The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-26

susceptibility to slippers and mufflers,
and also to custards and cream pies,
made by Miss Keziah's own fair hands,
that the other had evinced; and also,
alas! the same faithlessness! He mar
ried Deacon Simpsons daughter Susan,
and took her off to the South Sea Islands
as missionary, where--it was a slight
balm to Miss Keziah's wounded feelings
to know-they were both eaten up by
cannibals. Ni'' 7tf7f
The next minister, after accepting her
attentions with even more avidity than
the others, proved to be already en-
gagged. And so it went on, through
long and melancholy list; and yet, at
more than fifty, looking back on an ar
ray of book-marks, slippers and GUS
tards sufficient to daunt the stoutest
heart, Miss Keziah was not discouraged.
Of late years she had been known to
look with favor on some outside of her
favorite profession. Matrimony, even
if she could not share the holy estate
with a minister, was not undesirable in
| her eyes. f.......
But, alas! she found the laity as tickle
and faithless as the clergy. Saints and
sinners were alike insensible to her ma
ture charms. Still, with zeal and pa
thence worthy of better cause. did Miss
Keziah persevere. .''-r
And now, since the Rev. Absalom
Leach had been installed as shepherd
over the flock at Glover's Corner, she
felt as if the reward of her long waiting
had come.
The Rev. Absalom was widower of
forty, or Whereabouts, very well pre-
served and good-looking, though of a
somewhat dOleful aspect, which latter
was no drawback in Miss Keziah's esti-
nation, as she thought it made him look
more ministerial. He had been settled
there but few weeks, but already Miss
Keziah had found in his manner toward
her more reason to hope than she had
found before for years. s''f ft'
Already she had made and sent him a
vanilla custard, rich and sweet beyond
all parallel. That housekeeper of his
was evidently an ignorant, incapable
woman, and probably knew nothing at
all about cooking, and everybody knew
that intellectual and sanity men like
him, who had so much more soul than
body, needed to be delicately nurtured.
Already she had knit for each of the
50 three sweet, motherless children"
pair of "beautiful warm mittens."
Already had the minister taken tea twice
at Deacon Knowlton's, and on each oc-
casion feast fit for the gods had been
set before him, all prepared by Miss
Keziah's devoted hands. Twice had he
walked home from evening meeting with
her, absolutely breaking away from
Deacon Scudder and old Mr.. 'Larkin,
who wanted to talk with him. To be
sure, her niece Kizzy Cher namesake)
was with her, but Kizzy was giddy
creature of nineteen, who did not count,
though of course Miss Keziah would
have little preferred to be alone with
the minister; for one reason, because
Kizzy was such wild creature, for a
deacon's daughter. and thought and
talked so much of dancing, and flirting,
and such things, that Miss Keziah was
dreadfully afraid she would shock the
minister. She was so full of mischief
that she would enjoy doing it, Miss
Keziah knew. But the minister was
very indulgent, and smiled blandly at
all the frivolous things she said. He
could bear anything from her niece,
thought Miss Keziah.
Kizzy wished, with all her heart, that
her Aunt Keziah would not be such 3" an
old goose" for the whole of Glover's
Corner were laughing about her. But
what was the good of wishingP Perhaps
the Rev. Absalom might be induced to
take pity on her, and take her to him
self, and that would be ga comfort to
the survivors" indeed. For she ruled
the house, interfered with all Kizzy's
affairs and they were not few
and made herself disagreeable generally.
| Kizzy stuffed her handkerchief into
her mouth, as l said, to keep from
laughing outright, while her aunt was
telling how her heart bled for
the minister, and Mrs. Deacon Scudder
tried to hide the twinkle in her eve;
but, if they had both showed ever so
plainly that they wanted to laugh, Miss
Keziah would probably have thought
them both crazy sooner than that she
could be the cause of their mirth. 1F
81 suppose he'll be marrying soon,n
said Mrs. Scudder. ''He really needs
somebody to look after him. He looks
neglected, poor mani" 30. 'fIHh 80
Kizzy saw that twinkle still in Mrs!
DOuttuCi ClOs f.|..fI
"Indeed he does need wife, said
Miss Keziah. 81 hope, and II think
he'll choose a suitable person. '''i'
81 heard a report that he was al.
ready engaged" said the deacon's
wife. ua'aIt.....s .at..-.- ...,.
Gracious heaven! had his attentions to
her been construed already to mean so
muchp thought Miss Keziah. ''0.ttin
A blush actually arose to her withered
cheek. nr.aj a.l.i, s.i tq ~ ft.t
"I-I-am not at liberty to''--she
simpered. r.... .......... ,.|
"To a very young lady; quite a
schoolgirl, in fact, in the town that he
came from" .La.laesl ug.t
81 don't believe word of it! Who
has been spreading such story as
thatp' cried Miss Keziah, actually
starting out of her chair, while her eyes
blazed with anger. '.''r ~ f.'o
sob! dare say it isn't true. Such
reports will get about, I" said the deacon's
wife, soothingly. And then she changed
the, subject at once by saying to Kizzy:
u" I suppose we'll see you at the
soeiable tomorrow night, my deare'
I'LL don't know, y stammered Kizzy.
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