The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-17
WIDOW COBB

The ire cracked eheerfully on the
broad hearth, Of the old farm house
kitchen, a cat and three kittens bask.
ed in tie warmth, and decrepit
yellow dog lying full in the reflection
of the blaze, wrinkled his black nose
approvingly, and turned his hind feet
where his fore feet had been.
Over the chimney hung several
fine hams and pieces of dried beef.
Apples were festoened aud hung
along the ceiling, and crooked-necked
squashes We'd with red peppers and
slips Of dried pumpkins in garnish-
ing each window frame There were
plants, too, on the window lodges
horse shoe geraniums and dew plants,
and monthly rose just budding, to
say nothing of pots of violets that
perfumed the whole place whenever
they took it in their purple heads to
bloom.
The floor was carefully swept
the chairs had not speck of dust
upon leg or round, the long settce
near the fireplace shone as il it had
been vanished, and the eight day
elJck in the corner had had It's white
face newly washed, and seemed de-
termined to click the louder for it..
Two arm chairs were drawn up to q
COSY distance from the hearth and
each other; a candle, a newspaper,
q pair of spectacles, a dish of red
checked apples and pitcher Of cider,
filed little table between them.
Ia one Of these chairs sat a COM
Portable looking woman of about
forty-fve, with cheeks as red as the
apples, and eyes as dark and bright
as they had ever been, resting her
elbow on the table. and looking very
thoughtfully into the FIRE. This was
widow Cobb-"relicl" of Deacon
Levi Cobb, who had been moulder-
ing into the dust IN the Byton church
yard for more than seven years. She
was thinking Of her dead husband,
possibly, beoause-all her work be-
ing done, aud the servants gone to
bed-tbe sight of bis empty chair at
the other side of the table, and the
silence of the room, made her little
lonely
Seven years." so the widows
reverie ran. ut seems as if it were
mere than fifty-and yet | don't look
50 very old, either. Perhaps it is
not having any children to bother
my life out as other people have
They may say what they like-chil-
dren are more plague than profit
that's my opinion. Look at my Sis
ter Jerusha, with her six boys. She's
worn to shadow, and | am sure
they have done it, though she will
never own it,"
The widow took an apple from the
d 81 and bee sn to peel il.
"How dreadful fond Mr.. Cobb
used TO be of these gifts. He never
will eat any more of them, poor fel-
low, for | don't suppose they have
apples where be has gone to.
Heigho, | remember very well how
| used TO throw apple parings over
my head when | was girl. to see
who / was going to marry
Mrs. Cobb stopped and blushed.
For in those days she did not know
Mr.. Cobb, and was always locking
eagerly to see if the peel bad formed
a capital "Sn Her meditation took
a new turn.
How handsome Sam Payson was.
and how much used to care about
him. | wonder what has become oi
him Jerusha says be went away
from the village just after | did, and
no one has ever heard of him since
And what silly thing that quarrel
was If it bad not been for that
-
Here there was long pause, dur
ing which the widow looked stead
fastly at the empty chair of Lev
Cobb, deceased Her fingers playing
carelessly with the apple pairing she
drew it safely toward her, and look
ed around the room.
Upon my word it is very ridicu
lous. and | don't know what The
neighbors would say If they saw
me? ~
Still the plump fingers drew The
red peel nearer
"But then they can't see ne, that;
a comfort, and the cat and ole
Browse will never know what i
means OF course | don't know any
thing about it."
The pairing hung very gracefully
from her hand.
"But still | should like to try it
it would seem like old times, an(
~
Over her head it went and curlet
up very quietly on the floor at lit
tie distance. Old Bowse, who al
ways slept with one eve open, saw i
fall, and walked deliberately up t.
smell of it.
"Bowse-Bowse-don't touch it =
cried his mistress, and bending ovel
it with beating heart, she turned a
red as fire. There was as handsom,
capital rs" as any one could wist
to see.
A great knock came suddenly q
the door Browse growled, and th'
widow screamed and snatched ~
the apple pairing.
"It's Mr.. Cobb-it's his spiri
come back again, because l trie'
that silly trick" she thought fearful
ly to herself.
Another knock-louder than th
first, and a mans voice exclaimed;
"Hillo, the house !''
"Who is it?r asked the widow
somewhat relieved to fnd that th
a departed Levi was still safe in hi
grave upon the bill side.
"a Stranger" said the voice.