The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-05-06
DoLLY's JOKE.

wv moth bridal veil, the December
sun lay over all the New Hampshire
hills dark and delicate, like the tracery
of lacework the leafiess woods held 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
blackbird was wbistling in the case
ment, and thought to himself what a
lovely world the Lord had made.
When, all of sudden, shrill voice
ed,through the entry:
Peter, the horse Is ready"
"What horse 2'' asked the Rev. Mr..
Palmleaf.
"Our horse, to be sure ~ said Miss
Paulna, his sister.
"What for2' demanded the parson,
staring through his near-sighted spec
tacles at the door.
"To take you to Mr.. Darrow's."
"Why am going to Mr.. Darrow'sY"
further questioned the man of theol-
ogy.
"Well 1 neverl" said Miss Paulina,
bouncing into the study, with yellow
pocket handkerchief tied around her
head and her sleeves rolled in business
like fashion up to her elbows. "Peter,
you grow more moony and absent
minded every day of your life Have
you forgotten our discussion at the
h.ooIveaet tabIa y WIN Won ora ooino
to Mr.. Darrow's after girl, to be
surel"
" "A-girl ~ repeated the young min
lister, dreamily, rubbing his forehead
"Oh, l do recall something of the con-
versation. A hired girl"
EYES," nodded the lady briskly. "She
is 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 1 can't tolerate, tell her-and be sure
you bring her back with her bundles
as must have her or some one else to
help me before cousin Philinda's folks
come from the city,"
"But suppose she won't come !" 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 certain kettle, which was
noisly boiling over, at the back of the
house.
And thus, charged with his mission,
the Reverend Peter Palmleaf got into
the one. horse cutter and jingled merrily
away.
Mr.. Darrow's farmhouse nestled un-
der hill, in the protecting shadow of
cluster of evergreens, with green fence
i'm front of it, red barn at the rear, and
a colony of dove-houses at the sunny
southern angle; and Mr.. Darrow him.
self, ruddy-faced, elderly man with a
fringe of white whiskers around his
chin, was shoveling away the pearly
masses of snow in front of his door.
"Ehl' said Mr.. Darrow leaning on
the handle of his spade, as the bells
jingled up in front of his gate, and then
stopped. Howp Why, it's the min
lister! Good morning, Mr.. Palmleaf -
good morning That there Sunday SER
mon o. yours was a masterpiece. Me
and Squire Sennex-"
EYES," said Mr.. Palmleaf, leisurely
alighting and tying the horse to the post
/" But have called on business this
morning"
For Mr.. Palmleaf was emphatically
man of one idea, for the time being, the
hired girl" had chased all theology out
of his head.
"Eh !" said Mr.. Darrow, "businessp"
"I've come after young woman"
said the minister.
Mr.. Darrow dropped the spade in the
middle of a snow.drift.
I" Do you mean Dolly pn he said.
If that's her name : yes" asserted
the minister, solemnly.
"You don't mean that-it is to be an
engagement ?" cried Darrow.
" well, yes-that is, if we suit each
other" said Mr.. Palmleaf, mildly.
" Jerusalem !" said Mr.. Darrow, who
had always heard that Mr.. Palmleaf,
like most men of business, was an &c
centric, but had never realized it be-
fore. Have you spoken to her ?"
Certainly not !" answered Mr.. Palm
leaf. "Of course shouldn't think of