The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-09-25
THE FINAL TEST

w Ni.o IN signt, w ny. yes, there Is! and
e. narrowing her eyes,
She sees that Farmer Dobsons nag is com
ing up the rise.
Straightway within the house she slipped.
and from the window spied
tine ilttle window by the sink, that vines in
The horse turn uP. and halt, then John him
And tie the steod; so She should have a Wis
itOrs no doubt.
sally was younger once, but stiu her cheek
with health was bright.
trump as partridge was her form, her eyes
- as dark as night.
Ahose keen Orbs twinklcd as she marked the
Sunday coat and hat;
she guessed his errand, and she thought: II
soon shall settle that
For Dobson's wife six months before was
laid in church-yard ground,
Glad 70 be through at last, poor soul, with
hfe's unJoyOus round.
a ieeo.e woman, OverWorked, as all her
neghbOrs knew,
With little help or cheer from him who
thought her toll hIs due.
Within that rustic buriaEplace full many a
mound was seen
with glossy myrtle Overrun, or growing
fresh and green:
And somewhere on the narrow marge low
ing hand had set
A rose,bush or among the grass the pur-
plng violet.
But underneath her rapued boan ,f roo
unsightly clay
AS peacefully as any tEoro she sept the
hours away.
The crimson dawn. the fitting birds, no
longer badb her rise
~ "OI@-re.entess wOrk-till night ept
SLOWLY down the skies.
No more the flush of summer eve from out
that quiet grave
10 barn-yard, pail and milking stool could
summon forth their slave
Ote might have fancicd that the breeze
% rr, sighed softly as il passed:
Inc weary creature lying here is finding
rest at last
And she was missed within her home-we
may be sure OF that;
Missed at the Wash-tub and the churn. the
49, cheese-press ana the vat;
Missed when the mowers wanted lunch, the
poultry needed care;
At ironing table. biscuit-board, all day and
everywhere.
And missed within her husbands heart?
Well no; 1 never heard
Among his assets there was aught that
Her patient labor cheaply paid, twas try
ing TO fOreRO;
4" Hired help don't take no interest" and
waste and idle sol
That she should lie so much at ease tbrougb
all the hurrying work
seemed very strange, indeed, almost as II
she wisEeu 70 snrk.
But since twNS clear that she had rrOne and
gone alas! to stay,
Inc next thing was TO III her place without
undue delay.
And much he pondered, morn and eve. at
work upon his land.
What maid or widow might deserve the hon
of his hand.
This was too old, AMI that too plain, a third
n fourth had children who might hang on
him-a shiftless crowd.
At last his wand ring fancies paused, and
slowly settled down
Ga Sally Burt the tailoress, the other side
Of town.
A smart, good looking woman that; and
then she must have made
a tidy sum OF money, too, by working at
her trade.
So be had donned his Sunday suit that
pleasant autumn day,
And toward the lady of his choice logged
slowly on his way.
Up Hill ana down, with sober pace, an
hours good work or more
hau landed him, as we have seen, in safety
ut herdoor.
cheerful welcome Sally gave, and set the
And chatted of the crops and roads with
sweet and gracious air.
John words were few, and slowly said. but
All the time his eyes
Were travelling round tho coy room, then
back TO view the prize.
A homemade carpet decked the floor with
cOlors fresh and gay;
And wide, plump-cushiOned rockfhg-ohair
invited guests to stay;
On the clean hearth the fire was bright:
bright were the windows, too;
good as new.
And much on snlly's comely shape his eye
Her wholosome hue and active mien, the
Poor Mrs. DObson's wasted cheek bent form,
and faded hair
Rose M in mem'ry and he felt how great
the contrast there.
One blot there was upon the scene, where
Sailys mother sat,
Her knitting I'm her hands and m, hpr Iu,
the tahhy-Cat.
. But still" he thought, tits not so bad
she's old and far from strong:
An easy-chair, little snun, and not for
very long"
Meanwhile no barrier to his cause he found
the good old dame,
Who hard ard Of hearing, knitted on, all speech
His courage rose, his ardOr grew, and spurn-
ing dull delay,
He broiched his suit ana begged the fair to
name an early day.
t. Dear Mr.. Dobson," Sally said. however it
shall not soon forget how kind you were
I've often felt how lonely It's to lead a single
life,
And wished some clever mau-like you
would want me for his wife.
- But others didn't feel the same" .worse
luck for themV' said John.
can think where their eyes could he to
. IL leave you waiting on
wished, for many year,
To have chance like this-in vain; and
now, at last it's herel
'' STILL We should both consider weil.' "Nav
nav, says John, what need?
Fray what should we COnsi Ter for. when we
are both agreed?
You wish to marry; so do ]. Just step into
the cart;
Wen ride across to Pnrson Green's, and
wed, no more to part
u Not ullite so fost''' ,,.es bo. ,.,,,l,-. t.,
see, l quite forgot;
Poor pig must hayo his supper now. if I am
She led the way, Joha bore the pail; and
-. leaning on the sty,
Whhc pig discussed his meal, they talked |
beneath the sunset sky.
The western heaven was glowing yet with
tints OF gold and red,
And hlmy clouds, all flushed with pink, were
Heating overhead:
Inc runiet in the orchard near kept a
And swRylng up the rosy cast appeared the !
silver moon,
: Dear Mr.. Dobson. 'twould be wrong" the |
candid Sally said,
To keep my faults concealed from you till |
after we were we'd.
My temper is an awful one; you could not /
All smooth ana fair as am now. the fury I |
can be-"
A little thing Ike that" said John "shaU /
never interfCrcs
I'm crusty now and thon myself. when |
things go cross and queer.
husband ana wife must bear and for 1
bear, as YOU know.
Come, sally, put your bonnet on, and say /
that you will CO."
But I've another fault" she said ssnucb /
worse than what I've named
teet ought to let you know-but am so /
ashamcui
fear you'll hate me; but deceit is stn the
worst OF crimes,
And I must own thatI Do take drop too
muCh-sOmctimcst"
Oil obi" said John; that's pretty bad /
But on tho cellar shelf
keep jug, and often try glass or two /
myself
You'd not be overlook like that perhaps not 4
once year.
You make the most OF it, I'm sure. Now i
say you'll have me, dear"