The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-03-24
NEIGHBOR GOODWING,S STORY.

ANA~A A1oAS "VVD " lNU
Nephew Nathan was always gentle.
L doubt II ne ever knowingly trod upon
q worm, and I'll venture no word ever
escaped bis lips that he would wish. to
recall, He early found the peace of
heaven, and has been all his DAYS
thanking god that the blessings voueh-
safed to him are manifold. It is as
I now call to mind some eighteen
months ago as my spouse stood under
the maple tree that is near our porch,
busy as is her wont, with SOME dairy
matters, that she heard the clatter of q
horses hoofs, and looking up whom
did she see but her nephew, Nathan.
He rode up to her, and without dis
mounting, saluted her bending low to
do so, and after presenting her with a
fat and neatly dressed fowl, made dis
course which I will repeat, as nearly as
my memory bears out what my wife
did tell me.
1.-the Lord hath been very good to
me. my Aunt Charity
$50 he hath, Nathan
"'My blessings are more than I can
reckon, my Aunt Charity
"Truly, you do well always to bear
that in mind, Nathan
"'Yet fear that, through so many
mercies, shall be unmindful of my
spiritual duties, and become attached
to the things of time and sense my Aunt
Charity
"'You must pray to be delivered
from temptation, Nathan
"1 have cast my eyes about, seeking
some means by which I may be tried
as by fire, my Aunt Charity
"'Iou do wrong, Nathan. The Lord
works in his own way
Therefore, I believe that he hath
directed my thoughts
"'What mean you, Nathan?'
"'Toward Mrs. Polly Prentiss, my
Aunt Charity
"Now, if l know my spouse, neigh
bors," said Mr.. Goodwing, interrupted
the course Of his narrative; "and, to
judge by the flash Of indignation that
was in her eyes as she told me this, the
answer that she gave Nathan was moi
gentle. Her words were:
1o""AO SlllCN. w DIX
hath in her to atflict a man worse thar
him from whom our Lord did drive
seven devils
"'Yet, knowing that I desire NIistres:
Polly in marriage; surely in that way
if in no other, | may make self-sacri
flee, and be tried as by fire.
"'You are pleased to jest, Nathan
"'t never jest, my Aunt Charity
for every light word we are held to &C
count
"'But heaven doth not command
you to eat bread that hath nodded, no
to take a wild beast to your home
Nathan
"'Nay, but it has come upon me will
the force of conviction; my Aunt Cha
rity, that I must have such trials as will
wean me from the world. and if mar
ry this woman | shall have such tria
ever present.
"Thereupon my Spouse" again Mr.
Goodwing said by way Of interruption
"did call him a stupid fool, and di'
pray heaven afterward to forgive her
She said to him, also, that to we'd tina
woman would be to seek grave O
the madhouse. But he shook his head
and without further remark rode away
and my spouse did not comfort hersel
by the thought that, determine as h
might, two minutes of conversation
with Mistress Polly would drive the NO
ton from his head.
| ga week later Nathan came again.
"She hath promised to wed me, m,
Aunt Charity"
''She hath promised to wed you
Nathan? Have you in truth asked he
hand? could cry with vexation an
sorrow.'
"'How else, my Aunt Charity, coul'
she promise to wed me unless I aske,
her hand?"
How else? why the shrew, had sh
taken the notion, would not hesitate t.
go to you or any other man and de
mand marriage. Of course she prom
Used you. Little chance had she of
husband. Why, Nathan, why did yo1
not we'd the Widow Abigail Spence
Tell me that. A good woman, thrift,
housewife, and gentle SOUL
"'Ah, my Aunt Charity, much did
desire to do so, but that would hay'
been to great blessing. Sorely was
tempted to ask the widows hand o.
the day that her sister Lydia wede(
young Spicer. sat that evening in tn
kitchen by the window as she knitted
and marked her grace of manner ant
comeliness; and I made mention O
Lydia's happiness, and when I did this
Abigail turned to me with tender ewes
and coyly said
CIVIL you not take pity on Lydia
lonely sister? and for an instant, ever
many minutes, I did have sore tempta
ton to WOO her; for I Judged by tina
remark she might ifurged, have givel
me her hand. Then came the words Q
the Scripture to me, to flee temptation
and I made great effort and quittet
her. have not seen her since, excep
in church, where she does gaze on M
! with tender eyes.
"fYou are q wicked man, Nathan
Appleby, thus to break the heart of
good woman and take up with shreW
iStill, having done so, Nathan, tell m
of your wooing of Polly
I" 1T was on the evening of the las
Lords day, my Aunt Charity, as tn
sun went down that made my way t
Mistress Polly's dwelling. I heard tn
lsharp tone other voice as approached
If mistook not, she was speaking t
one of her fathers farm hands and sh
said. "You great seed-sowlng numt
skull! out of n y sight, you ill-favorec
hideous-mannered clod.
"And yet you preserved inyour il
ltentions Nathan?"
"Truly, did, and I had heard he
say, II hate a man, great, ill-begotte
things" Then her father replied,