Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-10-05

0IOEc AuCW wueGo W ~ uOst.
Heaven bless Mr.. Baker for those kind
words" responded Polly. giving her father
another hearty kiss IS she unwound the
wooden comforter encircling his neck.
Then, after . pause, she asked. Does not
that make ninety pounds you have paid ?
Yes. ninety pounds. It's q good deal
amt it3 All saved, too, by you and me.
Polly
% father. don't do much to Il. nyou
weren't to deprive yourself uf comforts,
why, We shouldn't have paid OF twenty Of
| it.
Don't say that, Polly. If 1t was not for
your earnings. how could put my wages
into the savings bank. as l do nearly ev-
cry month";
We'll, daddy dear, you know It's only
you I've got to live for said the girl arch
| ly.
| Whats that Tou sayT replied old Abel,
highly pleased with hs daughters remark.
but determined not to be hoodwinked.
How about Tom Smith! Dye mean to
say you don't care for him2
Hush. don't speak so loud.
Polly blushed and halt looked frightened
toward that corner Of the room where the
big bureau cast its shadow.
why, there's nobody can hear
Yes, father, the children might and
children sometimes make lot Of mis- schief'
observed that little wiseacre. Polly. Then,
with a desperate intent on OF changing the
subject, she said. Y on must have great
coat this winter, or you are sure 10 have
the rheumatics. as you had 'em last year.
Oh. | saw q beauty 10 the Horseferry road
| to-night-so thick, with nice warm lining
inside, and the price only eighteen shillngs.
Secondhand, of course. but almost as good
! as new
OIL think can do without 1t this year
Let's save the eighteen snillings. and send
it to Mr.. Baker junior
No. ! shan't allow anything Of the sort.
I'm just as anxious as yos a.e to pay our
debts. but I'd rather work my fingers to
the bones than that you should suffer an
| other year as you did last
And | too added strong manly voice
which seemed to issue from Mr.. Webb's
sle-plng-place.
Polly gave = shrek. then burst into b
ringing laugh that seemed to fill the room
with joyous harmony. like the sound of
bells upou frosty night; and Abel, turn
Ing suddenly in his chair. saw the burly
form Of Tom Smith emerge from the du.ky
| corner.
Halo. .Tomy shouted Abel. so you've
been listening. Well, luckily. you amt
heard no secrets. | suppose you are one
OF those children that makes mischief, as
Polly says
This retaliation upon his daughter struck
Webb as such ma extraordinary master
! piece Of witticism that he fairly roared
| with laughter. BY and bye Tom Smith
| roared too; and when he had had his
laugh out. finding that Abers attention
| was still engrossed by the wondrous joke,
seized the opportunity 10 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 sil-
| ly.'
Wen. what brings you here inquired
Abel, whose laugh had now subsidized into
giggle, and winking At his young friend.
| why, father. he saw me home. and
| brought the cucumbers for pt.so.,'
MY stars. that's beauty! I'm much
Obliged to you, Tom, for there's nothing
| Ike better. Some people says cowcnn-
bers aiut good, that you ought 10 peel en-
nicely and then fling EN- out the window;
but takcn with a little Of ihe rind on. a bit
of injun, and lots Of pepper, don't think
there's mcuh harm in em-leastways they
don't harm me- And apparently cncum-
bers were thoroughly innocuous to Mr..
Webb. who speedily drew his chair up to
the table, and began to ply his knife and
| fork with q will.
| I'll his old friend had completed his repast
and then explained the object OF his visit
| Polly, who was busy clearing the supper
| table. wanted to leave the room, but her
betrothed wouldn't hear of such q thing
and by and by that gallant swain exercis-
| ed his influence with such IN arkad success
| that, all a-glow with bushes, she was in
duced to take seat upon the foot-stool
between the two men, of whom it would
be hard to say which loved her best.
You know, Mr.. Webb, Polly and have
been counting long time, nigh upon
eighteen months. and we're beginning to
think that is, I'm beginning to think"Qhis
alienation 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-room. My salary, as you
know. is at present ESQ year and live
on the premises. Now think If was to
tell Loostring the facts Of the case, and
that wanted to live away. he'd give me
| fl30. Now aint that enough to get mar
ried on, and have you any objection to
Polly and being married at once2"
Here Tom Smith paused, not because he
hsd exhausted his subject, but for the
! reason that be WAS out OF breath.
Then Polly took up the parable. Slid
ing her stool to her fathers side and rest
ing her head upon his kuee, she said trem-
blingly:
Don't think. daddy dear, that my being
married will make and difference to you
and me- for you are TO come and live with
Us; eh. Tom?"
Mr.. Smith. thus appealed to, vowed
that his fsther-in-laws residence with
them was considered quite q settled matter.
IS 10 truth II was.
A tear stood in old Abel's eye, and his
voice quivered with emotion as, laying
aside his pipe and taking his daughters
hand lovingly within his own, he said:
Tom Smith, know you to be . true
and honest fellow. There is no msn upon
the face ofthis earth y U,ld more desire to
call my son in-lxw; but before | give con-
sent to your marriage must tell you of
something that may perhaps cause you
to draw back"
Tom WAS about to speak when Abel. In
trembling accents. resumed:
If you both had been content to wait few
years what am about TO tell might never
have been known to either Of you.
was still a young p,an when first entered
Baker Bakers warehouse; you, Polly,
were three years old, but your brother
Sam was eleven or more. He used some.
times to bring Te my meals At the drug
warehouse, aud once or twiA Mr.. Baker
, the old man I'm speaking Of nOw-tOOk
notice Of him. As was bit Of . favorite,
be used to say to me, Now Abel. when
that boys old enough, I'll take him into
, the counting house If you like" II
. would like treasured those words, and
, your mother and myself did all We coult
In the way ofsending him to school and
such like, so A. he should be ct when Mr.
. Bakerwanted him. Oh. how we loved thai
boy ! how proudly We watched him grow
up. and what hopes we formed Of him
Sam seemed . steady. industrious lad
2 enough, and for . time he certainly gave
\ great satisfaction in the counting-housa
He WAS then seventeen; and Is handsome
. fellow IS wish to see. though I'm hi.
/ father IS says 1t. He was = geneal favor
! ite In the Office. and at last got trusted tt
e collect some Of the debts due to the frm
. About this time there came = suddel
/ change in his habits and appearance whic
alarmed me aud his mother very much
e He got tn keeping late hours, made som
= bad acquaintances, and began 70 dres
Z extravagsntly. 1t was no use our cat