The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-07-03

'~~fst ~ f~Nt~1s ~" -" s"ss~ - Nt's@S
tLis svssins~ ~
.'Noighborsl@ exclaimed Ms Abbis
to whom at hrsi the idea appsarsd Va b,
alarming: bnl on sscand tkcsghss ~ FAC,
grow brighter snd she sasA: well sis
cos. I'm glad Of IL las e~iul lsnesan.
here Of nights. and somstmsa. whas IL
restless. seem TO hear al sorts Of susAI
ncisss. and i makes me 20 fdssiy ! cans
ssttls down V asy ythisg,
who are they. s,mesa. and what d
they want bsrs' Are they werknss foI
,Ls paw NIL o. The ether sids," Molten
ing with her hand tsvsrds small damned
mp stream. which raa its fsstsrsl cosrss
on tks outskirts Of the village
NO. Miss ABBY" answered Simeon.
rsspsetially, but with qunsr twinkle in
his eye. 'tnis man is no workman. though
l suppose the mill people had something
TO dc with bringing him hers. Perhaps. =
he sddsd. smile ovsrsprssding his wris-
klsd face, '.psrhaps you may tiad him Of
some uss 10 yoursslf;'' ara giving com
icai side glance u her lock Of undisg guissd
currently. he drew slowly forth from his
pocket paper. Deilbsratsly he uafolaed
IL, apparently taking satisfastOp iu trying
Mis- Abbys patience. md thes. placing
his SILVER bowed spscsaclss on his nose,
read. in high, nasal voice. tSs following
remarkable document:
Ladies and Gentlemen. Il wish respect
fully to call your attention 10 my Mstrimo-
NAL Bureau. II has bAsl in operation for
10 years, and embraces amsng its patrons
some Of the highest names and brightest
ornaments Of American sscisiy. Suitable
and eongesial dispositions brought togsth-
er and made happy for lie time. that
otherwise might have bean condemned to
melin choly solitude. Particular attan.
ton paid to ladies who have passed the
first bloom Of youth, and to those gentle.
men, who in consequence Of an early dis
appointment remained in . state Of single
blessednsss. Advice gratis, and all com
munications strictly confidential.
Respectfully solicitisg your patronage.
an your obedient servant,
SAMUEL MERRrMAN.
Terms moderate.
Miss Abby sat transfxed--a stony stare
in her light blue eyes, aud her blood ab-
solutely freezing IN her veins, through
virtuous indignation.
Simeon laid down the paper, and
glanced with grim amusement at her hor-
flied face.
"W.whst is the world coming tor" she
at length exclaimed. "To think Of that
scandalous paper going the rounds OF the
village; as for you, Simeon Knowles, you
ought to have known better than to have
brought it here. You oughtto be ashamed
TO have anyone SEQ such q Thing in your
hands. #
II? Oh, Miss Abby. Whist harm can i,
do me? I'm y. married nan, s,.ny gay,
and if Liddy should dis don't think I'd
trouble him to Ind n,e sscobd wifs--lOt
l, indeed No. Miss Ably. that ere paper
ISM ineant for men like lne, but Tor laeu
as has never tried it, aud. With sly
chuckle, Simeon vended bis way to the
wood shed, for it develyed upon him, as
Miss Abbys man of-al-work, tv We. that
her fires were kept supplied. and al the
rest OF her daily chores attended to.
Miss Abbie. gradually recovering from
the state OF CONSERVATION into which Sim
cons news had thrown her, resumed her
knitting, but the needles, by long usage,
seemed almost mechanically to allow her
mind to have FREQ play.
Poor, lsnsly sonl Glad was she to have
somethiag over which 70 muse, and
thoughts Of The probable mayor, and tan
gibls heighbor mixed themselves with
frightful disorder in her astonished mind.
For many years she had not been 50 be-
wildered as sue now was; but it seemed
as though all her percsnceived notions u
fitness aud rropriety had been completely
and that choas reigned SUI
preme.
Thus size pondered, still sitter and
more erect tiInn ever. ler needles swiftly
dariing in and ont, ami the obnoxious cir
onlar obtruding itself apon her attention.
AS il lay hall open upon the table where
Simeon had left it.
Presently be ietnrnea witt, bis arms full
OF wood, which he proceeded to stow away
in closet, AMI tLei. ,lonning bis coat, and
and tnkingup bis Lar. snid:
"Well, Miss Abby, guess that's all ]
can do for you now, and III be getting
towsr,l home. I've dose all the heity
work. aud will come in the morning to
shovel The paths, II it SHOWS to night and
il looks sight like il now" And Simeon
took his departure. leaving Samnel Msrri.
mans circular still upon the table.
After his retiring footsteps bad died
away, Miss Abbie rose. and throwing
fresh fuel On the fire, proceeded to swing
the old.fashioned crane, from which dan.
gled the tea kettle, ever the cheerful blaze.
AID bsgan her simple preparations for her
lone supper. Drawing near the table, she
eyed the nissive Isft by Simeon and timidly
taking it mp as though she feared contagion
mads . move toward sending 1T to aid
in the boiling Of her kettle, but apparent
ly changing ber mind, placed IL between
the leaves st the family Bible, which stesd
on stand in the corner. This seemed
q safe place. and she iDssnsibly felt rs-
lisved, as though the ssgacity Of the book
would act as charm. coustersctjng what
ever evil might result IRON the circular.
just after dark she heard cart drive up
the little freq uented road. and stop 81 the