Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-06-26
MR.. PALMLEAFS PROPOSAL.

MR.. PALMLEAFS PROPOSAL.
White and glistcniog like mammoth
bridal veil, tho December sun lay over all
the New Hampshire hills; dark and dclicatc,
like tho traccry of laccwork, the loafess
woods held up their boushs against tho
dazzling wiptor sky-and the Rcvercd
Peter Palmleof, studying over an embryo
sermon in his own especial sanctum, glanced
up whero bluokbird was whistling in the
easements, and thought to himself what
lovely world the Lord had mad.
Whom, all Of sudden, shrill voice
called through tho entry:
"Peter, the horse is ready"
"What horse7" asked the Rev. Mr..
Palmleaf.
"Our horse, to be surc!" said Miss Pau
lima, his sister.
"What for7" demanded the parson, star.
ing through his ncar-sightcd spectaclcs at
the door.
"To take you to Mr.. Darrow's"
"Why am 1 going to Mr. Darrow's?"
further questioned tho man of theology
"Wcll, I ucver!" said Miss Paulina,
bouncing into tho study, with yellow
pocket handkerchief tiod around her head
aud her sleeves rolled in business-like
fashion up to her elbows, "Pctcr you grow
moro moony AMI absent-mindcd every day
Of your lifc Havo you forgotten our.dis..
ousson at tho breakfast table? Why you
are going to Mr.. Darrow's after girl, to
bo sure!"
"A-girlr' repeated the young miuister,
drcamily rubbing his forehead. ooh, do
recall something of the conversation. A
hired girl.'
eyes" nodded tho lady briskly, "Sho's
going to leave Mr.. Darrow's this morning,
because tho family is SO largo and the work
SO heavy. She can't find that fault with
our establishment, guess. Ask her how
much wages sho wants, aud how old she is,
and ask her whether she has any followers
and be sure you bring her back with her
bundles; as must have her or somc person
to help mo before cousin philinda's folks
come from the city,
"But suppose she won't come!" said tho
young minister, obviously, fitting on the
fingers of his gloves.
"Thcn you must make her comc," said
Miss Paulina, hurridly rctgeating to look
after certain kettle, which was noisly
boiling over, at the back of the house.
And thus, charged with his mission the
Reverend Peter Palmlcaf got into the one
horse cutter aud iiinged ncrrly away.
Mr.. Darrow's farm house nestled under o
hill, in tho protecting shadow of cluster
of cvergrecns, with green fence in front
of it, red barn at the rear, aud n colony
Of dove houses at tho sunny Southern angle;
and Mr.. Darrow himself, ruddy-faced,
elderly man with fringe of white whiskcrs
around his chin, was shovcling away the
pcarly masses of snow in front of his door
"Eh!' said Mr.. Darrow leaning on tho
handle Of his spade, as the bells jipglcd up
in front of his gate, and then stopped.
GLOW? Why, it's the minister! Good
morning! That there Sunday sermon O.
yours was a masterpiece. Me and Squire
Scnnex-"
eyes," said Mr.. Palmlcaf, lcisurely
agbting, aud tying tho horse to tho post
"But I have called on business this morn
ing"
For Mr. Palmcaf was emphaticolly q
man of one idea, for the time being, the
"hirod girl" had chased all theology out of
his head.
"EhP' said Mr.. Darrow; "business?"
GIVE come after young womcn," said
the minister.
Mr.. Darrow dropped tho spade in tho
middle Of snow drift.
edo you mean Dolly7" he said
'If that's her name asserted tho
minister, solomnly.
"You don't mean that-it is to be on
engagement" cried Mr.. Darrow.
"Woll, yes that is, if we suit caoh othor
said Mr.. Palmleof, mildly.
"Jorusalom?" said Mr. Darrow, who had
always hoard that Mr.. Palmlcaf like most
mon Of genius, was on "cccentrio," but had
never realized it boforo. "Iavc you spoken
to her7"
"Ccrtainly not!" answered Mr.. Palmleaf
"Of course I shouldn't think of such a
thing without seeing you first"
every straight forward of you, Pm sure"
said the farmer. "But of course I can
have no objection, if Dolly herself is suited
Though" and he smoto ono red mitted
hand upon his knee, "now I como to think
of it, you've never seen Dolly"
"No!" said the minister sercnely. "But
that need mako no difference
"Jcrusalom" again uttered tho farmer.
"It wasn't tho way used to look at things
when was young man."
"Tastcs differ" said Mr.. palnIcaf, q