South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-12-14
zEKIEL IN LOVE,
OR. DON'T JUDGE BY APPEARANCES.
Er WILLIAM BALL.

Ilezckiah ,Greenbush and his wife
were sitting together in the large. open.
rated, old fashioned kitchen of their
frame house one winters evening not
So many years ago.
1t was real New England kitchen.
with large, open fire place. and log
fire on the hearth which cast ruddy
glow over the room.
Over the mantel hung strings Of onions
and several colossal pumpkns-high
suggestive OF Thanksgiving and Christ
mas pies-and a gun which carried one
back in imagination to the time when
the red.skinned aborigines provided u
round the early settlers homes.
Against the wa" stood settle which
answered the double purpose of q Ia.
BILE and bench, and an uld-fashioned
eight.day clock, which might have come
over in the Mayflowcr for aught we
know TO the contrary, licked lazily in one
corner, ever ami anon Ginning forth the
hours, as they slipped away, in me-
lodious voice. and which with its elegant
mahogany case and ornamental face,
not to speak OF n large, brass plate which
bore the inscription, "Phineas Jones,
London" was in striking contrast to
everything else in the room.
AS may be imagined il was regarded
as II precious heirloom by the worthy
old farmer and his wife, and was looked
upon with feelings of intense admira-
ton by the Juveniles of the neighbOr-
hood who occasionally,came on errands
TO the old farm house. and who thought
IN tor ,F
an hour in order to listen to its musical
notes. as it chmed forth the hours, es-
pecially if it Glanced to he the noon
tide hour, when its twelve strokes upon
the silver-voiced bell filed them with
unieigned delight.
1t was n comfortable department, and
the furniture was Of the simplest and
most inexpensive kind, if we except
the clock. which had found its way
somehow from the other side of the o.
cean. Yet there was an air of comfort
and coziness psrvsding the apartment
which amply made up for the lack Of
"modern improvements. "NewGangIed
notions" Mrs. Greenbush would have
called them. That worthy dame was
busily engaged in the very necessary,
though sadly unappreciated. occupation
of darning stockings, while her husband
was equally intent on his newspaper and
pipe.
The old lady was evidently on the
point OF communicating something Of
unusual Importance to her husband, for
every now and then she lifted her spec
tacles from her nose and looked earnest.
~ at her husband, then replaced them
and resumed her work. At last she could
not keep it any longer, and lifting her
specs from her nose again as if that o.
Grafton. was quite necessary to the i'm.
parting OF any important news. she OK
claimed in an excited voice. "Hezekiah,
want to tell you something our Ieki.
els in love-
In love our Ezekiel in love dearv
deary me-" cried her husband, laying
down his newspaper. and looking at her
with establishment. why you really
don't mean to say as Zekers in love-"
Yes. in love, replied his wife.-"This
very afternoon when lie was a sitting
by the stove warming his feet. ne sigh
eel rs if all the trouble i'm the world
was heaped top on him, and yesterday
when | went up in the garnet 10 fetch
some onions, there lie was writing q
letter to his lovo.-Whcn ne seed me
he was nightly fustered and crumbled
it up and put il in his pocket. Says
TO him. Ezekiel, my son, what's the mat
ter with you? Amt you well?"
20 yes, marin J" says he, I'm well
thank we, bout as usual"
"But he amt well, IIezekiah. Hes
love sick, aid reckon there's no doc
tor round these parts.can cure that CON.
plant"
That's true" said-her husband, g,y-
ing vent to a short laugh Il remember
when | was about Zeke's a,e had nm
attack o. the kind. II was about the
time first got acquainted with You De.
borah."
It's no time just nov" said Mrs.
Greenbueh, shaking her head drprccs-
tinglY Didn't | tell Won just now that
our Ezekiel was in love-"
"Wall You did, but what can body
do about it? It's kinder material. Won
know for Young people to fall 10 love
with each other"
"Naleral or unnatoral's got nothing
to DO with il, Hczekiah GteeuIu.n. l's
about the Gal that he set bis rcctions ON
that I'm troubling. Guess Who 70 iss'
oval, now, that would ne hard 10 do.
There so many gals around. Won know.
I wonder who it can bc2"
"Why iCs Sarah pepperllI Obadiah
Peppcril's daughter as lives down hy
the bridge. What do YOU think o. tha'2o
you don't say so Wal. what's tho
matter with her? She's very clever
gal ! reckon, as far rs / know. said
her husband demurcly
"Clever gal replied his wife. "shc's
rs proud as Lucifer himself Didn't yon
sec The big feather Inv her hat at mectin'
on Sunday, and her ribbons aGyiug. and
her fine dress. Why It's them as turned
our /ckicrs head. he's not used 90 .uch