Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-02-09


village, one day, he saw buxom girl at
the window, and leaning over the fence
he called out.
Martha, / hear there is a quilting
coming off before long at your house"
Yes, sir; the quilt is my own work
rising sun, with q square and compass
in the heart Of 1t. Mother said II ever
got it done should have quilting just
like those she used TO have when she was
young" replied the girl.
Amt you going TO invite me, Mar
thar" was the next question that startled
the village girl.
Why, deaconl" she cried, looking at
the hitherto grave man, to discern If he
had taken leave of his senses. You go
to young folks quilting2"
Certainly will, il I'm asked" said
the deacon, smiling "Your mother can
tell you how expert used to be at chalk
ing the line, snuffing the candles, and
throwing the apple pairing, in old
times"
OF course he got an invitation, and be.
fore many hours had elapsed Il was
nOised abroad that Deacon Braden was
going to dance at Matte Borla nd's quilt.
ing party, and that the folks thought him
going crazy.
For the first time in quarter of
century the deacon set off for trip to
Boston, and, as Ketury said, "he came
back made all over neww From the
crown of his steeple. topped hat to the
sole of his tallow- soaked cowhides, he
was renewed in the outer man. He had
gone so far as to exchange his ponderous
silver watch for gold one. In place of
the porcelain shirt.buttons with which
Ketury had always adorned his cotton
shirt, the deacon appeared with gold
studs in nicely polished linen shirt
bosom, gold sleeve buttons, and divers
other worldly vanities such as made a
great stir in the Cedar Creek meeting.
house; but it was only because he wore
such clothes; others there had always
dressed as well. You may lie sure that
the young folks stared at him as he sat
thus, with Mr.. and Mrs. Borand, look
ing on at the sports of quilting; and the
question was whispered from one to an
other:
What on earth has come over Deacon
JahielW
They soon found that the autumn sun
had come out in brighter radiance than
its earlier glory, and that life's Indian
summer had come for him, with bright
skies, with flowers, and with the singing
of birds in the heart
One morning, soon after this, the Dea-
con called his sister-in-law and her
daughters into the parlor, and said:
" | have plan to Jay before you; l
shall need this house for myself now.
You may live beside me in the stone cot
tage, or will build you little house in
the village"
We will stay rs near you as we can;
but who is to take my placer" asked the
widow in amaZement.
You remember Matilda Day, the girl
to whom | gave my pet COW, Dilly, on
her wedding day? A few weeks ago
heard of her for the first time in many
long years. Her husband was never
worthy of her. He ran through her
property and his own, and then took her
into the wilderness to live, away from
all privileges of schools, churches and
society. She buried her oldest children
and was left alone and very poor, with
three young boys.
From boyhood up had always ex-
pected to marry Matilda, but was too
slow in telling her So The rich farmer
from the next town stepped in and mar
ried the only woman l ever loved. /
choked down my grief, held up my
head, gave her my best COW, danced at
her wedding, kissed her, and wished her
much Joy, and then went home with
broken heart. 1t was long time before
l could bear to see the sun shine after
that. Life and all around me was
changed, but just my mother. But God
came and brought peace and life, and
then l sought to do all could for others
for His sake. AS time went on the
wound healed, but the scar remained.
l knew was a stupid, awkward man in
the esteem of others, and so kept out
of the way, except when duty called me
forward. had forgotten that the world,
in itself, had any charms until you came
here and brought the fresh air and sun
shine to these dark, dull rooms. When
you brought the rose geranium in full
bloom it took me back twenty-five years,
when one just like it stood in Matlda's
window. The songs which the girls sing
are the same she sung, newly arranged
and with new names.
mot many weeks ago, had, as you
know, some dealings with Carver, the
Western man, who stayed over night with
US. In talking with him ! said
Z" Il suppose you never happened to
meet with man in your State named
Watterson BlakeY
90 Certainly have, thousand times.
Did you know him!' he asked.
when l told him he was almost q
townsman of mine, he said:
"' Poor fellow! he made sad wreck
of bright prospects. He died poor,
three years ago, and left his wife and
three boys in a sad condition; but she is
a jewel of woman. Everybody loves
her and all would have been glad to help
her, but she had some idea of independ.
ence, which she wished to instill into
the hearts of her boys. So she gave
the encumbered farm over to Blake's
creditors, moved into the next town and
set up school for little girls
Before he went away, the next morn
ing, drew q check for hundred dol.
lars, and sent it to the boys from an
old schOol-mate of their mOthers,' and
resolved to devise some plan by which
to start them in life.
NO lhOiO ehOuSub VI IL tuS ulOIC L
resolved that Matilda Day would make
the world new for me yet; and wrote
and told her so.
"Next month l am going West to
bring her and the boys home. want
you to stay with us till you get a home
of your own. / can never be thankful
enough for your coming to me. 1t has
broken the dreadful spell that bound
me, and brought me back to live among
others; before only worked for them at
arms, length. Now that l love all the