The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-09
Mr.. Palmleaf's Proposal.

White and gli-tening, like a NAM
Goth bridal veil, the December sun Law
yer all the New Hampshire hills; dark
and delicate, like the tracery Of lace
work, the leafiess woods held up their
houghs against the dazzling Winter
sky, and the Rev. Peter Palmleaf, study
ing over an embryo sermon in his own
especial sanctum, glanced up where
blackbird was whistling in the case
meut, and thought to himself what
lovely world the Lord had made
when, all of a sudden, a shriH voice
called through the entry:
"Peter, the horse Is ready"
-"Wbat horse ?" asked the Rev. Mr..
Palmleaf
"Our horse, to be sure" said Miss
Paulina, his sister
"What for?" demanded the parson,
staring through his near sighted specta-
cles at the door.
''ro take you to Mr.. Darrow's."
"Why am l going TO Mr.. Darrow's ?''
further questioned the man of theology.
"Well, / never" said Miss Paulina,
bouncing into the study, with yellow
pocket handkerchief tied around her
head, and her sleeves rolled ia a busi-
ness-like fashion up to her elbows
"Peter, you grow more mooney and ab-
sent-minded every day Of your life
Have you forgotten our discussion at
the break fast table? Why, you are go
ing to Mr.. Darrow's after a girl, to be
sure -
"A-girl :" repeated the young minis
ter, dreamily, rubbing his forehead
"Oh, do recall something Of the con-
versation. a hired girl"
YES" nodded the lady, briskly.
"Ske'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 ask her il she has any followers
tell her a follower is one thing | cannot
tOlerate-and be sure you bring her
back again with her bundles, as | must
have her or some person to help me be-
fore 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 a certain kettle, which was
noisily boiling over, at the back Of the
house.
And, thus charged with his mission,
the Rev. Peter Palmleaf got into the
One-hoTse cutter and jingled merrlly
away.
Mr.. Darrow's farmhouse nestled un-
der hill in the protecting shadow Of q
cluster OF evergreens, with a green fence
in front Of it, a red barn at the rear, aud
a colony OF dOve-houses at the sunny
southern angle, and Mr.. Darrow him
self, a ruddy- faced elderly man with a
frfr .f fo1 l.
chin, was shoveling away the pearly
masses OF snow in front OF his door,
"Eh % said Mr.. DarrOw, leaning on
the handle Of his spade, as the bells jim
gled up in front of his gate and then
stopped. How? Why, it's the min-
isterl Good That there Sun
day sermon of yours was masterpiece
Me and Squire Sennex-"
"Yes," said Mr.. Palmleaf, leisurely
alighting and tying the horse TO the
post "But ! have called on busines:
this morning"
For Mr.. Palmleaf was emphatically 8
man Of one idea, and, for the time be-
ing, the "hired grip had chased all the.
ology out Of his head.
"Eh ?" said Mr.. Darrow; business ?''
"pve come after a young woman
said the minister.
Mr.. Darrow dropped the spade in the
middle Of the snoWdrift.
"DO you mean Dolly ?" he said.
"If that's her name, yes" asserted
the minister, solemnly.
"Nou don't mean that-it il TO be an
engagement ?" cried Mr. Darrow.
"Well, yes; that is, if we suit each
other" said Mr.. Palmleaf, mildly.
Jerusalem !n said Mr.. Darrow, who
had always heard that Mr.. Palmleaf,
like most men OF genius, was an ''eccen-
tric," but had never realized il before
"Hsve you spoken 10 her?"
Certainly not % answered Mr. Palm
leaf. "Of course I shouldn't think Oi
such thing without seeing you first"
VERY straightforward Of you, i IN
sure" said the farmer. "But of course
/ can have no objection il Dolly herself
Is suited. Though" and he smote one
red-mittei hand upon his knee, "now
come to think Of it, you've never seen
Dolly"
NO" said the minister, serenely;
but that need make no difference"
jerusalem :" again uttered the
farmer. "lt wasn't the way | used 10
look at things when was young man. "
Tastes differ" said Mr.. Palmleaf. a
cussiOn Ni'
On. oi course You can see herr said
Mr.. D4rro~. she's in the dairy skim
ming milk. Dolly 90 raising ~ --oioo
to a Wild below. Here's tie Rev NJ
Palmleaf wants to see You. There's 49, ,bo
door just to the left, sir" '"'
And in his near-sighted wav. tbe
minister stumbled into Farmer Dar
rows dairy, where a rosy-cheeked girl
with Jet black hair brushed away iron
q low, olive-dark brow, aud eyes lik,
pools OF sherry wine, was skimming Ii,
cream from multitudinous milk pan
into huge stone pot.
"Young woman" said Mr.. Palmleal
turning bis spectacles upon her amaze
face, "dO you want TO engage yourself?i
"Sir?" said Dolly, her spoon cominl
10 an abrupt standstill amid the wrinkl'
and leather-like folds Of. the cream on
particular pan.
"In other words" explained Nj
Palmleaf, ado you want good home !?
''Indeed, sir, I never thought Of sue
thingW said Dolly, all in furry.