Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-22
MIR. PALMLEAF'S PROPOSAL.

bridal veil. the December sun lay over al
the New Hampshire hills dark and d ell
cate. like the tracerv of lace work. the
leafless woods held up their boughs against
the dazzling winter sky--.the Rev. Peter
Palmleaf, studying over the embryo ser
mon in his own special sanctum glanced
up where black-bird was whistling in thu
easement and thought to himself what q
lovely world the Lord has made.
When all Of a sudden, a shrill voice call
ed through the entry:
"Peter. the horse is ready"
"W hat horse?' asked Mr.. Paimleaf.
"Our horse, to be sure,r said Miss PAUL..
ma, his sister.
''What for ?' demanded the parsop, star
ing through his near sighted spsctacles at
| the door. NM
ITO take you to Mr.. Darros So IL
"Why, am l going to Mr. Darrow's?"
swell, never ~ said Miss Paulina
bouncing into the study. with a yellow
pocket handk erchief tied around her head
and her sleeves rolled, in a businees-like
fashion, up to her elbows, "Peter, you
grow more moody and absent-minded
every day of your life Have your forgot.
ten our discussion at the breakfast table
! Why you are going to Mr.. Darrow's after q
girl, to be sure
IA girl!'' repeated the young minister
ireamily, rubbing his forehead. "Eh,
do recall something of the conversation. A
hired girl.''
"Yes." nodded the lady briskly, ''she's
going to leave Mr.. Darrow's this morning
because the family is 80 large and work sc
leavy. She can't find that fault with our
establishment, guess. Ask her how much
wages she wants, and how old she is, and
ask her whether she has any following-s
follower is one thing can't tolerate, tell
her, and be sure you bring her back. and
her bundle. must have girl to help me
before Cousin Philandy's folks come from
the CITY,"
"But suppose she won't Gomez" said the
young minister ,dubiously fitting on the fin.
gers Of his gloves.
| hcu JOu u0hO uOl COuuC,od U4LoE
Paulina, hurriedly retreating to look after
a certain kettle that was noisly boiling over
at the back of the house.
And thus charged with his mission, Rev.
Peter Palmleaf got into the one-horse cut
ter and jingled merrily away. ~
| Mr.. Darrow's farm house nestled under
a hill, in the protecting shadow Of a clus-
ter OF evergreens, with great fence in
front of it, red barn IN the rear, and a
perfect colony of dove houses at the south.
ern sunny angle; and MIR. E arrow himself,
a ruddy-faced, elderly man, With q fringe
of white whiskers around his chm, was
shovelling away the pearly masses of snow
in front of the door. @r@
"Eh!" said Mr.. barrow, leaning on the
handle of his spade, as the bells jingled up
in fl ont Of his gate. and then stopped.
"How!" Why, it's the minister! Good
morning. Mr.. Palmleaf-good morning. -
That there Sunday sermon of yours was a
masterpiece. Me and Squire Sennex-':
"Yes,'' said Mr.. Palmleaf, leisurely
alighting and tying his horse to the post
"But have called ON business this morn
ing"
For Mr.. Palmleaf was emphatically a
man of one idea. and for the time being
the "hired girl" had chased all the theolo-
gy out of his head. .+,a4.S
| "Eh!" said Mr.. Darrow, "bRsiness2"
| "l've come after young woman said
the minister.
Mr.. Darrow dropped his spade in the mid
die of snow drift. ~
| "Do you mean Dolly?" he said.
eff that's her name-yes," asserted the
| minister, solemnlY.
"You don't mean that-it's to be an en-
gagement?" cried Mr.. Darrow.
swell ,yes-that Ia, If we suit each other -
said Mr.. Palmleaf, mildly.
Jerusalem - said Mr.. Darrow who had
always heard that Mr.. Palmleaf, like most
| men of genius, was an eccentric, J" but had
never realized it before. Have you spoken
to her 20
"Certainly not !" answered Mr.. Palm
leaf. 'Of course l shouldn't think of
such thing without seeing you first"
"Very straightforward of you, I'm
sure, - said the farmer. "But, Of course,
L can have no objection if Dolly herself Is
suited. Though" and he smote one
redmittened hand upon his knee-"now I
come to think of it, you've never seen
Dolly"
mo-" said the minister serenely. s'But
that need make no difference
"Je-rusalem!" again uttered the farmer.
sit wasn't the way used to look at things
when was a young man."
'sTastes differ said Mr.. Palmlesf, a
little impatient at this lengthsned discus
sion. 'Can see the young woman"
! gi(1h NJ CNupao unu Rou aaa has uoid