The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-24
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There is not quainter, prettier vii
lage IN the southeast of England than
Harbury Market At all times of = the
year this is true of it. In winter. when
the great fens are covered with skaters.
and the streets gay with hunting par
ties, and the houses full of company, it
is beautiful. In autumn, when grapes
ripen on every cottage wall and the hop
fields are full of pickers, it is beautiful
and in spring and summer, when the
tall poplars rustic over sweet old flower
gardens, and quiet, sunny streets, it is
still more beautiful.
[ am thinking now of one summer
morning, many, many years ago, when
there was a great wedding in HarbTy
church. The bride was the rector
daughter, and every house had an inter
est in it, ] made the carriage drive slow
ly through the village, that I might not
lose the rustling music of the leaves, the
scent of the wall flowers, and the pleas
ant smiles and good words that came
from every open door. ---
It was only S o'clock, and the first
beauty of the day was still untouched.
[ thought when I saw the bride how
fitting it seemed that she should choose
such a sweet, untroubled hour, for she
herself was yet in the first blush of
girlhood, and fresh and lovely as the
lily bells and rosebuds she held in her
hand. There were four bridesmaids,
three young girls and a white haired
woman who was quite old enough to
have been the brides mother.
Somehow it is generally easy to tell
an old maid, but this time / was quite
at fault. Dressed in rich, soft, gray
silk covered with a mantilla of white
lace, and cleyerly busy in arranging
with exquisite taste the dress of the
bride and her younger maids, | took her,
at first, for some sweet matron of about
40 years of age [ was amazed when
found that she was chief bridesmaid and
Miss Abagail Fisher. 80
She had been very beautiful and she
was still lovely. There was not a young
girl at the wedding that had the subtle
charm of this calm browed woman, over
whose pleasant face the dove visibly
brooded. Her hands put the last grace
ful touch to everything; she thought for
every ones pleasure; she was the gentle,
helpful spirit that everywhere presided
[ could not avoid noticing her continu-
ally. because she so continually forgot
herself. -84
L was glad to see that she was on terms
of the closest intimacy with the brides
mother, for the latter was talkative
little woman, who never could resist
telling story or giving friend pleas
ure. So when the bride was gone, and
the excitement over. and she had had a
couple of days to feel lonely in, took
my crochet one afternoon to the rectory,
resolving that I would stay to tea and
hear something about Miss Abagail
Fisher.
Before 1 had an opportunity to speak
of her she came into the rectory parlor.
She had with her two beautiful young
women, who sang and played with a
grace and skill Ihad never heard eqnaledi,
All three staid TO tea, and, after an hour s
music, the rector walked back to the
village with them Then / said, 81 like
Miss Fisher; she interests me very
much"
"Abagail interests every one.- Poor
Abagail I" ~
/" Why do you say Poor p" |
Because she had a great sorrow when
she was young; for that matter, we both
had; only had Ralph to help me bear
mine; she had only me, and could dc
nothing but weep with her"
She appears to love you as sister. y
s "We ought to have been sisters.
Come under the beeches, and, while the
sun sets, I will tell you all about it. II
is no secret; the whole village know hen
wrong, apd the whole village saw the
retribution that avenged her. 1t has
seen,s also, how -
God has tempered ai things wen, ~a
--s Worked patience out of bitter PAIN,
r,-s-s And out OF ruin golden gain
AS we sat down under the beeches,
my friend pointed out pretty house,
surrounded by great apple orchards,