The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-05-29
aR rAlnLs.S-s Proposal.

u
cate. IKE ne trsoery q laos work, o.
I lesaess woods hsld ~ their houghI
against the dazzling winter sky-so'
/ Reverend Peter raimieaf, audying eve
an embryo sermon Ia bis ewn speciS
sAhciam, glanced up where blsckbir'
wAs whlEliug 10 the easement, ans
thought 10 himself what lovely worl,
the Lord had made.
When, sll OF a sudden, shrill yoic'
called ,hro0gh the entry;
Peter, lhe horse is ready
What horse said Mr.. PalmleAf
Oar horse, 10 be sure said Miss Paul
ina, his sister.
VITA, forl demanded the psrson, star
ing through bis near-sighted speetaeles a
the door.
To take you to Mr.. Dsrrow's.
Why am going to Mr.. Darrow'sf fur
ther questioned the man OF theology.
Well, never! said Miss Paulinai
bouncing into The study with a yeilow
pocket handkerchief tied around heI
head, aud her sleeves rolled 10 business
like fashion up to her elbows. Peter
yon grow more moody and absent-mindec
every day OF your life. Have you for
gotten our discussion 81 the breakfast
tsbleg Why, you were going TO Mr.
Darrow's after sgirl, to be sulel
A-girl repeated the young minister
dreamiIy, rubbing his forehead. Oh,
do recall something OF the conversation.
A hired girl.
Yes, nodded the lady, briskly. she's
going to leave MIR. Dsrrow's this morning
because the family is 0 large, and work
so heavy. She can't find That fault with
our establishment, guess. AK ber how
much wages she wants, aud how old she
Is, and ask her whether she has any fol
lowers--A follower Is hc one thing
can't tolerate, tell her, and DC sure you
bripg her back, aud ber bundle. ! must
have some person to lelp me before
cousin Philiuds's tOiks come from the
city
But suppose she won't conner said the
young minister, obviously, fitting on the
fingers of bis gloves.
Then you must make her come, said
Mss Paulina, hurriedly retresting, to
look after a certain kettle which was
noisily boiling over at the back of the
house.
And thus, charged with his mission,
Reverend Peter Palmleaf got into the
one.horse cutter and jinglcd merrly
away.
Mr. Darrow's farm house nestled un.
der hill, in the protecting shadow of a
cluster OF evergreens, with green fence
IN front OF 1t, red barn at the rear, aud
. perfect colony OF dove houses at the
sunny southern angle; and M. Darrow
himself, ruddy-isced, elderly man, with
fringe of white whiskers around his
chin, was shoveliDg away the pearly
masses OF snow in front of bis door.
Ehl said Mr.. Darrow, leaning on the
handle Of his spade, as the bells jiDgled
up in front Of bis gate, and then stopped
Howl Why it's the ministerl Good
morning, Mr.. Palmleaf-good morning !
That there Sunday sermon o. yours was
a masterpiece. Me aud Squire Sennex-
Yes, said Mr.. Palmlesf, leisurely alight.
ing, aud tying the horse to the post.
But have called on business this morn.
ing.
For Mr.. Palmleaf was emphatically q
man of one idea, aud for the time being
the hired girl had chased all the theology
out Of bis head.
Eh said Mr.. Darrow; businessi
I've come after young woman, said
the minister.
Mr.. Darrow dropped bis spade in the
mId4e OF snow drift.
Do you mean Dolyr he asked,
II that's her uame-yes, asserted The
minister. solemnly.
You don't mean that it's TO be au EN-.
gagement? cried Mr.. Darrow
Well, yes, that is, il we suit each
other, said Mr.. Palmleaf, mildly.
Jerusalem said Mr.. Darrow, who had
always heard that Mr.. Palmleai, like
most men OF genius, was an eccentric,
but bad never realized it before. Have
you spoken to herr
Certainly noll answered Mr. Palmleaf.
OF course | shouldn't think Of such a
thing without seeing you first.
Very straightforward Of you, l'm sure,
said the farmer. But OF cou. Sc can have
no objection, ii Dolly herself IS suited.
Though, aud be smole Que red.miited
hand upon bis knee, now come 10 think
OF ID, you've never seen Dolly
No! said the minister, sereuely. Bot
thar need make 10 difference.
Jerusalem again uttered The farmer.
II wssn't the way used TO look at things
when | was young man.
Tastes differ, said Mr.. PaIm,eat, little
impatient at this heightened discussion
Can see the young woman
On, of course you can see her, said Mr.
Darrow. She's in the dairy, skimminR
milk. Dollyl Dolly raising lis voice tC
wild below, Here's the Reverend MIR
PAlmieaf wants TO see YOU! There's the
door, just to The left, sir
And, iu bis uear-sighled way, the min
isier stumbled into Farmer Darrow''
dairy, where 5 rosy.cheeked girl, with
/ JET black hAir, brushed away from a low
olive dark brew, snd eyes like pools o
sherry wing. wAH akirnfninp lhe creAn