Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-01-29
Gales ano Sketlbfs.
1HE APPLE BEE.
Continued from YESTERDAYS. J

Mandy Smith said were glass beads, but
l knew they were pearls. Her gown was
OF plum-colored fowered silk. made with
. tunic looped up over satin peticoat.
and she wore high-heeled shoes different
from any had ever seen
"Other girls in the room had eyes as
bright and cheeks as ROSY. but after all
she was a great deal handsomer. and |
didn't wonder at Rastus, not mite.
Il could see that Mandy Smith looked
vexed that Mistress Randolph should be
dressed 50 grand. for she was as fine as a
fiddle herself. She wore a new wor-tod
gown with a waist not longer than your
finger. and leg oi mutton sleeves that
made her look three times as broad as she
ought to, but she couldn't compare with
the sqnire's daughter.
How sprigish shs looks" said Mandy
70 me. 'Linsev woolsey's good enough
for Miss Dolittle. why amt it for her?'
"The squire's wife was right behind
her. nut she dida't know il. You ought
to have seen how Mandy jumped when
she spoke up
"'Linsey woolsey and silk doesn't
make the difference between n lady and
one that amt Portia wanted to wear one
one. and told it made no difference what
she wore since she wasn't vain Of her
apparel
$50 Por'ia Randolph wanted to wear
linsey woolsey. and Rastus wanted 10
wear fine broadcloth. ! thought from
that they might sometime come together.
leastwise ! hoped so.
when Rastus came around. | noticed
she always busbed little. but didn't
seem to see him. and he kept out Of her
way mostly. When she first came he Just
made her handsome bow and said:
Good evening to ynu. Mistress Ran
dolph," but after while he fetched her
mothers silver dish and gave her his new
pocket-knife to pare with. but he didn't
joke and laugh with her as he did with
the others
''IIow frolicsome they werc' When a
pairing came Off whole without breaking.
they would toss it over their shoulders aud
when it fell it a'most always be made TO
stand for their sweetheart's name. 1t
made n deal Of sport
IL sat by Mistress Randolph. and |
could see how she blundered ut her worA
II was new to her you see, but she tried
to do well. and was Just beginning to be
more handy. when all ut once she started
and screamed little, and | SAW her put
an apple into her pocket. Her hand trcm-
bled so that her knife slipped and went
into her finger. making large cut that
bled dreadful.
'Rastus jumped and they all did when
they heard her scream out. and when they
saw the cut they thought that was the
reason. but | knew better. ! knew she
cut her finger afterwards. and wondered
greatly about that apple aud if it had any
thing to do about it,
'.She said il was small hurt aud of
no consequence, hut shc wouldn't pare
any more; tor mt best she was clumsy. so
If they would tell her something that she
could do. she would try and do better
"1'ts little she can do. I'm thinking"
said Mandy Smith. and she spoke loud
enough tor any one to hear. almost.
"The squire said he had fetched the harp
unbeknown, and now if Rastus would 90
out to the convenience and fetch it in. may
be Portia would play if she could with
her cut finger.
..She said that it wasn't finger that
she needed to use, and they all said that
ii would be rare treat. SO RaStuS
fetched in her harp and threw the blue
ribbon over her neck. and she began.
ut was n ballad, all about laIv Of
high degree aud u poor lad that loved each
other, but she was forced 10 marry Il lord
or something. and how she pined away
and died: and the lad came home from
the wars all titled and grand. but he came
too late; for she he loved and married
and was now dead lie went crazed in
his mind from that moment. 1t was sad
song and so sweetlv sung that every one
stopped work to listen.
''Most of us had never heard harp be.
and it was rare treat for Mistress Ran
dolph was called n very fine singer. and
knew she had way of touching the heart
that few have, for even Mandy Smith
wiped her eyes on her big sleeves; and
some of the Young men blubbered right
out. only they pretended afterwards they
were coughing. As for the squire ard
father. they didn't care if any one did see
the tears thev shed.
'.She sang one or two other songs and
then the apples were cleared away and
Hiram Docsticks brought out his fiddle
Poor old black Jack was dead. the one
that used to fiddle on training days and
general muster. and now Hiram did it
uW>tiN d> wei tli ttlt httUti lutlhtl>-
lie sat on bench mt the farther end. ard
VIII lie he tuned his fiddle and rosined his
bow. the sparks and their girls faced each
other adown the room. They danced
money musk. four-hand reel. the Camp
bells are coming. and by and by Viginnv
reel Rastus danced that with Portia Ran
dolph. and somehow when | saw how
grand and handsome they looked togeth
er, was glad that he put on broadcloth
instead Of his wearing linsey-woolsey.
was foolish dare say.
well. they ali went home. and the
next day mother and strung the apples
they had pared. There were a number OF
bushels. seem to forget just how many.
But that was not the best Of the bee. |
could see that Rastus felt better in his
mind. and so wasn't mite surprised
that when it came Sabbath night that he
should dress up in his freedom suit and
60 over 10 the sJuire's.
''Rastus told me next day that he was
to be married on Thank giving dav; t. t
Judge Randolph came unexpected the
night of the apple bee. and that Portia had
coaxed him into letting her marry Rastus.
though he was much 10th. she being an
only daughter. and he so fond and proud
Of her. but that perhaps made him more
Welding.