The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-08-11

| COulu lldIuly realize 1t was MISS IlckeLU
who was talking, and truly | had for
while serious doubts as to her sanity.
She began at once, as soon aS she entered
the room:
"'Oh Mrs. Kimberley, am so troub-
led. | want to see Mr.. Smith, my pas
tor. | need his advice in very serious
matter, and | don't dare to call upon him.
| went out yesterday to see him, and |
walked up and down in front of the
| house dozen times, but couldn't mus
ter up courage to ring the bell. And this
morning, all the morning, | have been
doing just the same thing, walking up
and down the street, not daring to stop;
and yet the matter must be decided to-
day. And so | thought would come
and see you, Mrs. Kimberley, and ask
you to 90 over and see my pastor for me,
and then let me know what be says
II told Miss Pickett | would gladly do
anything | could for her." proceeded
Mrs Kimberley, land that was aston
ished that she was afraid to call and see
You hclself'
Poor little Miss Pickett, | thought.
Afraid of me, when | had thought of her
SO much 'But 90 on, Mrs. Kimberley"
| replied 81 am anxious to know in
what way | can do anything for Miss
Pickett"
"Well resumed Mrs Kimberley, "AIiss
Pickett Welt on with her story.
"'lou know Mr.. Jones, Mrs. kimber-
ley, the co lntryman, who has little farm
about eight miles back, and who comes
in two or three times a week to sell but
ter and eggs and chickens and vegeta-
bles p
81 nodded an assent
"'Wel, Mrs. Kimberley, he has been
in the habit Of stopping at our house for
a year or two past. OF course | never
bought much of him. our family is so
small, only mother and |, that we don't
need much. Sometimes | have bought a
pound of butter, and once in while a
few eggs; but nothingt to amount to any
thing, you know And yet he always
came Just as regularly as if was his best
customer. Sometimes he would bring
in a little present a nice head of lettuce,
or a little cream. He has always been very
kind, always would ask for mother. And
one day lie brought in some dried corn
cobs; said he had dried them himself for
mother and me, because they were Il GER
tain cure tnr rheumatism-ju Just to rub
your arm or shoulder with them, you
know; and really they have done us a
great deal of good. Wen, Mrs. kimber
ley sometimes he would walk up into
our room. and sit down and talk, and
would stay a long while. | used to fear
he wouldn't have time to sell out, because
he spent SO much time some days at our
house But then it was kind of pie SAINT,
YOU know, to have him call. He told us
all about his tarm-how many chickens
he had, and how many COWS and he'd
tell how pleasant it was in the early
spring to see the buds and blossoms.
And sometimes he'd say he thought we
would be in a great deal better health if
we lived in the country. And he has
often asked me whether hadn't rather
live on a farm than be cooped up in
chambers here in the city. And always
said | would; and 50 would, but |
didn't mean anything, and didn't think
anything when said SO to him
"'Well, Mrs. Kimberley, Judge of my
surprise: he came in to make a call last
Sunday evening. Wei, | was greatly
surprised, for knew he wouldn't be sell
ing vegetables and such like on Sundays.
And really hardly knew him; he didn't
have on his everyday clothes, but was
dressed up real smart, and looked quite
like Il gentleman. | told him how sur
prised was to see him on 4 Sunday, and
he began to tell how he was kind Of lone
some at home, and that since his Old
mother died. there was only the girl that
did the work, and that he thought he'd
drive in and spend the evening with me.
| was a little frightened, Mrs. Kimberley,
because, you know, | have never been
accustomed to have gentlemen visit me,
and especially on Sunday evenings; but
thought it was kind Of him, and made
him a cup of tea because | thought he
might be tired. Well, about eight o'clock,
Mrs. Kimberley, mother went OFT to bed,
and was left alone with Mr. Jones He
began to talk again about his farm, told
me what a nice farm he had got, and how
pleasant it must be for a woman to attend
to the chickens and see to the cream
and then every little While he would ask
me if | wouldn't like to live Oh a farm
and if didn't think it would be healthier
for me and better for mother and al
ways said | would but, Mrs. Kimberley,
think ANYTHING. Well, if you'll believe
it, Mrs, Kimberley, after this talk had gone
Oh till the clock had struck eleven and he
had asked me ever SO many times if |
wouldn't like to live on a farm, and had
answered | would, he jumped right up,
and said, Miss Pickett, will you be my
wife, and come and live on my farm Z"
| Why, Mrs. Kimberley, | never was so
| frightened in all the days Of my life
"'What did you say! | asked.
~ Say - why, Mrs. Kimberley, |
couldn't speak a word. had never
thought of being married. 1t seemed to
me there was great lump in my throat.
And 50 | sat perfectly still for five min
utes at least ard then Mr.. Jones said
again, "NIiss Pickett, will you be my
wife, and come and live on my farm ~
And then all | said was that must ask
Mr.. Smith, my pastor, and that L should
do Just as he said, and that | couldn't say
anything more. And 50 Mr. Jones agreed
to come on Thursday, and know what |
| had decided. And here it is Wednesday,
and haven't seen Mr.. Smith yet-and
oh | don't know what | thall do. | told
YOU | started yesterday to 90 and see
him, and my courage failed me; | was
afraid he would think it so foolish for me
to be thinking OF such things, and know
| he would ask me questions whether |
realized the responsibility of being mar
ricd, and whether | could promise ''to
love, honor, and obey" and wouldn't
know what to say. And 50, Mrs. Kim
berley, will you be good enough to go and
see Mr.. Smith for me and let me know
what he says? | can't see Mr.. Jones
again until know and can tell him what
my pastor has decided
"There,' said Mrs. Kimberley, ''now,
| Mr.. Smith, you know the whole story,
and now what shall say to Miss Pickett?"
/ was completely bewildered. Here
was the explanation of all the strange
destinations that had clustered around
Miss Pickett, the unvcillng of the mystery
and the cause of all my worry and ankle
ty. | was to settle the whole question of
her future life. Her happiness or misery