Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-18

LA Y, MARCH lS, 1851. e I
Hurry, Phebe!' she admonished the
milkmaid; ''supper's all ready nov, and ]
expect nothing but what these ladies is
i half starved" W
The cheer Of woodflre revived our
somewhat dropping spirits. The voices OF
frogs and extreme WEAKNESS .are enough
to depress the stoutest souls.
\ Mrs. Savage, .'Phebe, my darter,'' and
'smy son, John,'' compose the family =
Mrs. Savage wears her hair short, and looks
as determined as cheerful. When not
about her homework, she makes log-cabin
quilts. and hooks rugs. sPhebe has straw
cOlored ringlets, she is nineteen years OF
age, she sweeps, washes the dishes, and,
when John is busy, Goes the milking. John
looks manly, but seems quite overcome by
shyness. He wears red shirts. is employed
in getting out lumber in day time, and
in counting in the evening. All this we
| learned before noon the next day. and we
also learned that the first of May is rather
early in the season in the backwoods, if
there are no east winds, and the skies are
\ clear. gsg
Early next morning we took a little
tramp into the woods. We found the pic
turesque RUNS of an old camp, its crumb-
ling logs beautifully drapAd with moss. a
lovely little, round pond. blinking bright
~ under green fringes a plenty of the
pinkest arbutus blossoms, and drift of
white moosewood buds and delicate ferns.
| We heard the low. sweet. long song of
| bird that we had never heard before, but
the woods were wet, and the air was SO
chilly and damp that we were glad to make
orr way home in a very short space of
time. ..,.s{l.s;'-' ..f
II am interested in Phebe and her weep
ing ''said Marianne. ssAfter all, human
nature is more interesting than any other
kind, at this season of the year. especial
w." oE8H 5G
II who love nature much as sinners can,
Love her where she most grandeur shows in man
!. Iquoted s'Mrs. Savage said the elder
was coming tonight, and am anxious to
U
tween this expected event and ,Phebe's
weeping2" ~ H4
II imagined that her tears were evoked
by the pathos of the New York Ledger"
said Marianne. II saw them dripping
profusely over the first page, while she piled
the dish-cloth this morning" a
We went home to find the house redo
lent of spices as on Thanksgiving day, and
Mrs. Savage in perfect bustle of cook
cry. Phebe's red cheeks were quite blister
ed with tears. and she was beating eggs
with an air of martyrdom.
''The elder, he's as fond of sweetmeats
as a child, and Pm trying to git upsome-
thing that he kin eat, though Phebe's ac
tions put me all out, and hardly know
what Pm doing of. Who ever heard of
girls crying the hull enduring time for
two or three days. coz her beau was COM
lng," said the elder lady. 20
''He aim my beau, no MORN another at
all. 1 won't have him for BEAU" assert
ed the fearful damsel, wiping her eyes with
her apron, 'sand I'd think you'd be asham-
6U W Gall IT'LL UtldI U6IOtC lOIhS.
"Strange that girls never will know when
they're we'll off. The elders the genteel-
est man in the county. to say nothing Of
the privilege of marrying into the gospel,
so to speak An Phebe reckons she's put
upon the worst kind, coz kalkerlate she
she'll marry him. He'll make an awful
good husband, n he's as fond Nv her as
ken be-
II ,ould think he was.'' gasped Phebe, |
handling her egg-heaser like weapon of |
vengeance. "Tain t me he likes, n all the |
neighbols know it. He amt got no prop |
erty hi rself."
''Phebe Jane Savage, what are you talk
ing about ?" exclaimed her mother, in a |
tone of evaporation. IF you amt keer-
full you'll lose him after all. There aih't |
girl round here but what would jump to
git him-girls better off'n you be, too.''
They're welcome to him, 'widderer's |
peake,' m all.'' said Phebe. He"
Marianne and l retreated to the sit
ting-room. The fire snapped cheerily
The birds were singing outside. and WI
could see from the window we sat, the
bold peake of Katahdin, softened into
velvet cloud by distance, over the tops OF
the waving trees. Marianne busted her |
self with her sketch book, while idly
watched the antics of an impish kitten.
and meditated on Phebe's troubles.
The elder was expected before tea time.
and we did not desert our post by the win
dow until he made his appearance. He
travelled in what they called the ''commo-
dashun," primitive conveyance, driven
by jovial young man from the end Of
stage route, seven miles below. He was
tall, ungainly man of forty or thereabouts.
He wore shiny black broadcloth and tall
hat, resembling a stage countryman in his
Sunday best. His hair was black, oily and
curling His eyes we're beautifully blue,
but looked both sleepy and sinister, and
when he moved his hat we were anus
ed to notice the 'swidower's peak,' whicl
Phebe had mentioned SO scornfully. Thu
expression of his face was strange mix
ture of both Incidence and sharpness. He
carried a gay carpet-bag in his hand, and
invariably swallowed before he spoke. HI
addressed Mrs. Savage as s'Sister Savage"
and rushed forward to greet her with
smile which was sultry in it's sweetness.
Phebe, without paying the least attention
to the elder, was exchanging great deal
of mysterious banter with the jovial young
man under his very nose.
II am afraid that young man is on the
downward road,'' sighed the elder, view
ing their proceedings from the window,
after he had reluctantly entered the house.
Mrs. Savage looked alarmed. and hast
oned to coll Phaha who did NOT hastan II,