The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-22
MOLLY CROWDE'S RIDE.


odd years ago, q cool morning with a
blue sky over which trooped crowds OF
-cumuli borne by the west wind Two
horses stood saddled and bridlei at
Squire Crowde's gate. Presently in the
yard, which bristled all around the edge
with Lombardy poplars, emerged a
group from one of the side house doors
of Squire Crowde's. his wife. his two
Sons-Moses and Luther-his daughters
Fear and Mollv-and Captain Israel
Brown and wife, the said Captain Israel
being school agent for the central dis
trict in Manomet.
They struggled in confused order
down the path, bordered on either side
by phloX, Mrs. Crowde ever and anon
furtively wiping her eyes with the cor
ner of her handkerchief Moses carried
a saddle-bag which he strapped care
fully on the horse wearing the side sad
ode The other horse had a mans sad
die and pillion. The reason of all this
Monday morning tumult was that Molly
going TO Manomet for the summer to
: teach. She had taken quiet leave of
her friends the day before at tine meet
ing-house, leave in harmony with the
f. staidness of the Puritan Sabbath. Never
Shad she looked prettier than that day
F.. as she sat in her place in the singers
=: seats, clad in homespun, to be sure, but
Mrs Crowde was skilled in coloring
and could dye most heavenly blues and
lovely pinks which harmonized exquis-
itely with Molly's hazel eyes and pink
cheeks
Never had her voice sounded sweeter
than il did that day in Majesty Molly
sung what was called counter ~, and
AS the choir sang:
On cherub and On cherubm
Full royalty He rode,
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.
and IS her voice hoated on the mystic, in.
tricate melody up into the region of the
rafters and sounding board, Jack Thorn.
son. who sat in his fathers pew below.
felt himself borne almost to Heaven s
gate.
Jack was Molly's .schoolfellow and
playmate. and vainly had he tried to
train his voice in order TO sing with
Molly.
..YSu never can sing, Jack" said
Molly, after one of these efforts, "bui
YOU are Just as good and handsome as
You can be- and Jack was comforted
though he still wished he could sing il
She choir.
Molly had another accomplishment,
besides her singing. She knew mar.
Vicious deal about the parts of speech
and mood and tense. while not another
girl in Douglas knew 3 noun from 8
verb. Parsen Briggs lad privately
taught her under protest, as it We're
AS general thing he could not believe
IN the dedication of women His OWE
mother, who lived to be ninety years
old. never had learned even to write hel
name, and when called upon to sign a
legal document had to make her mark
and was not an education that sufficed
for the mother of a minister, sufficient
for the needs of ordinary women? Go
to-
But winsome, willful Molly who could
not be made to understand why she
should not study as well as Luther, who
fitting with Parson Briggs for Harvard
University, beguiled him by some witch
cry only known in girldom, to consent
to teach her.
HIS word once given he could not re-
call it, though when he saw the eager
ness with which she guaffed even this
zscant draught of learning his heart mis-
gave him, and he questioned the Wis
dom of his action. Nevertheless he
was proud of his pupil. and, as he
prayed that day that this "dear lamb
of bis flock'' might be ..kept,'' the
good mans yo ce trembled.
Ir,c l.
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-grandmothers did the Same
thing and lived merry AND wholesome
lives, and bequeathed to their descend
>snts strong bodies aud brains.
When your very dearest friend goes
90 Montana, or Japan, you cable or
write every week, but for Molly and
Prissy, alasi there was no such pleas
zlre 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
60 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. Om
Puritan grandmothers did not rush into
> reach others arms and kiss ecstatically;
49, - -