The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-08-23

good man 8 VO. Ce trembled.
Priscilla Davis, Molly's dearest
friend. walked four miles, as usual, to
meeting that day, walking barefoot the
greater part of the way to save her one
pair of morocco shoes, which. with her
white stockings, she put on under con-
venient tree. ~
Do not pity her, girls, because she
had no fashionable shoemaker to sup
ply her with unlimited boots. Many of
our great-grandmother did the same
thing and lived merry and wholesome
lives, and bequeathed to their descend
ants strong bodies and brains Id q
When your very dearest friend goes
to Montana, or Japan, you cable or
write every week, but for Molly and
PrissY, alas! there was no such pleas
ure possible. Postage was costly, and
there were few mail routes in the whole
country. Between Manomet, which was
twenty miles away. and Douglas, there
was none; and the friends would have
to depend on chance travellers for notes
and news.
There were tears in Prissy's blue
eyes as she babe Molly 'good-by,"
but it was very quiet good-by. Our
Puritan grandmothers did not rush into
each others arms and kiss ecstatically;
they did all things "decently and in
order" The family farewells were
equally subdued. The horses were led
up to the mounting-block. Molly had
mounted with a light leap. Luther
tucked her little foot into the stirrup,
and she babe father, mother and
brothers good-by simply. though it
was most momentouS setting out into
the world.
On Molly's summer of school teach
ing it is not my purpose to dwell. She
taught the children to knit and to sew,
and every Saturday drilled them in the
catechism. The school-house was not
unlike some we may see in primitive
New England towns to day, square in
shape, painted red, good deal battered
w thout and within, and anchored in a
treeless sea of sand. Once only during
the summer she heard from home. Asa
Parker, Quaker, riding through Man
omet and Douglas on his way to Guar
terly Meeting, stopped over night with
his friend. Squire Crowde, and became
the bearer of the messages.
1t was on morning in early October
that, her school closed, Molly started
alone on her ride home. The sixteen
dollars she had earned Ga dollar a week
and board were Molly's wages) were
carefully packed in the saddle-bag.
Captain Israel had arranged to 90 to
Boston about that time, and as his
route lay through Douglas arrangements
had been made for Molly 10 go home
under his protection. But Mrs. Israel
had a recurrence of certain spells to
which she was subject, and the Cap
tain's departure became indefinitely
postponed.
Molly, however, determined 10 go on
the day set. She rode Baal coal
black horse, one that she had ridden
and petted all summer, and which her
father had consented to buy for her use,
! and had bargained for ont Captain Israel
visit. Molly had no fears at all about
riding the twenty miles alone though
eight of them led through thick
woods
For the first five miles hor way lay
between sunny reaches of farms, W tn
here and tn re a farm house. Great
heaps of yellow pumpkins lay in the
corn-tields, and piles of greetings and
golden-sweets under the trees IN the
orchards. The sunny, hazy air was de-
licious with fragrant, fruity smells, ard
Molly was conscious of a quiet happi-
ness as she rode along, her summer s
work successfully ended. Many regrets
had been expressed that she would not
stay till after the husking frolic at Seth
Blackmer's; the husking feast was
already in preparation, and as she drew
rein at the great gate, in obedience TO
a signal, Love Blackmer came running
down to the road to bring a pound
cake and mince turnover for Molly
refreshment by the way. Her father
came along behind her.
YOU'D better stay, Molly" said Seth.
"Ef you's my gal, | wouldn't risk yer
through that woods alone, n l don't be-
lieve but Squire Crowded be my way O.
thinkin'.
But Molly only laughed. what is
there to he afraid of?'' she said "If
there are any wolves or wildcats in
Manomet woods they don't roam by
daylight; and as for Indians. there
isn't wild Indian within hundreds of
niles"
"If there amt any wild Injuns
there's drunk ones enough" said Seth.
"Anyhow it's borne in on me that faint
right f. yer to go alone, "
The golden rod and the deep purple
blue asters bloomed by the ways de in
great lush crowds and the corners OF
the staggling fences; and there afar of
in the east 81, AIMED the blue line of the
ocean. The ar was of that electric
quality that exhilarates Ike an intoxi-
eating draught, and it was in brisk
and cheerful mood that Molly rode away
and plunged into the forest. Then, al
most at once the blight sunshine gave
place to shade, pleasant but dense. Her
was truly a primeval forest, Ferns grew
close and high. Grape and bitt lr-sweet
vines linked trees and shrubs into al
mNsf in, no atra hla thiokafS