Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-07-08
THAT UNLUcKY QUOTATION
A STORY OF "rINAroEE. -

They would have made a very pretty
picture on a painted tile, As they sat on
the porch in the vivid afternoon light.
The cottage itself was as trim and COM
plete as a tov house: It's color was a soft
rrav. The late sunshine was goldcnly
clear. and all the green world was SHIN
ing. fresh from d shower. Auntie Trib
was sitting in a brigh; red rocking-chair,
and her pretty old face was as pink and
white as a bunch of roses; and as for
Sallie hcrself-wel. ask any critic In
Rockdlc. from the oldest inhabitant
down TO the tinieSt toddler, and You Will
hear more enthusiastic comment than
any which can supply Rockdale IS a
neat little New England village, far away
out of the world, in a rocky, hilly-and-
dalv district, where the direct descendants
OF the Puri,aus still hold their sway.
Auutie Trb's son, Free Grace Hill
called Free for >hort-madc his name
good az an early age by ,natching his lib
ertv and marching away "totown never
mind rhat town; We can call 1t l..
He verified his mothers title at the same
time. for she became indeed an embodi-
meut Of tribulation; but Free diSappoint-
ed her agrccably. tor hc found "a good sit
nation. and worked in it faithfully and
steadily. He was now never failing
source of pride and delight when on his
brief visit, he dazllcd Rockdale with his
"town-madc garments, his dainty mus
tache and general air OF style.
Ills last visit, however, proved an epoch
in the history of Rockdale, and also in
the history of his fair little orphan cousin
Sallie. He brought with HIM an older
friend, employed in the same house with
himself, but in q more advanced position.
This parsonage, whom he designated as
Jack Arnold, Immediately sent poor Free
into the shade. and cast him down from
that pinnacle of fame which he had
mounted at the cost of many pair OF
highlv-polished boots and much studied
elegance.
| viii not attempt to describe the effect
which young Arnold produced upon the
simple village maidens, Every pretty
vile which had formerly been directed
toward the fortunate son of Auntie Trib
was now leyeled at his friend, with a
force and energy that produced the effect
of 4 bombardment. Ere long, however,
it was discovered that the new conner was
proof against every species of attack. Not
that he was invulnerable-far from 1t.
I The truth was that he had fallen under
the very first shot He had not been be-
/ meath Auntie Tnb'S roof twenty-foul
hours before he had succumbed uncondi-
tionally to Salhe's charms. The little
/ Puritan maiden, with her cameo face and
her steadfast grey eyes, stole at once into
| his heart-an honest heart, for there /,
no villain in this unpretending tale-and
from henceforth he was her hege knight
for life 1t was not by passionate plead
inc and great deeds that he undertook tC
win her for his own: no, the task was but
easy, after all. He was fair, good-hu.
mored, tall and handsome; Free said ht
was a capital fellow, and Sallie had great
faith in Free; he was devoted and unre
served in expressing his affection: wha
more could maiden ask: Before his va
cation was over he had bravely made
known his love, and was shyly but read
ily accepted; and when he and Free lef
Rockdale they bade tender farewell tC
happy little damsel with a ring upOr
her finger.
All this did not happen long ago, but
in this very year 1879. ROckdale was