The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-11-03


"Mabel put her last loaf of bread
down to rise, washed her hands, took
Off her apron and appeared in the sit
ting-rOOm, much 20 Mr.. Stewards re
lief, just after grandma had pledged
herself to secrecy Mabel started in
surprise when she saw the guest.
"FWhy, Mr.. Stewart, you here
come into the parIor." Mabel led the
way, leaving grandma alone. You
must have had an interesting visit
with grandma
81 think / have replied the gem
tleman, wiping the perspiration from
his face. 'She is very hard of hearing,
isn't she?
Yes said Mabel: but she does
not think So
"I see it is so. l could not make
her understand word yet from the
answers she gave me l saw she tho't
she understood all | said to her. l
guess she will conclude l have told
her some strange stories.'
"ENever mind said Mabel, she is
always making blunders.'
Meanwhile, grandma has recover
ed from her speechless Indignation at
seeing Mabel carry off Bertha's beau
to a private conference, and waddled
out to the kitchen.
"Bcrtha,' she squeaked, taking the
scrub-cloth from her hand, go right
into the parlor; Mr.. Stewards there
with Mabel
'No matter, grandma laughed
Bertha, wondering very much at her
nervous frame of mind.
AZ will finish up here, 1 tell you.
You 90 right into the parlor.'
"Grandma went to scrubbing.
Bertha, to please her went into the
parlor.
"Later in the afternoon, as the girls
were III the kitchen getting supper,
Deacon Goodman called to see Mr.
Porter on business.
"'Walk right III to the sitting-roOm,
Deacon said Mabel father will be i'll
directly
So the deacon went in.
care you pretty well this spring,
he shouted to grandma.
"'Oh, yes our well and spring hold
out wonderfully, though some of the
neighbOrs were plagued for water all
winter. How is your folks p
"'Well as usual" nodded the dea-
=
any this winter have you? l have
not seen much Of Bertha
"'Well, she is very steady, and in
dustrious, and amt always a gadding,
like some girls. "Virtue is its own
reward the writing-book used TO
say, and Mabel will have TO dance on
the pig trough, for she is two years
older, you know, then Bertha and she
=. - L., 4
"'Shoo :, said the deacon, looking
surprised.
eyes, Bertha's goin' to be married
in meetin' next Sunday morning to
Mr.. Stewart that's reading law with
Squire Howard. A drefful nice young
man, he is, too, pooty as pink. Now
he come in here this afternoon when
the gals was just at work i'll the
kitchen, just set down and visited
with me as polite, and talked over all
his affairs just as open-heaIted. He's
got house all engaged, and they are
going to house-keepin' very SOON
''The dcacOn's ears were all agape
to hear further particulars, but Mr..
PoTteT's entrance cut short the garru-
lOus old lady's news, and if Mr.. POr-
ter made no allusion to the coming
event, he received no more informa-
ton.
81 have heard some news he said
to the family, when he got home.
Bertha Porter is going to be mar
ried.'
"When? Who to p cried the dea-
cons daughters.
Next Sunday morning in church.
He has house air eady engaged. l
did not ask what one, but presume
it is the Carter house, right next to
the law Office, that's empty now
"'WhO is Bertha going to marry,
father?'
"'Oh, I forgot to tell; it is that
Stewart fellow
"'Wen, he has called on the girls,
and waited on them, too said his
daughter Hattie but L did not sup
pose there was anything serious as
yet
We'll it appears it's all settled.
The old lady gave Inc tull particulars,
she seemed as pleased as a child, and
told how sociable Mr.. Stewart was
with her. Old ladies like to be noticed,
you know
q" Yes, and young ladies, TOO, said
Hattie.
"'When Hattie went over that eve
ming TO carry the dressmaker her pint
of milk, she told her the news
There must be mistake said
Jenny, doubtfully.
. oh, no, there is not persisted
Hattie, for we had it right from the
family, and that explains those nice
dresses the girls had this spring.
Beltha's was pearl gray, and Mabel's
gold mixed. 1 thought it queer they
didn't have them alike, but l guess
they thought pearl gray was more
suitable for BRIDE
"'Sure enough said Jenny Baker,
4 fitted those dresses less than a
month ago, but L never thought OF
such a thing
"Miss Baker told her next customer
that Bertha was to be married in a
pearl gray silk, with bonnet and
gloves to match.
''That evening, while the Porter girls
were at prayer-meeting, and only
their parents at home with their
grandma, she went into the bedroom
and soon returned, bringing a huge
bandbox, large enough to hold score
of bOnnets such as were worn nova
days. Opening it, she carefully took
out large old straw bonnet, dated
half a century back, trimmed with
faded green cause ribbon. Mr.. and
Mrs. Porter looked on in quiet surprise
as she turned the ancient article round
and looked it carefully over.
"'There,' said she, I've had that
bonnet forty years, and it's just as
good as new to-day. The strings are
a little soiled, but can wash them
out, and then it will be all ready to
wear to meeting next Sunday
..Grandlna lad mot hnnn taLEnn To