The National tribune., 1882-05-20
A QUAKER COURTSHIP.

They say Quaker sermon is best said un
said :" but, dear reader, my preachment un
derlies love-story and if I did not tell the
story then thee would never hear it. 1t con
Germs Adam Mott and myself, and few
other souls. III undertake it, thee must lei
me begin at the beginning; and apprehend
that for that l need not go back any further
than Adam.
I remember the first time 1 ever saw
Friend Mott: father and I were going to
meeting on a first day in fourth month. We
were turning a corner, when the wind walked
out of sound sleep and blew great gust
of rain in our faces. Then we found we had
fallen in with our worthy Friend Potter and
a stranger. The stranger was personable
man; but I saw him through the water in
my eyes, and that blurred him little. An
adverse wind seemed to blow Us together
was forced against his drab coat before knew
it; and Friend Potter said, with a smile:
"This is our friend, Adam Mott, from
Philadelphia. Friend Mott, let me make
thee acquainted with Eve Douglass"
"How, now?' said my father. "Is this
verify Friend Adam? And why didn't thee
come straight to my house?"
He shook hands as if he would never let
go: and then 1 remembered who the man
was, for had often heard mention of Adam
looked at him critically, and the first thing
I saw was his eyes, rs blue and almost as
unfatbomable as the sky. Thee has seen
such bright, op8que eyes, with a smile in
them. But tlee never knows whether the
smile means anything or not; that is for thee
10 find out after thee gets acquainted.
Adam was pleasant to look upon, and his
stiff, quiet ways were rather agreeable; but
I could think Of nothing to say to him.
Father wished ne 20 be social. I knew he
did. lie had said to me, two or three times:
Eve, when Friend Mott goes through the
Stt", he viii call on us, and I expect thee to
Tua, aim the best thee knows how. set
a~..r sfore by some of his family"
-r ana%ht I wodld try to be agreeable !;
isn' . had been fayed alive I could not
.'.- ."#"&ht Of anything to say. When
...'~ kGG the young man TO go and dine
,I. aml to make our house his home
~r maiIed N town, l repeated the
-l- .at as warmly IS 1 could. He replied
'.. ..:t ,uId 90 with pleasure he had long
C,-s. < make our acquaintance.
GuJ = !red by the way he gazed at my
dress, ,haJ ne thought was not much of a
Friend I did not wear a sugar-scoop
bonnet, but a straw cottage with worldly
bows on it, and little lace around the face
My silk gown was mode colored, and l had
on a wicked casaque, which was then the
style. Father allowed me to wear what 1
liked, for I did not belong to the meeting"
and my dear mother before me had been one
of the worlds people.
They say she was an irrepressible young
creature always ON wings. l can just re-
member the music of her voice as she song
Iullabies to me. She died when brother
John was baby. had been sent away in my
little childhood to drab-cOlored boarding
school, and had caught from my teachers and
from constant association with Friends" a
steadiness Of department which gave general
satisfaction. Father hoped had quite out
grown the troublesome impulsiveness Of my
infancy. The truth IS, dear reader, kept
myself under lock and key. Cousin Sophia
knew it; DR.. Hathaway knew it; and so did
Martha, our maid, and brother John; for
there were times when I was really obliged
TO come out and act myself before SOmeBOdy
Whether this Friend Adam would ever see
me otherwise than as a demure Quaker
damsel, depended entirely upon the natural
magnetism of his nature. Thee may wonder
what were my presentiments On that subject?
All, friend, thee needn't ask too close ques-
tions. woman may have her intuitions
but even when one tries TO tell true story,
don't thee think there aressome things one
might as well keep back?
DR.. Hathaway was in the house when we
reached home. Cousin Sophia had sent for
him during nervous attack"
"Friend Edward" said I, 4 am glad to
have thee here. Now, thee must stay to
dinner and talk as fast as thee can for dear
life"
lie did stay, and harangued so lengthily
on politics that had time to pour the tea
with Adams blue eyes looking the other
way.
Dinner was over at last; and, as soon as
father saw me alone, ne asked me, rather
anxiously, how liked friend Mott
Father" said l, II have not seen him
yet"
"Not seen him, child ?"
"No, father, he has retired within his
brains and locked himself in, and does not
come cut"
Father smiled.
lie is rather put to it for talk, Eve; but
I'm satisfied he IS worthy young man"
We'll, he kept staying and staying.
found out one thing-he had gift of the
Spirit" andcould preach with the best. But
never liked the man so well as did when
ltr .s'l to discussing the state Of the country
I6cu lis voice thrilled us like a battle
1ran,.. Z. He thought just as father and l
osa. ..a We were patriotic 30 the ends Of our
tn-,rs
recon he knows which side his bread
is nul cred on" remarked Brother John, who
had never taken very kindly to our new ac-
qUnntlnce.