The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-10-05

she's growing to be such comfort to me-
She's her father all over.
Mrs. Smith congratulated herself, as
she changed the conversation, that she
had held her peace. And yet, as a half
hour later, refreshed by glass of milk
and piece Of pound cake, sheleft Widow
Holmes, she was like the Queen Of Sheba
IN one thing; there was 10 spirit left in
her. Nothing but the rejection that if
she gave it up, that would be the end of
it all, urged her to persevere. She was
sure that, left to himself, Joe would never
find a wife, and she was benevolently de-
termined to give the farm mistress and
her brother-i in-law a housekeeper. before
winter storms threatened him with an
other attack OF rheumatism. She remem-
| bered only too we'll the last one, and the
cares it had laid upon her But it took
her couple of days to recover her spirits,
and it was her husband who started her
on fresh quest.
81 declare" she had said to him in
vague confession Of her perplexity, at
| seems as if, when you didn't want them,
old maids and widders were as thick as
blackberries, an to be had for the askin
an then, when you do want them, they
can't be had no way"
"If you're thinking Of Joseph" answer
ed Elias, deliberately, "why wouldn't
Priscilly Watrous, over in East Canton,
be the right one for him She's a Widder,
but she hain't got any children, and she's
| young and good looking, so to speak
And she's forehanded, too, and none so
comfortable to hum with her younger
sisters but what she'd be glad of a change y
'Wby, she's the very one !" cried Mrs
Smith. can an old friend of Hetty's
eldest, too, an she's visited there time
with all of them. shall lest have YOU
| hitch up an drive me over there tomorrow
'Llas. | don't let grass grow under my
feet when I've got an idee An if he gits
her, she added, devoutly, 81 shall think
it clear Providence that the others
didn't want him. She's worth the whole
| lot of them"
Alas for Aunt Phemy's hopes When
next day she alighted at Squire Watrous
| door, her welcome was cordial, but there
was an air of mystery about the house
that struck her at once. Conversation
tagged because Mrs. Priscilla's mind
/ was SO evidently absorbed in something
| greater than the prospects of the corn
crop and the general prevalence Of mea-
| sles among the children of East Canton
"Has anything happened to you =
asked Aunt Phemy, after desperate at
tempts to fathom the matter by hint ana
suggestion.
"No--that ls-nothng 50 particular
has happened' with a curious infection
"Well, is somethin goin' tothen ?" per
sisted Mrs. Smith. "lou look queer,
Prissy. should almost think there was
a Weddn comm Off an remember now
did hear Caleb Walsh was payin' at
tention to Jennie. "Well, there nown-as
the luctudting color on Priscila's cheeks
betrayed her-'you don't really mean
that you that YOU
But Mrs. Priscilla did, and before Mrs
Smith went away she had seen the we'd
ding dress and heard full particulars
"1es, it is a little sudden, the eXpectant
bride said but you know when a bach
elor makes up his mind he's usually in a
hurry. Its about as bad as d widower.n
Mrs. Smith groaned in spirit as she
climbed into the seat beside her husband
for the ride home. "Maybe we'd better
90 round by Joscph's," She suggested il
d depressed way to him. ed like to set
how they're gettin' along"
1t had been but L week since Mr.
Joseph's visit, but so much had happened
to Aunt phemy in that time that it seem
ed to her much longer. Pretty Phemy
ran out to meet them as they drove up
~ ou're coming III, Of course, Auntic
It's been such while since y0u were here
and l'ye so much to tell You And want
YOU to see the churning | did TODAY
Father says I'm getting to be a famous
housewife, and am proud just Il little
YOU knoW--o this butter"
"But where is your father ?" Aunt
Pheny asked; for at that twilight hou
Uncle Joe was usually stretched at ease in
a chair on the back porch.
'Oh, he's just stepped down through
the orchard amlnute. He'll be back soon
Guess how many pounds had now,
she added, leading the way to the dairy.
And with discussions of butter, a new re-
ceipt for jelly, the last honey, and the
yield Of Phemys pet COW. a half hour
and more went by before Aunt Phemy
knew it. Her husband had stepped down
to the orchard bars. and was holding
counsel with Uncle Joe's hired man, 50
| that the two had the house to themselves.
"But where is Joseph p Aunt Phemy
asked again, as at last they went back to
/ the sitting room. "SeemS to me he amt
usually in the habit Of going off this time
OF night" she added, regarding the tall
clock, whose hands pointed to quarter
| past eight "l our uncle an me must be
getiln' home. It's dark already"
81 wish YOU wouldn't 90 Just yet,
Auntie," coaXed Phemy. ''Theres a new
moon, and twon't make any matter if YOU
amt home tillnmc. Father'll come soon,
| know, and before he gets here want to
| show you my new polonay'
50 another half hour went by, and then
Aunt phemy, starting up, repeated her
| question with more emphasis, "Wherc in
creation is Joseph?"
But even as she spoke the gate at the
end Of the lane opened, and a minute
later Uncle Joe came up to the porch
where his sister in-l law stood waiting for
him. But as he drew near she saw, with
a kind Of stupefacton, that he wore his
Sunday best, and had the sheepish air of
a bashul man caught in something agree
able, but slightly improper.
W. VI, Notlull nave DclltNcu nv
eyes" !" cried Aunt Phemy. 'I declare to
gracious if YOU haven't been a-courtin',
Joseph Badger! | only hope you have had
better luck than me. If ever try again
to get ID wife for a man, shall be clean
! daft"
I-l'm sorry you took 50 much trouble
Phemy,' Joseph said, helplessly. ~ did
not mean to put You out and, come to
| think OF 1t that night, it seemed more be-
tttin that should try myself. | was a
coming to tell you to morrow that twas all
settled. You see, thought Of Jest the
right one that same night come home
an found her here chattin' with Phemy,
an it came over me like flash that she
was the very one. You may think her
pretty young, but her mothers coming
right in to help, and AIMS got an old head
on her shoulders"
''lOu don't mean you can't mean that
chit ola girl, Ann Barnum Well, Inever.
! never She's scarce a year older than
Phemy, an not a cent to bless herself
with, an her mother to support, Well,
ha, a ID