Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-20
NO.. 95.
AUNT MADELINE's CROSS.

Society of Friends, had keen eye for
beauty. While admitting that drab was .
sign of remuneration Of the worlds vani-
ties, delicate shades and warm, rich colors
had peculiar charm for him.
This was why his heart gave such leap
when he first saw Madeline West, the
school teacher. The delicate pink OF her
cheeks, thrown into relief by her luxuriant
tresses of jet, in which glowed the bril-
liant scarlet of the cardinal flower, the
graceful neck, with the bow of cherry rib.
bon at her throat, formed picture so rich
as to captivate the fancy Of Uncle Fred,
and throw ineo the background the charms
OF Deborah Rhoades and her prim poke Of
a bonnet.
Cousin Patience, a cousin of mothers
and Uncle Fred's, having no matrimonial
affairs OF her own to engage her attention,
and being past the age when such things
could reasonably be expected, NATURALLY
took lively interest in those Of others,
and often declared that she had looked the
meeting over and she didn't know Of .
more suitable person for Cousin Frederick
than Deborah Rhoades.
In truth. Deborah was looked upon as
member of great promise. She had taken
to wearing caps almost as plain a. grand
mothers and had several times been ap-
pointed on committees and as representa-
tive to the higher meetings.
Uncle Fred was carpenter, and my
widowed mother and myself, her only
child, lived with him and grandmother on
the old homestead. went to school to
Madeline West, and gem of teacher
she was, too. l am not sure that my en-
thusiastic encomiums did not first draw
Uncle Fred's attention to her.
One thing / soon learned. that she be-
came wonderfully patient about little ac-
cidents to the house and furniture, after
Uncle Fred made it point of duty to at-
tend to the repairs.
From the bottom of my heart believe
that this conscientious, drab-suited man
broke the windows and latches of that
schoolhouse himself, on purpose to have
the pleasure of repairing them, with pretty
Madeline West to look on the while.
was my uncle's own niece in one thing.
liked beauty, and Deborah Rhoades
squinted. Often aud often in school have
lifted my eyes from my book. and gazed
with delight on the beautiful face of Mad
cline West, the small, deer.like head
crowned with wreath of partridge ber-
ries or some brilliant wild flower. and
wondered how Uncle Fred could think for
moment OF squirting Deborah Rhoades.
One day l was studying my lessons in
the dining room when heard voices un-
der the window. Mother said something
which l did not understand. and Uncle
Fred replied with earnestness:
II tell thee. Catherine, Madeline West
is the best girl in the whole world"
Then I'd marry her for all anything"
returned mother, with heartiness to
which wanted to shout ''Amen."
In few weeks it was pretty generally
known that Frederick Moore and Madeline
West were TO be married. think that
grandmother secretly grieved at Uncle
Fred's detection In marrying "out of meet
ing" though she loved Madeline with all
her heart. They were married at onr
house, for Madeline was an orphan. and
supported herself by teaching school and
''boarding round among her pupils.
Many of the Friends commented grave
ly on my uncle's choice, shaking their
gray heads, yet getting lingering look at
the pretty bride. Cousin Joseph Moore,
brother of Cousin Patience. and a bach
elor of thirty five. was one Of the commit
tee appointed to deal with Uncle Fred for
marry ing against the rules of the society;
and he must have thought the offence .
very heinous one. for he made three single
visits on the business. besides the one with
the committee. each time staying full an
hour before he said word in private to
Uncle Fred.
Uncle Fred and Aunt Madeline. as
called her from the first, staid with US
few weeks while a long untenanted house,
about half a mile from us was getting
ready for them. And when they went to
housekeeping their house was wonder
of paradise. A marvellous carpet COW
cred the floor of their little parlor; white
curtains, tastefully looped with cherry rib
bons, gave an air of grace to the room /;
pair of delicate vases, an heirloom OF
Aunt Madeline's, stood upon the mantle,
and were always filled with some flower
or dropping vine; the white walls were
covered with wreaths of rich autumn
leaves, framed with acorn cups and pine
cones; and among all. gracing and crown
ing the whole, the pretty wife fitted like
some tropical bird, followed by the grave.
loving eyes of the sedate man who SEEM
ed to be in state of semi bewilderment
that all this grace and loveliness was his.
1t was wonderful how readily Aunt
Madeline adapted herself to the peculiar
ways OF the people among whom her lot
was cast how she toned down the little
gaieties that might have given offence.
and decked herself and her house In such
a way IS TO draw no disapproving COM
ment even from the most strict. Deborah
Rhoades said nothing, but. in less than
three months after the wedding. she put
on a new cap just Ike grandmother's.
and in few Sundays appeared In pub
lie" by making one of tho most fervent
and impressive prayers ever heard.
One day. after she had been married
some six months, Aunt Madeline let down
the luxuriant ringlets that, since her we'd
ding day, had been confined in comb !;
bound wreath OF partridge berries about
her head; pinned cherry ribbon at her
throat. and stood before the glass, re-
garding herself with girlish complaces-
cy, quite at varience with the mstron-
ly air she had worn of late an act 10
which she was detected BY Uncle Fred,