The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-31
Mr.. Palmleaf's Proposal.

Drldal veil, the December sun lay over all
the New Hampshire hills; dark and deli
cate, like the tracery of lacework, the leaf
less woods held up their boughs against the
dazzling winter sky-and the Reverend
Peter Palmleaf studying over IN embryo
sermon in his own especial sane tLm glanced
up where blackbird was whistling in the
easement, and thought to himself what Il
lovely world the Lord had made.
When, all of sudden, shrill voice
allied through the entry:
"Petcr, the horse is ready"
"What horse2" asked the Rev. Mr..
Palmlcaf.
"Our horse. to be sure!" said Miss Pau
lima, his sister
"What for2" demanded the parson, star
ing through his near-sightcd spcctacles 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 in business lire
fashion up to her elbows. "Pctcr, you
grow more moody and absent minded every
day OF your lifel Have you forgotten our
discussion at the breakfast tablc2 Why,
you are going to Mr.. Darrow's after girl,
to he surc!" .....r.
"A-girl !" repeated the young minister
dreamily, rubbing his forehead. ooh, |
do recall something of the conversation A
hired girl ".'.
"Yes," nodded the lady briskiy. "Shc'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
follower is the one thing can't tolerate,
tell hcr-and be sure you bring her back
with her bundles; as | must have her or
some person to help me before cousin Phi
linda's folks come from the city,"
'"But suppose she won't comc" 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 noisily
boiling over, ut the back of the house.
And thus, charged with his mission, the
Reverend Peter Palmleaf got into the one
horse cutter and jingled mcrrily away.
Mr. Darrow's farmhouse nestled under a
hill, in the protecting ahadow of cluster
OF evergrcens, with green fence in front
OF it, q red barn Mt the rear, and colony
of dovehouses at the sunny southern angle;
and Mr.. barrow himself, ruddy faced, el-
derly man with a fridge of white whisl<crs
around his chin, was shoveling away the
pcarly masses of snow in front of his door
"Eh!" said Mr. Darrow leaning Oh the
handle of his spade, as the bells jinglcd up
IN front of his gate, and then stopped.
"How2 Why, it's the ministcrl Good
morning, Mr.. Palmleaf-good morning!
That there Sunday sermon O. yours was a
masterpiece. Me and Squire Scnncx-"
eyes, " said Mr.. Palmlcaf, leisurely
alighting, and tying the horse to the post.
81 have called on business this morning."
For Mr. a Palmleaf was emphatically q
man of one idea, for the time being, the
"hired girl" had chased all theology out of
his head
"Eh" said Mr.. Darrow; 'busincss2"
"l've have come after young woman, "
said the minister.
Mr.. Darrow dropped the spade in the
middle Of the snow-drift.
"Do you mean Dolly2" he said.
eff that's her name-yes, asserted the
minister, solemn!y.
"You don't mean that--it is to he an
engagement2''' cried Mr.. Darrow.
"Well, yes-that Is, if we suit each
other" said Mr.. Palmleaf, mildly.
"Jerusaleml" said Mr.. Dorrow, who had
always heard that Mr.. Palmleaf, like most
men of genins, was an &"eccentric, but
had never realized 1t before. "IIavc you
spoken to her2"
"Certainly notl" answered Mr.. Palm
leaf. "Of course I shouldn't think of such
thing without seeing you first"
every straightforward'of you, Pm sure, !"
said the farmer. "But, of course, can
have no objection, If Dolly herself is suited.
Though" and he slnote one red mittcd
hand upon his knee, "now come to think
Of It, you've never seen Dolly."a
q 5"Nol' said the minister screnely.
: "I3ut that need make no difference. ~
"Jcrusaleml" again uttered the farmer.
j wasn't the way Insed to look at things
when was a young man,
"Tastcs differ" said Mr.. Palmlcaf, a
littlc impatient at this heightened discus
sion. @r 3, ~s
<"Oh, of course you can sec her, /" said
Mr.. Darrow. -"She's in the dairy, skim
ming milk. :, Dolly Dolll" raising his
voice to wild below "Icre's the Rev
erend Mr.. Palmleaf, wants to see you!
There's the door, just to the left, slr."h
And, In his near-sighted way, the minis
ter stumbled into Farmer tDarrow'a dairy,
where o rosy checked girl, with jet-black
hair, brushed away from a low, olivc-dark
brow, and eyes like pools of. sherry wine,
was skimming the cream from mnltitudin-
o,,s, lnilkpans Into a. huge stonepot.
'sYoung woman" said Mr.. Palmleaf,
turning his gspectacles upon her amazed
face. Wdo YOU want to engage yOurself2" j