The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-11-25

| hutn was small ana ulmpleu, dnt
exquisitely fresh, like the rosy peacl
which hangs ON the south wall aftel
the first frosts, and she had viOlet-grey
eyes darkening to blue around the edge
of the irides, and dewey, scarlet lips, ,ant
a slender throat, circled with string
of red wood-berries; and, as she worked
there was an unconscious grace in hel
motions that made you like to look al
her.
"Yes," said Mrs. Elan Skinner, an
swering the deacon's remark; 81 see
1t was dreadful unfortunate dispen
sation that Mrs. Cary should be taken
away"
-Four years ago this very month,
said the deacon, meditatively; -four
years-ago. A houseful of boys is a
tryin' thing, Mrs. Skinner =
Il should think it must be- said the
widow.
And it's remarkable orderin' of
Providence that L should have six boys
and you six gals
Yes said Mrs. Skinner, breaking of
needleful of gray yarn; but my gals
has all done well. Malindy, she's mar
ried, and lives in Burlington. and
Sophrony is teachin' school cross the
lake, and Sarah's at the factories in
Lowell, and Alethea's lived to Squire
Halls these two years, and Kate's do.
ing well at the millinery business, and
Ruth, she kind O. makes herself gener-
ally useful to hum. Ruth amt like the
others; she amt good for much
The deacon hitched his chair, with a
grating noise, across the hearth, to get
better view at the little figure bend
ing over the pan of apples.
She's good to look at, pretty anyhow,
he said with cumbrous attempt at a
joke.
.Humphp said Mrs. Skinner, whose
respect for the merely ornamental was
extremely limited.
Il s'pose Sarah and Sophrony's comm
home to Thanksgiving hazarded Mr..
Carey.
Mrs. Skinner nodded briefly.
wall, that's sort O. providential too,
said the deacon, somewhat embarrass-
ed. Bein' you've got so many gals,
,nebbe you'd spare one
Spare one?'
we hain't no women folks to our
house since Hepsibah Duckett stole the
spoons and went to Canady; and l set
my foot down not to have no more hir.
ed help, and it was sort O. forlorn last
Thanksgivin' Day, and the boys, why,
they missed the turkey, and so kind
o. thought if Miss Ruth wouldn't OBJ
ject to come over and ginerally hev an
eye to things, it would be sight O ac-
,commodation.'
I'm willin', if Ruth is said Mrs.
Skinner, cOmposedly.
We've got as fine a turkey as ever
squawked,' went on the deacon, and
Jared he fetched in pumpkin off the
side-hill lot, bigger'n half-barrel, and
/ bought peck O. cranberries from
Huldy Simons, so there amt no lack O.
things to do with. What dye say,
Miss Ruthg
Ruth hung her head. and blush
ed like the pink-cheeked apple she had
just taken up.
II have no objection, if mother
thinks it proper
-Properv echoed Mrs. Skinner. why
on airth shouldn't it be proper? Of
course it's properp
'Wall,' said the deacon, rising to his
lanky fullness of height, I'm sure I'm
very much obliged to you, Miss Ruth,
and to you, too, marm.'
Don't be in hurry said Mrs. Skin
ner, Hospitality.
Il guess I'd better be goin', decided
Mr.. Carey. There amt no tellin' what
mischief the boys may be gettin' into
afore L get back. Boys will be boys,
and they need a dretful sight O. watch
in'.'
Dear, dearv sighed the widow.
Jared he wants to wear his Sunday
clothes to sfngin' school, and John
wants spendin' money of his own, and
Josey he sticks out fort he's got a
right to burn a candle arter ten at
night eff he's a-mind to, and Lewis he
buys picter papers every week, as if
money growed on blackberry bushes,
and i do feel to get most discouraged
sometimes. There amt nobody but a
father knows what a fathers trials is,
Mrs. Skinner
And the deacon went out with a
groan.
The deacon don't seem to realize that
his boys is men growed, sad Mrs.
Skinner, as she rose to light candle,
Amt you most through with them ap-
Piles, Ruthp'
And Deacon Obed, plodding home.
ward through the deepening dusk, with
the dead leaves iustling under his feet
and the raw air biting like the stings
of million infinitesimal gnats, thought
of Ruth Skinns.r's rosebud face, and
wondered how it would seem to have
her at the Carey farmhouse for a per
petual blosso ming of brightnessl
4 amt so very old, arter ALL thought
Deacon Carey, and there amt no law
against a mans marTyin' again, as evel
l heered on. But she's young ant
skeery, and i must drive kind o. SLOW
at first. 1t was a good idea, that o
mine, borrowin' her for Thanksgivin'
Ruth, Ruth, it's the prettiest name go
in, and she's the prettiest gall J
couldn't think o. nothin' but the little
strawberry apple s on the gnarly tree b!
the well every ii me / looked at he
cheeks. Besides !, she is asavin' creeter
l know. for I W atched her parin' then
apples, and she never wasted a grain
and she's worn that brown caliker eve
since last Marcl H.
And the dea con chuckled as thes
thrifty meditat ions passed through hi
brain.
1t was Than ksgiving morning, chill
and raw. with the SUBMITS of the Ad