Smyrna times., 1879-04-02
Mr.. Palmleaf's Proposal.

uIlS anu EIlStenlng ike mammoth
bridal veil, the December sun lay over all
the New Hampshire hills; dark and deli
cate, like the tracery of lace work, the
leafless woods held up their boughs against
the dazzling winter sky-and the Reverend
Peter Palmleaf studying over an embryo
sermon In his own especial sanctum,
glanced up where a black bird was whist.
ling in the easement, and thought to him.
self, what a lovely world the Lord had
made.
When, all of sudden, a shrill voice
called through the entry:
Peter, the horse is ready?"
"What horse?" said Mr.. Pamleaf
"Our horse to be surey' said Miss Paul
ina, his sister.
"What for?1 demanded the parson,
staring through his near,sighted spectacles
at the door.
ITO take you to Mr. Darrow's."
"Why am | gong to Mr.. Darrows ?"
further questioned the man of theology.
"Well, | never" said Miss Paulina
bouncing into the study, with a yellow
pocket handkerchief tied around her head,
and her sleeves rolled in busness-like
fashion up to her elbows. Peter you
grow more mooney and absent-minded
every day of your life Have you forgotten
| our discussion at the breakfast table Why,
you're going to Mr.. Darrow's after girl,
! to be sure T.
"A-girl!' repeated the young minister,
dreamily, rubbing his forehead. "Oh, do
recall something of the conversation. a
hired girl
YES" nodded the lady, briskly. "She's
| going to leave Mr.. Darrow's this morning,
because the family is so large, and work so
heavy. She can't find that fault with our
establishment, guess. Ask her how much
wages she wants, and how old she is, and
ask her whether she has any followers-a
follower is the one thing can't tolerate,
tell her-and he sure you bring her back
with her bundle. | must have some person
to help me before cousin Phiinda's folks
come from the city"
" But suppose she won't ?" said the
young minister, obviously, fitting on the
fingers of his gloves.
Then you must make her come" said
Miss Paulina, hurriedly retreating, to look
after a certain kettle, which was noisily
boiling over, at the back of the house.
And thus. charged with his mission, the
Reverend Peter Palmeaf got into the one
horse cutter and 1ingled merrily away.
Mr.. Darrow's farm house nestled under a
hill, in the protecting shadow of cluster
OF evergreens, with green fence in front
Of it, a red barn at the rear, and colony
Of dove-hOuses at the sunny southern angle
and Mr.. Darrow himself, ruddy-faced
: elderly man with fringe of white whlsker,
around his chin, was shOveling away thf
pearly masses of snow in front of his door
"Eh = said Mr.. Darrow, leaning on the
, handle Of his spade, as the bells jingled u[
in front of his gate, and then stopped
How Why, it's the minister! Coco
morning, Mr.. Palmleaf-good morning
That there Sunday sermon o yours was {
masterpiece Me and Squire Sennex-"
"Yes," said Mr.. Palmleaf, leisurel!
alighting, and tying the horse to the post
But have called on business this morn
ing"
For Mr. Palmleaf was emphatically ;
man of one idea, and, for the time being
the "hred girl'' had chased all theolog.
out of his head.
= Eh p said Mr.. Darrow; business"
"I've come after young woman" SAT-
the minister.
Mr.. Darrow dropped his spade in tn
y middle Of a snow drift.
"Do you mean Dolly?" he said.
% elf that's her name-yes," asserted tn
minister, solsmnly.
"You don't mean that-it's to be an er
eagementY" cried Mr.. Darrow.
Well, yes-that is, if we suit eac
other" said Mr.. Palmleaf, mildly.
Jerusalem ~ said Mr.. Darrow, VIII
2 had always heard that Mr.. Palmleaf, lik
I' most men of genius, was an eccentric
but had never realized it before. HaV
you spoken to herT
"Certainly notr' answered Mr.. Palm
leaf. "Of course shouldn't think OF sue
a thing, without seeing you first"
every straightforward of you, II
sure" said the farmer. "But, of course,
can have no objection, if Dolly herself
suited. Though" and he smote one rt
f mitted hand upon his knee, "now | con
- to think of it, you've never seen Dolly"
q "Nor said the minister serenely. B
" that need make no difference"
"Je.rusalem ~ again uttered the farm'
" 1t wasn't the way used to look at thln
when was a young man." -.
"Tastes differ" said Mr.. Palmleaf, llt'
impatient at this heightened discussio
"Oh, of course you can see her," sa
Mr.. Darrow. "She's in the dairy, ski
ming milk. Dollyl Doll r. raising
voice TO a wild below. "Here's the II
erend Mr.. Palmleaf wants TO see yo
There's the door, just 10 the left, sir.
And, in his near.sighted way, the min
ter stumbled into Farmer Darrow's dsi
where a rosy.cheeked girl, with jet ola
hair. brushed away from low, oliVe'da
brow. and eyes like pools of sherry WI
was skimming the cream from muitltu
nous milk pans into huge stone pot.
,s.nl "Young woman" said mr' Faiini'