The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-05-16
ccllancnus.
Yours, Truly.

"Amazin Grace" said Mrs. Plsbury, as sh,
sat with her daughter at their afternoon sew
ing, "be yew goin' to piece quilt?"
"What fur, mother?"
"Why amt Mr.. Van Vlect been to see yol
twictt runnin' lately? He's aXed we,
s'pose, to hev him ?"
AN guy him the mitten."
,'Sho! You wouldn't be half so silly
Why, he's wuth dozen ornirary men. YOU
mought go further and fare wuss."
Jest what I'm goin' to dew"
"Did yew tell him so ?"
mo, | writ; now, mother, let me be;
amt goin' to marry no man tibet thinks Pm
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, Main? ?"
"a day or so past"
"Wherc did you git q pen?"
81 borrercd one. Mcbbc you'd like to
know what said tew HIM"
you've guessed rite" said the widow
eagerly.
ut amt nuthin' to nobody but us, mother
s'long es | didn't have him" said the girl
CURLY, and no more was said, but the widow
signed 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 or.
gan rs an intimidatng power This time
she did not relent, but wondered why she
could not like that big, good-looking Van
Vlect well enough to marry him, for they
were poor, poor as that historic church
mouse, and he was not well of.
But they were not mercenary. People
called them simple folks; perhaps because
they lacked education, and believed every
thing that was told them. But they were
good rs gold The widows face and form
lanl and ungainly, were familiar in every sicl;
room They rendered unto Caesar the things
that were Caesars They owed no man any
thing, though they worked early and late to
accomplish it. They were good to every
body and everything, and Amazn Grace
her mother had named her after the hymn
beginning, "amazng Grace, how sweet the
sound''-was really pretty. So thought big
hulking, shame-taced Van Vleet, when he
came n counting her with his trousers tucked
into cowhidc boots and a coon-skin cap tied
down over his ears. She was the only girl
he wac afraid of and he wasn't afraid of her
come right down to it.
He was an honest, decent chap, with fist
like sledgc hammer and heart like a
child's. 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 diff
ticulty and spelled on a new plan of phonet-
les, he read it over and over, smoked his cob
pipe, read the letter again, grinned n good
bit, then folded it reverently, and put it in
the pocket nearest his heart.
CHATS all rite, my girl" he chuckled.
A couple of months passed away, One pc.
culiarity of time is that it treats all people
alike. 1t does not fly from some and stand
still with others. 1t was spring ut the Van
Vleet farm, which was one mass of apple and
cherry blossoms, and it was spring at the
Widow Pilsbury's little lean-to house, with
out shrub or blossom. The widow looked on,
of the window and sighed. She had never
heard the "Song of the Shirt" but she had
sung it all her life. 1t was her bread and but
ter.
"There's Van Vlcetw she exclaimed, look
ing up from her lap.board. swell, Ideclare
What brings him here"
"Praps he's comm to ask yew 10 hev him
MOTHER" said Amazin Grace, laughing, while
sweet flush of pink stained her rount
checks.
81 wish he shouldm said the widow, de
yoully II should consider it was flynn in the
face of providence not to marry such mar
if he asked me-"
But Mr.. Van Vleet slalked in with brie
"good.day," threw an armful OF blossoms into
the lap of Amazin Grace, and said
"Tm ready for weddin'."
''Did you get my lettcr?' asked the girl
Eyes 1t warn't, to say, lovin', but | took
yer moanin'. I've fenced in the hull nortl
lot, and furnished the house up, so yel
wouldn't know it, an kalculate eff we XIII
git married next week, it won't interior,
with my spring work-hey?'
Amazn Grace set back and looked the pic
ture of surprise. The widow thought She
heard the cat in the pantry and dscreety
| withdrew. AS the door closed Farmer Var
Vleet took two little red hands in his, anC
bending forward gave Amazin Grace an aw
| full smack.
"That seals the bargain" he said, but thu
| indignant girl jumped up and ordered him
out of the house, To her establishment III
| didn't bulge step,
."Not muchi reckon I've right to kis.
yer now," he said boldly--then he stepped
to the door and called loudly: "Mother kun
here p ,-, ...
The widow must have been conveniently
near, for she almost fell into the room at his
| first word, and he bestowed another sound
| ing smack on her. $500
"It's all rite" he said, me an Amazil
Grace is goin' to be married, and you kin
dance at the weddin'."
"But-but the letter" gasped the girl
"You amt understood word of it,"
"Thc fact il" said Van Vleet, 81 amt had
no dedication to speak of been too busy
grubbin' land all my life. didn't really real
the letter to sense it, but when ! see how yor
signed it that was enuff for me. | knowet
you wouldn't hey writ that way to q teller "
Il
about gals, but know thatp
When it was all settled that they were tc
be married the next week, Sunday, Farme
Van Vleet rode off, and the two women pu
away thelap-board, and resigned the uniyer
| sal shirt making business forever.