The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-04-20

grown irate, threatened to sue. The
board, becoming defiant, just wished he
would sue they should like to see him
sue. At this retort my fathers feelings
rose to the summit of moral indigna-
ton; he wouldn't sue he scorned to
lower himself to quarrel with such
men but he would pay no more taxes
in that town ; and energetic prepara-
tions for our removal began.
Hannah and I were sitting upon the
edge of Mr.. Farley's coal-bin when I
communicated to her my fathers de-
cision. AS soon as she saw was in
earnest she dropped over upon the
anthracite, and gave vent to flow of
tears. She declared that she couldn't
and wouldn't have me go. She should
die with loneliness, and she wished she
was dead. A few tears Of mine drizzled
over into the bin and mingled with
Hannah's. Afterward she appeared re-
conciled, and manifested intense interest
n our preparations, obtruding her ser
vices at her house until my mother de-
clared she should never be ready to go
if that Farley girl couldn't be kept at
home.
The morning of our departure dawned
at last. Ny father and mother went to
the depot, leaving me to follow, as
had come, on the last load of goods.
1t was an April morning, succeeding
heavy rain-storm, and the waves of my
fathers mud-puddle ran high. Hannah
sat upon the old petunia mound by the
gate, sobbing. 1 raised her dropping
form to bid her farewell, pushed the
hair from her face and gave her my last
kiss. She clutched frentically at my
jacket, but, realizing that delays are
dangerous, I sprang upon dry-goods
box in the wagon. The horse, most Sc
verely afflicted with spring-halt, started
off of a fearful gallop, and we disap-
peared around the corner forever.
AS soon as circumstances would per-
nit addressed letter to Hannah, and
soon received reply, of which the fol-
lowing is verbatim copy:
My Dear Gorge -
L now set down to let you know how
I am. 1 have had soar throat merely
oil the time sence you Left. Somebody
has shot our Cat. School commences
next week. 1 dred it, 4 new family
has moved into your House, there is too
boys, Eddy and willy. II we never see
each other again on urth hope we may
meat in heaven. Yours Truly,
HANNAH A. FARLEY.
The letter also contained two blots
and a grease spot and was directed by
Hannahs mother, wrong side up with
| care wrote her once more, but received
| no answer a failure which attributed to
! her aversion to all literary labor rather
! than to any diminution in the ardor ol
! her affections.
/ attended school for the next three
or four years, and then entered the
Who'll ssale mercantile business in the
service of an uncle. I became rising
young man. Some of the time 1 rose
rapidly, as gaseous matter and young
men between the ages of sixteen anC
| twenty-five are in the habit of doing
Our family also prospered. From three
ply in our parlor we passed by easy
stages through body Brussels to Eng
lish Wilton, and we numbered the
successors of Mary Sullivan by two
and by threes.
Presently arrived at that age wherea
extremely witty people begin pointing a
young man peculiarly sharp and or
iginal iests concerning the subject O
matrimony. At first the implication
therein conveyed that had only t.
choose was gratifying to my vanity; bu
by the time began to direct any seriou
thoughts that way myself, so much soli
wit had become an insufferable bore
There were girls in large quantities an
excellent qualities all around me, bu
the thought of advancing to anythin
serious with any one of them alway
suggested Hannah.
| MY "reminiscences of Hannah were nc
such that I could create an ideal fem
| nine character of her; but when a fe
[ low has sat in coal-bin with girl an
: taken alternate sucks on as many Jacl
3 son-balls as l had with Hannah, u
{ subsequent experience can ever entirel
|, efface the impression. / had O curiosit
/. to Anow what Hannah had become. Th
D surest way to satisfy this curiosit
i seemed to be to go and see her. I az
q cordingly went.
a The girl was pretty. She had cole
: and frankness she had grace and r
pose of manner. Her fnger-nails WEI
j. scrupulously kept, root and crown, an
b her hair was glossy, as well as fashion
: ably dressed.
n The year we left town Hannah
II mother died and after the billows
e affection had surged over his soul +,
h about six months, Mr.. Farley again b
Is held the sun and took new wife. III
If new wife had taken infinite pains wit
e her step-daughter. The estep-daughtel
8 present appearance, as compared wi
d her former condition, bore favorab
testimony for the lady's system. Ha
1 nah said that when we were children
le had seemed like q brother to her, and
as at once placed myself upon a fratern
a standing. I Intercepted her in regal
ly to the occupants of my old home, al
she finally confded to me that she W
le engaged to the younger Wetherbee, Il
NJ 0Willy" of her letter.