The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-06-15
widow Appisders. Romance
~ ElIzABETM CUMMINGS.


Oh ~ the price Of wheat MOI Emma Jane
my life has been humdrum enough With
out nv ending il with Deacon Bliss.
shan'i have himl
! Well, we'll. Rosetta, II you won't don
knows anybodys goin ter try an mak'
you. ehirped plump, rosy Mrs Phloi
looking up from the stout blue wooler
sock she was knitting, ! spose the des
con thought he'd righ, TO ask you, seeln
It's a free country. Caleb Appledore wai
an awful nice man, but SOS the deacon.
Lone wimmen are put on. Job Whittier.
more neglects your gardening, an Just see
what work you have with your fires wint'
ers an keepin roads broke out
I'm not going to msrry just to have
some one TO tend the garden and to do the
chores, said Mrs. Appledore. I've never
found fault with them that's dead and
gone, aud know what il is 10 live with q
person who does not care two pins for the
things do, and II ever do marry again
II will be TO some one who can sympathize
with me. / cant say swallow oil Lias
Bradshaw says about the marryin OF souls
and aifinities, but there's some truth in 1t
you may depend Besides, I'd like a lit.
tie romance in my life before | die.
Romance is all well nuh, said Mrs.
Phlo1, but you're thirty nine next March,
Rosetta, an sech man as Deacon Bliss
don't grow on every bush. Bein good
proyider, an splendid farmer, an dea-
con, an pillar in the church may not be
romantic, but they're good recommends in
a man you're thinkin' ofmarryin'. hope
you II think twice
| have thought, aud shan't marry the
Deacon said Mrs. Appledore, decisively;
an if that's being romantic I'm not asham'
ed OF it.
The little widow did not look romantic.
Her complexion was dull white, and her
hair was dull brown. Dull. too, were
her large gray eyes, that blinked behind
shortsighted glasses, but her form, though
meagre and devoid OF curve, was not with
out grace, anL she had clear, soprano,
voice, which, though it was unframed, she
could use it with taste aud feeling The
Harmonicum, the Dixville musical associa-
tion, made her the head OF all their COM
mittees, and relied upon her to sing all the
solos. Ind .ed, without her 1t could not
have existed. The wheezy melodeon,
which was dozen years old before it be-
came the property of the society, had at
last collapsed under the energetic fingers
of Professor Jackson Jones, who did the
accompanying, and they we're trying to
buy piano. They had given concerts
and had oyster suppers till Dixville was
tired, when DR.. Ollapod suggested iec-
ture. 1t was whispered that the doctor
had expected the committee TO invite him
to read one Of his papers on the Semitic
tongue; but if he did he was disappointed.
They .corresponded with many popular
lecturers who all decline to visit DlYvIlle
on the plea of engagements, aud the com
mittee invited certain Professor ST. Clair
Smith, about whom they knew othing eI-
cept he had lectured in the neighborlng
villages with acceptance, to address them.
The Professor had suddenly appeared in
Dixville mounted on fine gray horse.
The next day he was seen to enter the
postofiice with green bag on his arm, and
the gossips Immediately reported that he
was wealthy and had come from Boston.
He at once accepted the invitation OF the
Harmonicum committee and announced
that his lecture would be on the "Philoso-
ply OF Art" The meeting house was
hired and Mrs. Appledore with select
few began practicing some music for the
occasion.
1t was the afternoon before the lecture
and Mrs Appledore had invited her sister
to spend the day with her. Domestic du-
ties seemed to be just what Mrs PhloI
was made for. Her husband and sister
usually did all the thinking. In return
she served them with her hands; but the
few notions that did creep into her round
head she clung to pertinaciously.
The worst kind of fool is beetle.head'
ed one, she said, after long pause, au
putin this an that together, Rosetta, |
think you're preparin with your romano
in to be just that kind OF one.
don't see how sisters can be so unlike,
aud Mrs Appledore drummed harsh ac'
companient to her words on the middle Q
OF her piano. To be sure you are the old
est; but age need not make ones soul a
clod.
1t would be well for you to remember
that the advantages are not on your side,
cried Mrs. Phlor, rising with dignity.
There are bodies, yes, and dispositions,
that are clod, and PhloI ierked on hei
calash and went home.
/ ne ulCtllHE-ht % se''i '@''' ''N
next day the DiIville Times declared the
lecture to have been q most soulful and
eloquent dissertation, but Mrs. Apple
dores attention wandered, and she only
knew that the entertainment was about tc
be concluded by DIR. ollspod's sonorou'
call for moosic.
am delighted, said Professor St Clail
Smith. boving low before her as soon as
possible after the moosic never heard
such delicious voice.
Mrs. Appledore coughed behind hel
hand 10 conceal her embarrassment, AND
turning questioning look on Professor
Jsckson Jones, who stood near
You always sing splendid. said thA
gentleman, drawing himself up. ] dAr'
say put you out That flute obligato is