Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-10
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Judge Not,

Mr.. Preston was very proud man. Every
one in town called him proud, aud so it was
a well accepted truth that no one thought OF
disputiRg and of course it was the case, for
what everybody says is true must be the
truth, and Jennie Preston they said was just
like her father, which meant that the little,
merry, seventeen-year-old daughter of Abb.
jah Preston was proud dsagreeable girl.
How any one could say it of her was mys-
terry, but they did say it, and the rest Of the
world believed it; and so people stunned
her, aud in lack Of other companionship she
grew more fond of her books, her flowers,
and her father, and never mingled in the
gatherings, picnics, parties, and other frolics,
for which the young folks Of Summerville
were celebrated.
Her father was her impersonation Of all
goodness, aud that he said thing was right
and proper was sufficient reason for her to
receive and practice what he commended.
Mr.. Preston's home had descended from
and the founder of the family had emigrated
from England in the time honored Mayfower,
and he, like many of his companions, had left
luxurious home aud titled inheritance to seek
in the new world Freedom to worship God. ;
Perhaps his descendant, the present inheritOr
of the name and estate of Preston, may have
sometimes felt that the blood that had flowed
in his veins was little buer, and more gen.
tie than that of his neighbors, but when he
chose his wife, he won from the home Of the
village minister the eldest daughter, he did
not stop to think whether she was his equal
in birth or fortune, but married her because
she was the sweetest, blithest little maiden
in the whole town, and he loved her the best
And Mrs. Preston was an honored wife anG
mother, and beloved by all her toWnspeople
and when the bell tolled out the knell fol
her death, it was q sudden shock that vi
brated through the whole community, anC
for few hours seemed to palsy every heart
and when the suddeness of the blow left then
time to think and act, their sympathies were
all called forth in behalf Of the boreaVed hus.
band and children, especially for the BABY
girl who had scarcely opened her eyes in
life before those of her mother were closed
in death. Five sturdy boys looked with sOr,
rOwlul tenderness upon the the tiny bundle
Of babyhood, which had cost them mother
life, and the blue eyes which flashed int
theirs as they pressed the sOftest Of klsss
upon her velvet cheeks, sent love CLEAN
into their hearts, and they each, from tn
stalwart Abjah Of twenty years to the ten
year-old Win, became the devoted slave Q
the baby girl who proved the exact counter
part of the dear dead mother, whom the.
sadly laid to rest beneath the willows in tn
shade of the church in Summerville. Seven
teen years had passed away, and the grea
sorrow of the husband and father had cast
shadow over all his life, and Of the shildrs
only Jennie was left at the home farm
Abijah, the eldest, wore the title Of his ances
tors, aud in the barOnial halls, which hA
descended to his father, now resided SUI
rounded by all the Injuries of his rank an
station, while Robert and John slept in
Southern grave, unknown, but not fOrgOttsI