River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-02-06
ARACE FOR A SWEETHEART.

sensation IN q tnlnly settled New En-
gland village, especially among the
young folks, tn an the arrival OF fresh
) and blooming miss, who mes to max
her abode in the neighborhood. When
therefore, Squire johnson. the only lave
yer in the place, and very respectable
man of course, told Farmer Jones one
afternoon that mis- wife 8 sister, smart
girl of eighteen, was coming in few
days to reside in his family, the news
flew like wildfire through Pond village.
and was the principal topic of converse
ton for week. Pond village is situated
upon the margin of enc 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 seat at the table, the eyes of the
whole family were upon HIM, for there
was kind of a peculiar working about his
mouth and knowing glance of his eye
thai always told when he had something
of interest 70 communicate. But Farmer
Jones secretiveness was large, and his
temperament not the most active, and
he would PROBABLY have rolled the i'm
p0rtant 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, c0ntrived TO
draw it from him.
"Now, Mr.. JONES'" said she, as she
handed him cup of tea, "what is it you
are gong to say? Do out with 1t; for
you've been ehawing something or other
over in your mind ever since you came
| into the house,
ats my tobacker, | s'pose," said Mr..
Jones, with another knowing glance Of
his eve.
"Now father, what is the use2' 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 'tis2" 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 suTest
way of conquering what she was pleased
to call Mr.. ] ones' 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 a second time, when,
with couple OF preparatory hens, he
began to lei out the secret.
ave are tn have new neighbor here
in few days." said Mr.. Jones, stopping
short when he had uttered thus much,
and slipping his tea and filling his mouth
with food.
Mrs. Jones, who was perfect IL 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
secretiveness had at last worked itself
out, and he began again:
esquire Johnson's wife's sister is com
ing here in a few days, and is going TO
live with 'em.n
The news being thus fairly divulged, it
left free scope for conversation.
"Well, l wonder if she is a proud, stuck
up piece, said Mrs. Jones
81 shouldn't hunk she would be-" said
Susan, ''for there amt u more sociable
woman in the neighborhood than Mis-
johnson. So if she is at all like her sis
ter think we will like her."
Il wonder how old she ISL" said Ste
phen, who was just verging toward the
close of his twenty first yer.
"The Squire calls he eighteen" said
Mr.. Jones, giving wink to his wife, as
much as TO say that's about the right age
for Stephen.
II wonder if she is handsome" said
Susan, who was somewhat vain of her
looks, and having been a sort of reigning
belle in Pond village for some time, felt
little alarmed at the idea of a rival.
dare be bouI she's handsome" said
Mrs Jones, 'if she's sister to Mis- John
son; for whcre'll you find handsomer
woman than Mis- Johnson, go the town
through?"
After supper Stephen went GOWN to
Mr.. Robinson's store, and told the news
to young Charles Robinson and all 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 Wldow Davis and told Sally
and before nine o'clock the matter was
pretty well understood in about every
house in the village
After the close of the fourth day, lit
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 by the
side of the read as soon as the chalse
came in sight, and watched it till it
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
| itoning that afternoon ana she had just
| taken hot iron from the fire as the
chaise passed the door, and she ran in
with it in her hand and stood on the
door steps till the whole ceremony OF
alighting, greeting, and entering the
house, was over. Old Mrs. Bean stood
| with her head out of the window, her
| iron bowed spectacles resting upon the
top of her forhead, her shrivelled hand
placed across her eyebrows to defend her
red eyes from the rays of the setting sun,
and her skinny chin protruding about
three inches in adv nee of a couple OF
stumps OF teeth, which her open mouth
exposed fairly to view.
aSeems to me they are dreadful loving
said old Mrs. Bean, as she saw Mrs.
Johnson descend the steps and welcome
her sister with kiss.
LA me, if there isn't the Squire kiss
ing OF her tu," said Patty. "Well, de-
clare, would have waited till got into
the house; I'll die if l wouldn't. 1t
looks so vulgar to be kissing afore folks,
and out doors tn; should think Squire
Johnson would be ashamed of himself.
well, shouldn't. said young John
Bean, who came up at that moment, and
who had passed the chaise just as the
young lady alighted from it. Il shouldn't
be ashamed 10 kiss such a pretty girl as
that, anyhow; I'd kiss her wherever
could ketch her, If it were in the meetin'
house"
why, is she handsome, Jackl" said
Patty.
aYes, she's got the prettiest little puck
cry kind OF mouth I've seen this six
months Her checks are red, and her
eyes shine like new buttons
We'll" replied Patty, "if she'll only
take the shine off of Susan Jones when
she goes to meetin', Sunday, | shan't
care
Witt tI,.,sa observations were GOING