The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-11-24

Mahlon Stacy me, him With beaminl
countenAnce.
Thee has placed me under obligatioI
again, friend Paul. he said. | hear the'
was obliged to resort TO force. Ii il
~ aims, the principles OF Friends. but sine
thee had TO do il. I'm glad 70 learn the'
did it well. saw the man too. for thiul
the one We met with blood on his face wA'
the one thee dealt with.
There Was no trouble in handling him,
SIR. The matter was not worth speaking
am only too glad to have been Of service
to the young lady. With these words he
moved OF
Stay. friend. cried thu fsrmer II thee
won't have compensation for thy service,
thee at least grant us another favor and
take supper with us.
The young man hesitsted, but glAncins
at the women. said. Am mot in dt eondit-
ion for the table; l.
II that's all. eagerly rejoined Mahlon,
we can arrange that. Come with me. And
the young man was speedily ushered into
chamber. where his host gave him shay
ing materials and left him, to heai mora
defuite particulars about the encounter.
in which. like many men OF peaceful hab-
its, he took deep interest
AT the supper table, John Paul, in evad-
ing minute inquiry, lot them know that he
lived in New York when at home, and gave
them some account OF the metropolis, OF
which they had heard. but never seen, and
did it in plain and lucid way that showed
he kept his eyes open during his tramp
ing,
After supper Mahlon Stacy sat on tho
varanda while the wonen-folk we're clear.
ing the table. after two or three prelimin-
ary hens, spoke his mind.
Thee was looking for work, perhaps,
frendg
No, / cant say that was.
Thee would take job il thee could get
one, msybes
That depends on what II Is.
Can tLee mow2
A smile broke over the young mans
tace, Not very well. he said. did learn
how to swing q sythe once-when I--vhen
was on q farm for month in the hay
sea,on; but I'm not an expert mower.
That might come by practice, rejoined
the farmer. You see my man was obliged
to leave ME before the hay is all made
and when l met thee I was going after
some one to take his place, and did not
succeed. Thee might be Of good II thee
would, and l would give thee fair wages.
Well. sir, it is new business for me; but
I'll do the best ] can for you till you can
do better; and as for wages. well not differ
ON that.
Then theell stay here, and we'll tackle
the south field tomorrow exclaimed the
farmer. joyously Naomi. tlica'll get u
room ready for friend Paul Ho's going
to help with the hay
So John took service with Mnlilou Stacy,
or, as he put it to himself that night. I'm
hired to Rachel's uncle and he laughed
at the same time I. though it vas the fun
niest thing possible.
The hay making was over in three days.
but John, as they called him now, remain
cd. He evidently knew very little about
farming, but took teaching kindly. He
developed . great knowledge OF horses,
their needs and wants, and altogether
ldAhlon Was satisfied with his raw hand.
The fourth day itrsined SO that out
door work was stopped. The farmer aud
John sat in the Kitchen. the farmer in
rather . cast-down mood. john watched
motions for .>ome tlme' as she
moved about gracefully. aad then tooka
book which lay upon the shell, and began
reading. Mahlon smiled grimly.
II the likes TO read, be said, there ~ NO
Cross, No Crorn. and Barclays Apoio,Y YIN
Ihe sitting.roon,. That is q foolish boo x
of poetry that Rachel delights in. But
i can do n" one any good 1t is funny in
parts, though.
1t was Hoods Poems. Some of this is
1y no means funny. said John. the
Bridge Of Signs" for instance.
l don't remember. Will thee read it
ut?
John read the poem, aud in in way
hat no one there had heard read it with |
ceiling and force.
Thee reads remarkably well. John. said
Nahlon.
Poor creature! said Naomi She refer
ed TO the heroine, and not to John.
Rachel said nothing, but her eyes were
ul OF tears.
On Saturday John got two hours leave
II absence. and returned with bundle,
vhich lie carried to his room. The next |
lay he came down to breakfast In new
light suit. Mahlon made no comments, but |
Ifter breakfast asked John II he would 60
Fith them 10 Friends meeting or some
,ther place Of worship, or would stay 1t
rome. We 60 TO meeting, Of course, but
Rachel's father was 'Piscopal, and Rachel
yoes there. Then there's the Metl,odists
md Prssbyterians
shall go to the Episcopal church said
John.
All! Well. We drop Rachel at the cross
'oad always, and thee can get out there.
30 John walked from the getting out
place TO the church. which was = mission
ny chapel. ~hsre the rector Of an adioin-
ing parish gave a service every alternate
Sunday. There we're few attendants. and
ths coming ofa 6ne.looking young man
made sensation. When service WAS over,