looked half fright.
ened toward that corner OF the room
where the big bureau cast its shadow.
why, there's nobody can hear"
eyes, father, the children might and
children sometimes make lot of mis-
chief" observed that little wiseacre, Polly.
Then. with desperate intention Of chang
ing the subject, she said; You must
have grcat-coat or you are sure to have
the rhcumatics, as you had en- last year.
Oh, saw beauty in the Horseierry
road to night-so thick. with nice, warm
lining inside, and the price only eighteen
shillings Second hand, Of course, but al.
most as good as new"
ooh, think | can do without it, this
year. Let's save the eighteen shillipgs
and send it to Mr.. Baker, junior"
mo, l shan't allow anything of the
SORT I'm just as anxious as you are to
pay our debts, but I'd rather work my
fingers to the bones than that you should
suffer another year as you did last"
"And |, too," added q strong manly
voice, which seemed to issue from Mr..
Webb's sleeping.place
Polly gave a shrek, then burst into q
ringing laughing that seemed to fill the
room with joyous harmony, like the sound
oil bells upon a frosty night; and Abel,
turning suddenly in his chair, saw the
burly form Of Tom Smith emerge from
the du,ky corner.
"Hallo, Tom ~ shouted Abel. 80
you've been listening Well luckily, you
amt heard no secrets. l suppose you
are one of those children shat makes mis-.
chief, as Polly says"
This retaliation upon his daughter
struck Webb as such an extraordinary
masterpiece of witticism that he fairly
roared with laughter. BY and by, Tom
Smith roared. too; and when be had had
his laugh out, finding that Abel's atten-
tion was still engrossed by the wondrous
joke, seized the opportunity to throw his
arms around Polly's waist, at which the
damsel, who did not like being laughed
at, told the devoted lover TO "a.done and
not be so silly"
well, what brings you here? ?" in
quired Abel, whose laogh had now sub.
sided into giggle, and winking at his
young friend
"Why, father, he saw me home, and
brought the cucumber for present"
MY stars, that's beauty I'm
much Obliged to you, Tom, for there's
nothing l like better Some people says
cucumbers amt good, that you ought to
peel them nicely. and then fling 'em out
OF the window but taken with a little
rind on, a bit Of ingun, and lots of pepper
l don't think there's much harm in EN-
leastways they don't harm me-" And
apparently cucumbers were thoroughly
innocuous to Mr.. Webb, who speedily
drew his chair up TO the table, and begun
to ply his knife and fork with will.
Mr.. Tom Smith considerably waited
until his old friend had completed bis re.
past, and then explained the object of his
visit.
"You know, Mr. Webb, Polly and |
have been courting a long time, nigh upon
eighteen months, and we're beginning to
think-that is. I'm beginning to think"
(this alteration in response to q protest
from Polly)-"it's time we got married.
| don't like to see her wearing her young
life out in our hot work.rooms. My sal
ary, as you know,is at present $50 a year
and | live on the premises. Now | think
if l was to tell Loosiring the facts Of the
case, and that | wanted to live away, he'd
give me fl30. Now amt that enough
to get married on. and have you any Oh.
lection to Polly and | being married at
once 7"
Hero Tom Smith paused. not becasue
he had exhausted his subject, but for the
reason that he was out of breath. Then
Polly took up the parable. Sliding her
stool to her fathers side and resting her
head upon his knee, she said tremblingly
Don't think daddy dear. that my be- !
ing married will make any difference to /
you and me, for you are to come and live
with US; eh, Tom ?"
Mr. Smith thus appealed to. vowed
that bis fathor.in.lsw's residence with
them was considered quite settled mat.
ter, as in truth it was. A tear stood in |
old Abel's eye. and his voice quivered
with emotion as, laying aside his pipe and
taking his daug ghter's hand lovingly within
his own, he said -
tom Smith, know you to be true
and honest follow. There is no man upon
the face Of the earth l would more desire
10 call my son.in.law but before give
my consent to your marriage 1 must tell
you something that may perhaps cause
you to draw back"
Tom was about to speak, when Abel
in trembling accents resumed -
''If you'd both been content to wait a
few years, what l am about to tell might
never have been known to either Of you.
l was still young man when | entered