Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-10-25

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! The winter Ruth and | was seventeen,
old Parson Holbrook moved away from
Nilbridge. and we had n new minister. /
never felt right about Parson Holbrook's
| leaving us. He was q good man. and had
spent the best part OF his life In that parish
| I've heard father tell how he came there
when he was young man, and brought
his bride with him. aud what nice-look-
ing couple they made. But time he had
| lived there nigh onto thirty years. and
worked hard all the time. folks got kinder
dissatisfied with him. Deacon Andrew
1 thought he was extravagsnt; Mr.. Charles
| Harmon (the deacon's son-in -law) thought
| he was behind the times; Deacon Flint
! thought he hadn't brought his family up
/ right-the long and short OF IL was, that
Parson Holbbook didn't like to stay where
] he wasn't wanted. SO, as / said before,
We lad a new minister.
| The first time ever see him. Mr.. Charles
| Windhsm was his name, was one after
/ noon Ruth and | were sitting In our old
| kitchen at home. We got our work all
done up and. Ruth was winding yarn. and
| was sewing carpet-rags, when there came
a knock at the door yes. the kitchen door,
OF course; We never had q path through
the front yard 10 the winter time. went
TO the door and opened II, and there stood
a gentleman. knew that II must be the
/ minister.
"Is Mr.. Hopkins a, homer said he.
! mo, he amt" said I. HE has gone to
the village to the mill"
! Then he looked at me and said -
Perhaps you are Miss Hopkinsi"
| | said was and then he told who he
was. and we shook hands. and he said he
| believed he'd come in q few minutes.
When he did. said =
This Is Ruth Oliver. Mr.. Windham"
| He went over to shake hands with Ruth.
and she dropped the grea, ball of white
| yarn she was winding. and he picked It up
! for her. Ruth's cheeks got redder than
ever; she was always shy Ruth Was AMI I
couldn't help noticing how he kepi lock
1 ing at her. She was pretty enough for any
! one 10 look al tina, afternoon. She hsi on
| a homemade woollen dress-when made
that flannel. / wanted her To have II pladed
| red and green Ike mine. but she wouldn't /;
she went over into the Hill pasture and got
q lot OF moss and We colored II With that.
= nice brownish-gray. 4 real pretty color IL
! made-and then she had 4 white collar and
| 4 hlue ribbon bow.
Mr.. Windhsm stayed quite a while that
| afternoon. snd he talked most OF the time
To Ruth Il didn't wonder at that. and she
kept on winding yarn. and answered him
/ ln larl a tt" "bEu- Rp~ribif uutr W
course she had to look up at hitn every
time she spoke 10 him.
Amos Fessenden kept a-coming that
winter. too, same a ever-poor Amns =
and he seemed quite contented, most OF the
| time. though | used 10 think. sometimes,
| that he WAS getting anxious TO know
! whether Ruth cared anything for bin, |
! could have told him that she didn't but he
| never said anything To me abou, II, and
hadn't no call TO say anything TO him.
Ruth didn't talk much that winter about
going away 10 school and I remember
when | was spinning, she took right hold
! and helped about the housework. aEd let
me spin as comfortable as could be.
One day, along In February when 1t got
too dark to spin. went down stairs, and
there WAS Mr.. Charles Windham. hadn't
heard him come in, but that wasn't to be
wondered at. for the spinning wheel kept
| up such a buzz and whr-r-r-
Ruth was sitting on one side OF the fire
! place, and Mr.. Windam stood 10 trout of
her. Ruth had her knitting work In her
| hand. but she wasn't knitting: and her
cheeks were the color of the pinies that
used 10 grow in our frontdoor yard. |
don't think either of them heard me come
down stairs. but when I shut the chamber
door, and came forward. Ruth started up,
| and said -
"whv. Priscilla. have you come down TO
supperf" and she stepped round and made
up the fire, and put the tea-kettle on quick
er than ever see her do II before.
Mr.. WInd.iam shook hands with me aud
asked how was. a. polite as could BE-. but
all the time / conld see that he hardly
took his eyes of Of Ruth. don't know a.
have said anything about Mr.. Windham's
looks. lie was almost as good-look ing for
a man. as Ruth was for q woman. He had
light brown hair. and his beard was the
same color, and he had dark blue eyes,
and a high, white forehead.
asked him il he wouldn't stay and have
supper with US but he said he had prom
ised to 90 TO Deacon Andrews. Then he
said Goodnight to me. and turned To
Ruth. but Ruth WAS just going into the
buttery after the brown bread, He went
right over To the buttery door, and held
out his hand.
Goodnight, Miss Ruth
l couldn't see Ruth. and didn't hear
what she said. but I'm pretty sure that
Mr.. Windham kept hold OF her hand while
he said -
"will yet go for a ride with me to-mor-
row afternoonF'
Ruth was frightened-I knew by the
way she spoke-and heard her say, quite
plain -
| "No-no; | can't"
| Mr.. Wlndham said something else. but
| did not hesr what it was. and then he went
| away.
| Ruth stsid in the buttery as much as five
minutes. / didn't say anything to her. for
| was glad enough to sit down few min
utes after spinning all day. When she
came out. she set the plate Of brown bread
down on the table, aud then zane round
behind my chair. put her arms around my
| neck, and kissed me-Ruth always thoug
q sight of me. / thought l felt tear on
my checks at the same time, and l turned
round and looked at Ruth: sure enough.
she had been crying.
Ruth Oliver" said /. what in the
worlds the matter with your"
| Nothing said Ruth. "I-I am very
happy"
l understood in a minute. and was real
gladtfor Rnth. but | couldn't help feeling
sorry tor Amos Fessenden.
BY and BY we sat down and had supper.
Father had gone oyer TO see Aunt Nancy
Hitchcock. and John went with him. fbey
didn't come back till most nine O'Clock. so
Ruth and rue was all alone that evening,
aud IN never. forget 1t as long as live.
| Ruth didn't talk much. but how happy
she was. She leaned her head back in the
old kitchen rocking chair, and made be-
lieve she was s-knitting; but. my sakes.
don't believe she knit, mOre'n three rounds
all the evening.
WAS mendiny fathers butternut-colored
coat and remember Ii tried my eyes con-
siderable for We only had tallow candle
to sew by.
You won't have this kind Of work to do
Ruth" said when had finished the old
coat, and ! held it up for her to see the
great patch on the elbow.
NO; suppose not. Priscilla"
IF you had married Amos Fessenden,n
went on. "you'd have to have done such
things"
| Ruth looked at me.
"lm not going To marry Amos. l know
| somebody that will make him as good a
! wife as ever should"
Iwas provoked Cthe Hopkinses always
WAS 3 quick-tempered lot), and said.
quite snappish:
| III you mean me. Ruth. and suppose
| you do, I'D thank you not to say anything