The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-07-21

She was up at four. She nigh, ha'
been up at three. or. for the matter Of ihi
At any other hour Of the night Tor the'
had been none in which she had no, wsket
II vas the night preceding commence
meni, and her boy was 10 speak. This
why she had been vakeiul; this is why sli
rose before the sun.
As far as could he, The preparation fc
al early start had been made the nigh
before. The bath had been taken; th
clean clothes had been laid by the bed
the old turned black silk. with lace haste,
10 tho neck aud wrists, bad been hung ol
the rocking chair; the bonnet and glove
and fringed parasol laid out on the sofa
Never had dress and bonnet been mon
carefully busted; never had lace and liner
more carefully laundried
Johns mother knew when things wer,
wsll done, so it was with complacen, feel
ing that she drove, in the well-kept spring
wagon, behind the sleek bay. 10 the col.
lege town. But ss she approached the
church her heart was beating faster, and
when the hired boy helped her from the
wagon. he felt the nervous tremor IN her
thin hand
She was early. The church WAS not yet
open. She had half mind to 80 to her
Johns boarding house. Had she done
this, she would have found the object OF
her solicitude not yet dressed for break
fast, il being barely half.past seven, But
bound upon getting good seat, she sat
down upon the church steps, and waited a
weary time till the janitor came to open
the door and ring the bell.
She entered the church followed by an
other woman, who was young and looked
very warm; as well she might, since she
had walked three miles from the country.
and wore an alpaca dress, bright blue, with
yellow satin ribbons and white cotton
mits.
Johns mother seemed, by comparison,
most respectable in her thin black silk and
white Grape shawl, and those loose brown
kids. She hurried along the aisle, as
though nervously fearful yet OF missing
good seat from which she could hear and
see her John, She glanced in frightened
way TO right and to left, after the manner
~ ,.I,o Enl ta AL,
in panic lest she might have TO stand or
retire from the house She took the very
front seat, and henved a sigh of relief like
one safe at last.
As the people assembled, Johns mother
began to suspect that they avoided the
frsnt seat. Fearing there might be rea.
son for this, she moved back four pews.
But no sooner was she there seated, than
she felt lost behind the towering heads
and bonnets
OH cried her frightened heart, am
afraid shan't be able TO see John, and
how his new clothes look; or the gestures.
or anything. I'll go back to the front seat.
This she did, and sat there with feel
ing of graduation in her good fortune, as
she saw hurrying people with anxious
faces pressing this way and that to the
good seats.
After time man touched her on the
shoulder and said, These seats are reserv
ed for the trustees, ma'am.
Johns mother got to her feet trembling,
swift look of alarm-of dismay-coming
to the thin face. What il she should have
to go away back where she could not hear
his oration, and could only half see HIM
What il she could not get seat at all?
She lost no moment in beginning the
search. Up one aisle and down another
she went, the poor face turning this way
and that in pathetic appeal, with a half
crazed look in it,
Young women, young men, children
stared, smiled, giggled, but no one offered
q seat. II the piteous alarm in her heart
could have been seen as she was suffering
it, all the audience would have risen to
their feet and entreated her acceptance.
Weared at length with unavailng wan.
derings, she turned to little girl at the
aisle end of the seat
I'll hold You on my lap, my DEAR if you
will let me have your seat
VIII you let me do it, mamma? want
10, said the child, turning an eager face to
the woman beside her.
The mother gave consent, and the child
stepped into the aisle.
When Johns mother was seated, the fine
ady said to her child, you can sit on
lap.
But Johns mother protested.
am younger than yon, and can better
lold her, said the handsome lady.
cannot take the seat unless you will let
ne hold her, persisted Johns mother.
md this she held TO-
There could hardly have been stronger
ontrast than these two women presented;
he one quantity old fashioned in dress and |
manner, the other faultless in style. quietly
legant, her whole expression ineffably ,
,racious /
/ wouldn't care, said Johns mother, apol-
getically TO the other. only my son is a
enior, and he's going to make a speech,
nd naturally want TO hear him. A lad
ont graduate but once in lifetime.
Mammas son is going to speak to; he's a
enior, tool said the child, with eager
leasure. I'll show him to you when be
ONES in. ID