Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-06


Oh, calm is deep, though storms are loud;
And flowers are gay through winters heath ;
And stars more bright where looms the cloud;
Thank God for life, thank God for death!
ARACE FOR A SWEETHEART. .
Hardly any event creates stronger
sensation IN thinly settled New En-
gland village, especially among the
young folks, than the arrival OF fresh
and blooming miss, who mes to max
her abode in the neighborhoo When
therefore, Squire johnson, the only lave
yer in the place, and a very respectable
man Of course, told Farmer Jones one
afternoon that his wife's sister, smart
girl of eighteen. was coming in few
days to reside in his family, the news
flew like wildfre through Pond village.
and WIS the principal topic of converse
ton for week. Pond village is situated
upon the margin of one Of those beauti-
full sheets of water that gem the whole
surface Of New England, like the bright
stars in an evening sky, and received Its
appellation to distinguish it from two or
three other villages in that town, which
could not boast of a similar location.
When Farmer Jones came in to his sup
per about sunset that afternoon, and took
his scat at the table, the eyes Of the
whole family were upon him, for there
was kind of peculiar working about his
mouth and knowing glance of his eye
that always told when he had something
ofinterest to communicate. But Farmer
Jones secretiveness was large, and his
temperament not the most active, and
he would PROBABLY have rolled the i'm
portant secret as a sweet morsel under
his tongue for long time, had not Mrs.
Jones, who was of rather an impatient
and prying turn Of mind, contrived to
draw it from him.
Nov, Mr.. Jones,' said she, as she
handed BIN cup of tea, "what is it you
are gong to say? Do out with It; for
you've been chawing something or other
over in your mind ever since you came
into the house,
tits my tobacker, s'pose," said Mr..
Jones, with another knowing glance cf
his eye.
"Now father, what is the use!" said
Susan; tive all know you've got some
thing or other you want to say, and why
can't you tell us what it's"
"La, who cares what 'tis?" said Mrs.
Jones, "if it was anything worth telling,
we shouldn't have to wait for it, dare
say"
Hereupon Mrs. Jones assumed an air
of the utmost Indifference, as the surest
way of con9uering what she was pleased
to call Mr.. Jones' obstinacy, which by the
way was very improper term to apply
in the case, for it was purely the working
of secretiveness without the least particle
of obstinacy attached to it.
There was pause of two or three min
utes in conversation, till Mr.. Jones passed
his cup to be filed second time, when,
with couple OF preparatory hens, he
began to let out the secret.
WE are to have a new neighbor here
in few days." said Mr.. Jones, stopping
short when he had uttered thus much,
and slipping his tea and filing his mouth
with food.
Mrs. Jones, who was perfect in her tao
tics, said not word, but attended to the
affairs of the table, as though she had
not noticed what was said. The farmers
out, and he began again:
esquire Johnson's wife's sister is COM
ing here in few days, and is going to
live with EN-"
The news being thus fairly divulged, it
left free scope for conversation.
"Well, wonder if she is proud, stuck
up piece" said Mrs Jones.
Il shouldn't think she would be-" said
Susan, 'for there amt more sociable
woman in the neighborhood than Mis-
johnson. So if she is at all like her Sis
ter think we will like her."
. II wonder how old she is2' said Ste
phep, who was just verging toward the
close of his twenty first year.
1.-THE Squire calls be-: eighteen" said
Mr.. Jones, giving wink to his wife, as
much as to say that's about the right age
for Stephen.
II wonder ii she is handsome" said
Susan, who was somewhat vain of her
looks, and having been sort of reigning
belle in Pond village for some time, felt
little alarmed at the idea of a rival.
l dare be bour d she's handsome" said
Mrs Jones, ''if she's sister to Mis- John
son; for whcre'l you find handsomer
woman than Mis- Johnson, go the town
through2"
After supper Stephen went DOWN to
Mr.. Robinson's store, and told the news
to young Charles Robinson and ell the
young fellows who were gathered there
for agame Of quoits and ring atwrestling.
And Susan went directly over to Mr..
Beams and told Patty, and Patty went
round to the Widow Davis and told Sally
and before nine o'clock the matter was
pretty we'll understood in about every
house ia the village.
After the close of the fourth day, a it
tie before sunset, chaise was seen to
drive up to Squire Johnson's door. Of
course the eyes Of the whole village were
turned in that direction. Sally Davis,
who was just coming in from milking,
set her pail down on the grass py the
side of the road as soon as the chaise
came in sight, and watched it till il
reached the Squire's door, and the gentle,
man and lady had got out and gone into
the house. Patty Bean was doing up The
ironing that afternoon and she had Just
taken 4 hot iron from the fire as the
chaise passed the door, and she ran in
with it in her hand aud stood on the
door steps till the whole ceremony oil
alighting, greeting, and entering the
house, was over. Old Mrs. Bean stood
with her head out of. the window, hel
iron bowed spectacles resting upon the
top of her forhead, her shrivelled hand
placed across her eyebrows to defend he,
red eyes from the rays of the setting sun
and her skinny chin protruding about
three inches in adv nee of. a couple o
stumps OF teeth, which her open mouth
exposed fairly to view.
'Seems to me they are dreadful loving
said old Mrs. Bean, as she saw Mrs
Johnson descend the steps and welcome
her sister with a kiss. = ss.-.
VIA me, if there isn't the Squire kiss
ing of her tn" said Patty. "Well, de-
clare, i would have waited till I got into
the hnnse. III die If &woul6n't 7,