Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-03-07
SELECTIONS.
YOURS TRULY"

bury, as she sat with her daughter
at their afternoon sewing, she yew
goin' to piece quilt ~
"What fur. mothergn
"Why, amt Mr.. Van Vleet been
to see You twice rnnnin' lately He's
axed We. I s'pose, to hev hint"
"An' l guy him the mitten.n
"ShO! You wouldn't be half SC
silly! Why, he's with a dozen ord
airy men. Yon might go fnrthul
and fare wus.n
"Jest what Pm goin' to dew"
"Did yew tell him so %
"No, writ; now, mother, let me
be; Iain't agoin' to marry no man
that thinks I'm jumpin' at the
chance. I'd a a heap ruther be an
old maid"
There was nothing said for some
time; then the widow asked:
When did yew writ, Main 7"
GA day or so pastn
"Where did yew get pen 2"
II borrered one. Mebbe you'd
like to know what said few him.
"You've guessed rite" said the
widow eagerly.
cit amt nothing, to nobody but
us, mother, s'long es | didn't have
him." sad the girl CURLY, 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
10 respect that organ as an intimi-
dating power. This time she did not
relent, but wondered why she could
not like that big, good looking Van
Vleet well enough to marry him, for
they were poor, poor as that historic
church mouse, and he was we'll off.
But they were not mercenary
People call them simple folks; per.
haps because they lacked education
and believed everything that was
told them. The Widows face and
form, lank and ungainly we're famil.
lar to every sick room. They rem
dered unto Caesar the things that
were Caesars. They owed no man
anything, though they worked early
and late to accomplish it. They were
good to everybody and everything.
and Amazin Grace-her mother had
named her after the hymn begin
ming, Amazing grace, how sweet
the sound"-was really pretty. Sc
thought big, hulking, shame-faced
Van Vleet, when he came counting
her, with his trousers tucked in his
cow-hide boots, and a coonskin 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 like a sledge hammer and
a heart like child's. He wanted
Amazin Grace, and he couldn't I'm
agine any reason why he should moi
have her. When he got her simple
little note Of refusal, written out
with infinite difficulty and spelled
on new plan of phonetlcs, he read
it over and over, smoked his cob
pipe, read the letter again, grinned
good bit and then folded it rever.
emily, and put it in the pocket near.
est his heart.
"That's all right my girl,n he
chuckled.
A couple of'months passed away.
One popularity oftime is that it treats
all people alike. 1t does not fly from
some and stand still with others.
1t was Spring at 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, without shrub or blossom.
The widow looked out ofthe window
and sighed. She had never heard
the "Song of the Shirt" but she
had sung 1t all her life. 1t was her
bread and butter.
"Ther's Van Vleet!n she exclalm.
ed, looking up from her lapboard.
Well, | declare! What brings him
here ~
"P'raps he's comm to ask yew to
hev him, MOTHER, said Amazin
Grace, laughing, while sweet flush
Of pink stained her round cheeks.
81 wish he would ~ SAID the wild.
ow, devoutly /" I should consider 1t
nos Ayin3 IN fbo 60 a.. - r-.~rsa~