Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-06-27
Maaisrellaneous.


ihe fire cracked cheerfully on the broad
hearth Of the old farm. house kitchen. q ca,
and three kittens basked in the warmth.
and decrepii yellow dog lying full In the
reflection OF the blaze, wrinkied his black
nose approvingly. aud turned his hind feet
where MS fore Zee: had been
over The chimney hung several ane hams
and pieces OF dried beef. Apples were fe.-
tooned and hung along the ceiling, and
croohed-neck sausshes We'd with red pep
pers and slips OF dried pumpkins In garn.
ishing each window frsme. There were
plants. too. on the window ledges-horse-
shoe geranlums. and dew plants. AMI a
monthly rose jus, budding. to say nothing
place whenever they took II into their pur-
pie heads to bloom.
The floor was carefully swept-the chairs
had not spe.k OF dust upon leg or round
the long settee near the fire place shone as
II II had just been vanished. and the eight.
day clock in the corner had had its white
face newly washed, and seemed determlu-
ed 10 tick the louder for IL. Two arm.
chairs were drawn up at q cosy distance
from the hearth and each other; q candle,
newspaper, pair OF spectacles. dish OF
red checked apples and pitcher Of cider.
illed Il little table between them.
In one Of these chairs sat q comfortable
looking woman OF about forty-hve. with
cheeks As red n the apples. and eyes IS
dark and bright as they had ever been.
resting her elbow on the table. and looking
very though,fully into the fire. This was
Widow Cobb-"relict" OF Deacon Levi
Cobb, who had been mouldering into dust
In the Byton church-yard tor more than
seven years. She was thinking OF her dead
husband. possibly because-Rll her work
heinz hnna and the anfs to hal
the sight OF his empty chair st the other
side OF the table, and the silence OF the
room. made her little lonely.
Seven years" so the widows reyerie
ran. "It seems as IL 1t were more thas fifty
and yet I don't look so very old. either.
Perhaps IT'S not having any children TO
bother my life out as other people have.
They may say what they like, children are
more plague than profit. that's my opinion.
Look at my sister Jerusha. with her six
boys. She's worn TO q shadow. aud l am
sure they have done n, though she will
never own IL.
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began TO peel 1t.
How dreadful fond Mr.. Cobb used to
be Of these gratis. He never will eat any
more Of them. poor fellow, for don't sup
pose they have apples where he has gone
used TO throw spple-parings over my head
when | was girl. To see whom | was going
TO marry"
Mrs. Cobb stopped and blushed. For in
those days she did not know Mr.. Cobb. and
was always looking eagerly 10 see il the
peel had formed a capital -" Her med.
itations took q new turn.
How handsome Sam Payson was and
how much | used to care about him.
wonder what has become Of hlm? Jerpsha
says he went away from our village just
after I did, and no one has ever heard Of
him s,nce. And what silly thing that
quarrel was. II It had hot been for that
Here there Was q long pause, daring
which the widow looked very steadfastly
at the empty armchair Of Levi Cobb, de-
ceased. Her fingers played cxrelessly with
the apple pairing; she drew 1t safely toward
her. and looked around the room. .i
upon my word it Is very ridiculous
aud don't know what the neighb0rs would
say if they saw me-"
Still the plump fingers drew the red peel
| nearer.
But then, they can't see me. that's q
comfort, and the cat and old BOwse never
will know what 1t means. OF course don't
believe anything about it,"
| The pairing hung very gracefully frOm
her hand.
r"-~ --i".- .'S"',-nve nave tuus s..ould
,ich pledge. know that many Of these
.ht. kept that pledge" ,
IN. On Sunday June 18th, ,Nr. C. J. =
vid. spoke OF the visit to Ellsworth .snd rev, !,
nly the reception. and meetings and resu
far as notc known. 4
Byron kimbai Of Bangor. and Dr.
lar. Of Boston spoke earnest words for the,
Pull persnce cause.
ee.' "A good boat owned BY Josiah Part
net. was stolen on Friday night
ALI the village schools except
.. ar. Cooo-it ms spirit come bscl
again. because tried that silly trick" Sd,
thought fearfully to herself.