The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-09-27

never cared 10 ask herself whether
she was child or q woman. Sun.
. shine had been plenty with her, and
she had eagerly sugared and gilded
the plain things that farm life affor.
, ded.
! Before the first year came to an
end she felt that she should soon ar.
rive at a patriarchal age if she did
J not do something to kill the time
/ which died so hard on her hands,
Teach SCHOOL, guess not" said
her father, when she broached the
subject to him. "You amt starving
yet, and If you want some new furbe-
lows, just say so, at not come at 1t
slantin' ways like that"
81 don't want anything, father; but
I there is so little to do at home"
"Nonsensel In my time. gals was
always full of business. Can't you
] " n
make sheets and pillow.cases, and get
ready to be married. Who knows
but somebody'll ask ye one of these
, days? Waal. waal, folks can't always
have their'd rathers in this world
J, | amt willin' and that's the end Of
(. it," a5 w T
But this was not the end Of it, and
J Dora easily obtained a school. She
:. developed a governing talent which
charmed the committeeman, and the
congenial labor In the company Of
little children took her out Of herself,
and infused new life into her hope
deferred. a. ~
Every week she walked TO the post
Office, three miles away, to ask for a
letter, going in with bright flush
on either cheek, and coming out pale
and dull eyed after the stab of disap-
pointment. / wonder that people in
the country are SO anxious to be
postmasters; if they only knew it
they are actors in more tragedies
than any member OF theatrical
stock company. Much sealed happi-
ness passes through their hands; but
they have to refuse manya mariana
in the Moated Grange-weary wo-
men who reach a hand out Of their
dull lives for a letter and draw ii
back empty.
1t was far into the second year be.
fore Joe's first letter came. 1t was
surely fanciful and foolish thing
for schoolmistress to do, but Dora
carried it to her own little room and
put on her red dress, before she read
Joe's letter.
Joe was working in the mines of
Colorado. His luck had not yet
come, in nuggets at least, but hard
work and sober living were slowly
giving him the advantage over the
other miners. He was never so
well, and he loved her better than
all the world.
Dora lived on this letter for many
weeks, and she set Colorado" for a
copy so often 10 her scholars that
they will write that word better than
any other to their dying day.
Letters came oftener as years drew
on; sometimes Joe was up in the
world, sometimes down; once hiscare.
fully boarded gold was stolen from
him and he had to begin all over
again; but this was nothing to long
illness, in which friend wrote to
Dora as soon as Joe was out of danger.
Then Dora envied the doves their
wings.
New Years day was the hardest Of
all to bear. She could not help a
strong pressure of excitement when
che put on the red dress. which grew
more and more old fashioned, and
watched the sun go down on the road
which Joe must travel when he
come home. The next morning she
fitted her shoulders sadly to the bur.
den of another year. 'm
One young farmer after another
found bis way to the old farm house
on Sunday evenings, and Dora push
ed them down an inclined plane Of
discouragement so gently that they
scarcely knew whether they had
meant to court her or not. IL was
not the least Of her trials TO meet the
entreaties of her sister and the rough
arguments Of her father, when one or
two more persistent suitors would
take nothing less than "no, for their
answers. "