Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-04

nan thet DIDN'T ENJOY gospel privileges
10 more'n he did. Then twas Deacon
Thompson when he was widower. He
Used to go over N sing hymns with
,Iatildy Jane most every evenin', n she
,aked up n lot o plum cake N was par.
ial to his little July in her Sunday school
lass, N he took her to ride over to San
ly Point grave yard, where his first wife
was buried. But that didn't come to
nothing neither. They were both ov EN-
iempery, N fell out about suthin'. Ma
Tidy Jane hain't no beauty, but she's a
good housekeeper, N fust.rate good
woman, tho she may be trifle sot All
the Shows is sot. / know 'em root II
branch, N ef they kent hev their own
way they're dreadful liable to fire up.
This slick-looking minister, Parson Whit |
comb, wanted her fur her money. they
say. He was younger'n she, n peter
of man, with red cheeks N curly hair.
But. Lor' she hain't got much money
she let that -fur-nothin' brother ov
hers waste good pile that belonged to
her on his Cddlcation. He was II lazy
soul, but was called, rs he said, to be n
missionary N ef he can make himself
agreeable to the heather, I 'spose it's as
well rs he could do. His rooms bettern
his company here" Mrs. Bragdon pauses,
quite out of breath, and regards me with
earnest appeal.
II can tell you why she didn't marry
the minister" says /, with the true air OF
profound mystery and deep importanc"
which is characteristic of the real Bran
leigh gossip.
She gives great start, removes the
spectacles from her well polished fore
| al, nnC n
er my own, allows the cat to play with
the ball of her knitting work with the
most reckless indifference, and exclaims,
lyon don't say" in tone of mingled
suspense and rapture.
Whereupon, after the usual prelimina-
ries, the exhortutions to eternal secrecy,
the hesitations and deliberations which,
somehow, seem to hcighten the enjoy
ment of the expectant listener, begin
my tale:
"The first year | visited Bramleigh, l
used to go and see Miss Matilda Jane
very often, you know. I went past her
house on my way to Morrill's meadow,
where the orchids grow, and, stopping at
the gate to admire her flowers one day,
she came out and presented me with
lovely little bouquet of spice pinks ana
lavender. Then, one day when was
heated with my long walk, she invited
me into the house to have n glass of her
raspberry-shrub, and accepted the in
vitation with pleasure, for it looked very
cool and inviting inside the wide breezy
old hall.
Good gracious !" said Matilda Jane,
Il shouldn't never get my breath again If
l walked as fur to Morull's meadow. |
wish you would always drop in here and
rest awhile whenever you take walk in
this direction. | see so few strangers
that my eyes fairly ache for the sight OF
one, and when ! have time to be, I'm
dreadfully lonesome.
$50 1 sat with her some time, trying to
make myself agreeable but, as the lady
is not little deaf, and was not aware OF
it at the time, we did not get on very well
at first
"Deef MS post-deef ms the backside
of meetin' house o week days, assent
ed my listener warmly.
"But called again and again, and after
a while we became very good friends.
liked the quaint old house, with its large,
low-ceiled rooms, the huge fireplaces fill
ed with evergreen boughs, the old-fash-
Toned furniture and ornaments brought
from over the sea by sailor relatives, the
house plants in the wide window seats,
and the scriptural tiles in the chimney
piece Then the Manx cat and the par
rot were sources of unfailing amusc
ment."
Didn't you never see the parson-
Matildy James beau-when You was
there o. asks Mrs. Bragdon, breathlessly
impatient for the dcnoucmcW of the
story
"Why, yes Tn coming to that pres
entity" say | with wicked deliberate on
as | stroke the back Of the tortoise-shel
cat, who has seated herself in my lap ant
is basking delightedly in the warm GLOW
Of the fire.
"Her father old cap'n John, didn't tax,
no furncy to him at fust- | didn't know
as he come to the house much in then
days; that's all, she apologies, becom
ing sufficiently composed to pick up he
knitting work.
"Not long before left Bramleigh tina
Fall, one bright, frosty afternoon / wen
over to the Snow woods on an autumn
leaf expedition, and called to see Mis-
Matilda Jane, as usual, on my way home
: But, finding the minister, Mr.. Whitcoml
seated in very close proximity to his lady
love, thought it best to make my eS
+ cuscs and then take an immediate depart
| ure.
"No, indeed; you mustn't think of &c
ing" said she with energetic decision
you must take off your hat and stop t
tea, for I'm going to be all alone thi
, evening. Brother Whitcomb's got to &
, home and tend prayermeeting, an
pas gong over to Tim Ramsdell's to Sc
, his new tangled corn-shellcr. Do tax
/ pity on me, for the crickets are singin
/ louder than ever tonight, and | shall b
; lonesome enough todie.'
"Yes, told Tim I'd drop over tel
, night, tho don't believe nothin' in en-
, o these new tangled machines, explaine
her father N eff you'll stay with Matt
ia Jane I'll let Ethan harness up oil
= Moll n take you over ter the village b
, nine O'Clock, or whenever you feel as {
V you must 60.
: "These melancholy autumn days, whe
il everything in nature reminds us of on
own sad decline, make lis more prom
i than ever to seek the companionship of
# congenial spirit, remarked the ministt
:. in his most solemn tones.
: Ellis cheeks were more like the ret
red rose than usual, and he had brougl
d as gifts to the object of his affection o
= anges and the Missionary Herald.
o miss Matilda Jane was extremely III
Q conscious and matter-of-fact, tho h,
r toilet bore marks of more than Ordinai
q consideration. You'd better wait Ion
n enough to Just taste cup Of tea, to
N brother Whitcomb, said she. Il won
Il be any time preparing it. The tea kett
a is ready to boil now. And if you are nj
o there in time, can't one of the deacon
20 open the meeting?"
He shook his head plaintively. W
II are too prone to shut our eyes to the vol
Ii of dooty, too prone to follow our own il
1 clinations N stray away from the straigl
n and narrow path. No, we must folio
d dooty, even tho it leads us away fro