The Russellville Democrat., 1884-04-10
YOURS TRULY.

AIudHiu OIdCc, Suiu ukic ho- bury, as she sat with her daughter at their afternoon sewing, "be yew goin to piece quilt?"
 1What fur, motherp"
 "Why ain't Mir. Van Vleet been to see you twice't runnin' lately? He's axed ye, s'pose. to hey himP''
 '.An' guy him the mitten.
 'sSho! You wouldn't be half so sillyi Why, he's wuth dozen ornirary men. You thought go further and fare wuss."
 'Jest what I'm goin' to dew"
 Did yew tell. him sop
 ssNo, writ; now, mother, let me be; ain't a goin' to marry no man thet thinks I'm jumpin' ct the chance. I'd a heap ruther be an old maid"
 There was nothing said for some time; then the widow asked:
 "When did yew write, 'Mazin?'
 "A day or so past. v
 Where did you git penP"
 II borrered one. Mebbe you'd Ike to know what said tew him. ,
 "You've guessed rite," said the widow eagerly.
 '.It ain't nuthin' to nobody but us. mother, s'long es didn't have him. said the girl curtly, and no more was said, but the widow sighed heavily and held her hand to her left side.
 Amazin knew that it meant her heart, for she had been brought up to respect that organ as an intimidating power. This time she did not relent, but won dered why she could not like that big, good-looking Van Vleet we'll enough to marry him, for they were poor, poor as that historic church mouse, and he was well off.
 But they were not mercenary. People called them simple folks; perhaps be cause they lacked education, and be- lieyed everything that was told them. But they were good as gold. The widows face and form. lank and un- gainly, were familiar in every sick room. They rendered unto Caesar the things that were Cesar's. They owed no man anything. though they worked early and late to accomplish it. They were good to everybody and everything, and Amazin Grace-hcr mother had named her after the hymn beginning, Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound was really pretty. So thought big, hulking, shame-faced Van Vleet, when he came a courting her, with his trousers tucked into cowhide boots and coon-sk.n cap tied down over his ears. She was the only girl he was afraid of, and he wasn't afraid of her, come right down to it.
 He was an honest, decent chap, with fist Ike sledge-hammer and a heart like a childs. He wanted Amazin Grace, and he couldn't imagine any reason why he should not have her. When he got her simple little letter of refusal, written out with infinite diifi- culty and spelled on new plan of phonetics, he, read it over and over. smoked his cob pipe, read the letter again, grinned q good bit, then folded it reverently, and put it in the pocket nearest his heart.
 "Thats all rite, my girl" he chuckled.
 A couple of months passed away. One peculiarity of time is that it treats all people alike. It does not fly from some and stand still with others. It was spring at the. Van Vleet farm, which was one mass of apple and cherry blos- sons, and it was spring at the Widow Pilsbury's little lean-to house, without shrub or blossom. The widow looked out of the window and sighed. She had never heard the ''Song of the Shirt, !" but she had sung it ali her life. It was her bread and butter.
 "There's Van yleetr' she exclaimed, looking up from her lap-board. Well, I declare! What brings him hereT'
 "P'raps he's comin' to ask yew to hev him, mother" said Amazin Grace, laughing, while sweet flush of pink stained her round cheeks. Fl wish he wouldr' said the widow, dcvoutly; 'Ishould consider it wus fly in in the face of Providence not to marry such man--if he asked me. y But Mir. Van Meet slalkcd in with a | brief good d-day," threw an armful of blossoms into the lap ot Amazin Grace, and sa:d<
 I'm ready for weddin'."
 Ibid you get my letterp' asked the girl.
 "Yep, It warn't, to say. lovin'. but took yer meanin'. I've fenced in tho hull north lot and furbushed the house up. so yer wouldn't know it, an 1 kal- culate ef we kin git married next week 1t won interfere With my spring work -heysn
 Amazin Grace sat back and looked the picture of surprise. The widow thought she heard the cat in the pantry and discreetly withdrew As the door closed Farmer Van Vleet took two little red hands in his, and bending forward gave Amazin Grace an awful smack.
 That seals the bargain, he said, but the indignant girl jumped up and or dcred him out of the house. To her as- ton;shment he didn't budge q step.
 Not hutch! reckin I've a right to kiss yer now he said, boldly-then he stepped to the door aud called, loud ly: Mother! kum here' ! The widow must have been conven- iently near, for she almost fell into the