Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-28
Gales anD Sketlbes.
THE APPLE BEE.
CONTINUED from yesterday. )

The long settee and cane-bo,tomed chairs
were ranged on one side fronting the fire
place and the round chair table was turn
ed back and set by it for Parson saltwater
when he came. II made a curious looking
chair. as You can guess, but it was the
seat Of honor. The top Of the table made
the outer part Of the chair-back.
''And. if do say it. no dresser in town
held brighter silver than mothers, nor
handsomer china. Her mother brought
it from England. As for the pewter cups.
what with the securing you couldn't tell
them from silver.
"The kitchen was low and ceiied with
big rafters, Hooks that were driven into
them held long poles where pumpkins
was strung to dry, and tomorrow there
would be the apples. Wooden candle
sticks, two or three in a bunch. were
nailed to the wall, but the best light Of all
was made by the big roaring fire on the
hearth. Fathers and Rastus's guns were
slung overhead. and under them hung the
crooked neckcd squashes. The great
stone hearth, eight feet long. stretched
before it, where lay our old yellow cat
and Rastus dog whenever they got a
chance. It was pretty often, too. for when
Tic uTe WAS HOLts5t, VIC litsi W ~ Dth w
the wall. Oh, how well | remember that
fire 1t would do my old eyes good to
see it burning again just As it used 10 in
the days so long ago. The old room isn't
in use now. Where We are sitting now
used to be the keeping room. II wasn't
near so pleasant rs the long Kitchen. and
we seldom used it. remember exactly
how mothers samplers looked hung over
the mantle-irce piece \ pair of brass
candlesticks stood at each end and silver
one in the middle, all with wax candles in
them, but they were never lit. and there
was tray with shutters Of bronze. but
they were never used either. For we
thought everything must be kept just 90.
and it's no wonder we didn't feel com
Portable there. used. when child, to
pity Parson Saltwater because he had al
ways to sit in the keeping room when he
went to see his people.
AT early candle lighting everything was
ready. and went ont for moment To-
stand on the back porch. | remember ex-
actly how it looked out doors. There
was little sprinkling Of snow on the
ground. and the hills were quite white.
The trees were all bare and frozen. and
ratified together doleiuly in the wind,
while up from the little brook came the
sound OF cold muffed waters. so | knew
it was freezing over. The Young cattle
were huddled under the she'd. and the
eosset lamb was bleating to get into the
barn. ran out and let her in
.'Wonder how | remember So well ?
Wait till You are old, dear and you will
know how we spend our age in remem-
bering our youth and in remembering
scenes that are pictured on our mind.
Their faces are turned Ia the wall in mid
die age. but when we get old and not
good for much else, we grope around and
bring them to light. and rub and polish
them till we can see every line distinct.
81 seem to remember that night partic-
ularly. for was so happy and peaceful
like. Buby went to sleep like a lamb,
and for once didn't have anything the
matter with him.
Alex. that was my husband. your
grandfather. dear wrote me bv stage that
he would be home from General Court to
spend Thanksgiving Mt fathers so my
mini was mt ease, and was Just beginning
to feel cold. and so thought | ought to 60
in. when Rastus came out and put my
pelllsse over me.
'tolu. htlsiid. ne dktu
IL knew he wanted to talk about some
thing. and suspicioned that it was abou
Mrs Randolph. SO said
What is it. Rastus? DO YOU want to
tell me anything about the squire's niece
You ought To have heard Almira Bean run
on"
"The old meddcr, How dare she speak
of Portia Randolph At all"
why. is she too good to be spoken
OFF" asked. laughing little.
"She's an angel" he said. and he looked
so sad that said to myself, poor Rastus.'
Tor seemed Ia see it all. A woman is
AN angel onlr TO the man who loves her
and his look showed that he thought she
didn't love him.
Tell sister Rusha." said.
There amt much To tell. Rusha She
is rich and handsome, and high-born and
proud. and am no match for her.
II don't see that said I. proudly.
you are well-born and handsome. with
pride enough. hope, and rs to money,
you'll have the farm sometime. and for
the present you've got youth and strength.
A true woman we,l> a man for what he is
not what he has
THANK YOU. Rusha.' and his face
looked brighter. There's Philander
Smith a-eoming and Mandy. know by
the way the horse wheezes up the hill
Here they are. How dye do. Mandy.
your cheeks are rs red As pippin. I've
halt mind-uo-well. then | won't as
he helped her from her seat behind Phil
ander on the old gray horse.
what man can be - said Mandy
Cycling At Rastus's nonsense.
.'ln little while the room was full al
most. Great baskets of apples stood down
in the middle. where each filled tray
Most every one had fetched sharp knife
aud they fell "a work right away So as to
get through and - to dancing. Some
times spark and his girl would pare from
the same tray. aud there was deal of
Whispering. 1t made pretty sight any
way. So many bright ewes and ribbons.
and brass buttons. and one that YOU don't
see nowadays.
Mother and father were in the keep
ing room with some OF the old people. and
Ras,us was everywhere joking and laugh
ing with the girls. You could see he WAS
u favorite. and didn't wonder for he was
handsome. tall and straight. and had n
way of saying Just the right thing always
Mistress Randolph hadn't come. but
hoped she would. for | wanted her to see
him in his new suit IL was blue broad
,lnsl, ,~,,l, b,-,rs l,,s,ops ,,,t l,Sxl %, a.