Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-08-26

I
ielr'
"Yes, | guess so, answered, moving
away. you'll see me once more before
| start.
For reasons which it is not here neces-
sary tt> explain, | did not 90 to Africa.
Time qucnched the desire to become the
driver of camcls, and even reconcilcd me
so far to algebra, Latin and Greek, that
| gaEoped over the first and "ponicd
through the latter And it was not in
the Desert of Sahara, but in the counting
room of Heller, Hoyt X Carman, whole
sale dealers in metals and tinwarc, that |
found myself destined to labor No longer
in aprons: no longer, alas in that
contented state of mind where the
possession of a Jacket fulfilled my utmost
desire. What new Africa opened up to
me It's glorious visions of wealth and
camels, At four-and-twenty | had grown
wiser than Miss Downcr, and was pre-
pared to lament, in anapTStic verse, with
heart rhymcd to part, that had
loved, but should never love again. Still,
| | kept my books with tolcrable accuracy,
and bv degrees. absorbed something of
the nature of the metals in which Heller,
/ Hoyt 4 Carman dealt. | desired riches
rather than fame, and reflected that |
might marry a fortune. This, then, was
the Africa which opened up to me at four
aud-twenty.
That summer spent my week vaca-
ton at Pcnhamville The place had
changed little since DAYS | wore aprons
and profted by the instruction Of Miss
Downer. That worthy lady herself had
put aside the rattan and mental arith-
mctic. and gone to India as the wife of a
missionary. When my mother informed
me that Carrie Leonard was to become a
teacher of the school, | thought how
thankful the children of Pcnhamville
ought to be that they did not live in India.
The transition from Orange County
milk and boarding house butter to the
cleanliness and abundance of my mother :
table was most delightful. Pleasant,
too. was it to sit on the breezy piazza by
the old house and dream through the
August DAYS, while the stcrncr StnyIngs
~ tbo mind resolved themselves into a
rosy mist: pleasant TO watch the shadows
of the leaves upon the green grass, to
hear the flll-throatcd robin whistle tune
@,II,. - r,,cb the frnity odor of the
tr.c. and ~ drink in lone draugb,, of
the bcaItb.riyinr air. | sat thus. tasting
tbc sweets Of idleness on the day after
my my arrival in penhamyillc. when carrie
consrj came mn the rarlen-wslk In
her cool white dress with its dainty
.,;,,,,,;,,..s of Llnc She seemed wholly in
l,aon;,1, v.;,b ,Lc freshness of the scene
". ,T.,,y ,bougbt. for her features
,,..r, M. ,,b,t.,,c c,Il ,rgul,r while her
,,,,,b Y,s - ,r;9. too IaTrc albeit won.
I.-c,I,,. III No, ;f ,T, nro,tv fresh
49,. -. ,,;,Lal loy,bIc Had
'..,,' ,u NAM I.,rrrG ~ Ioye her / wondered
Our mcetin, might have been that Of
, br,,bsr and Sister but for the absence Of
l;..
w, N,tl.,;.1r V-bcro ~ H..
,,,-,5 j;J ,on cn,n. from: I'm cycr 80
..1.J - 49,, t,,, -.
U.- b,ri ,r,.,.i ,,,i,c cordially and
49,. ',aoJ ,LnS ub1. I ,r.,,.r.J.
III. ,.,., / .a,n" from, ,b,. ,,,r,
II Ill w. vi. a,.I ~,
- ~, Nv -. '''', . y r; '''' eau
IL. I,an :, .ccrs sine. ,o, won,
~ ~" ''7
W;,b .h;s sbo dro,,.J ~, hand and
-, L,cL ln,lcI -, mc ;n,cn.Iy
from nv Jipp.rcd feet TO my Panama
|bat Thi, rather pleased me. for affected
something of the fop in my dress. Her
.pj1cn outbur,t of laughter however.
d;.corccr,rd me. and asked
What is it. Carrie: DO YOU find my
personal appearance so ludicrous:"
ON mo-" She answered epdeayorinc
70 master her merriment ..Only was
thinking how funny YOU would look if
YOU wore aprons now.
When went back TO the counting
room of Heller. Hovt Il Carman carried
with me Ike = FRAGRANT odor the memory
of ,bose few davs which had been snent
with Carrie Leonard
promised at the outset that this bit of
autobiography should possess at least the
virtue OF truthfulnc,s. Let me keep faith
with myself. though it brings the hot
blood of shame to my cheek. 1t was on
the second of October. date forever
d. :. . -.... A.. p.-l..l NJ