Smyrna times., 1885-03-04
NeighbOr GoOdwin'S Story.

- WOl4AAS tA4ANA . II NC llALO 44O HOIO
ever escaped his lips that he would
wish to recall. 1t is, rs L now call to
mind, some eighteen years ago, as my
spouse stood under the maple tree that
Is near our path, busy, as was her won't,
with some DAIRY matters, that she heard
the clatter of horses hOofs, and 10 king
up, whom did she see but ner nephew
Nathan. He rode up to her, and with
out dismounting, saluted her, bending
low to do 50, and after presenting her
with fat and neatly plucked foul,
made IL discourse which will repeat
as nearly as my mem )ry bears out what
my wife did tell me
My blessings are more than can
reckon, my Aunt Charity"
Truly you do well to always bear
that in mind, Nathan"
Yet, I fear that through so many
mercies 1 shall become attached to the
things of time and sense, my Aunt
Charity
" You must pray to be delivered from
temptation, Nathan"
Il have cast my eyes about seeking
some means by which I may be tried
as by fire, my dear Aunt Charity"
"What mean you Nathan?"
Toward Mistress Poly Prentiss, my
dear Aunt Charity"
Now, + know my spouse, neighbors,
said Mr.. Goodwin, mterupting the
course of his narrative. and to judge
of the terrible flash Of Indignation that
WAS III her yes as she told me this, the
answer tina, she gave Nathan was not
gentle. Her words " ere -
Toward that shrew.! Why, she hath
| it in her to afliict a man worse than him
out of whom were driven seven devils. "
~Yet knowing that I desire Mistress
Polly in marriage, surely in Ina way
! if in no other, 1 may make self sacrifice,
and be tried as if by fire.
80 You are pleased to Jest, Nathan"
Il never Jest. my Aunt Charity; fo1
every light word we are held to account.
1t hath come upon Inc with the force OF
conviction, my aunt Charity, that ]
must have such trials as will wean me
from the world and if I marry this
woman 1 shall have such trial eyel
present"
ThereupOn my spouse again Mr.
Goodwin said, by way of interruption
did call him a stupid foo, an did pray
Heaven, afterwar., to forgive her She
said to him, also that towed the woman
would be to seek a grave or mad house
B he shOO> his II ad, and without {
further remark rode away; my spouse
did comfort herself with the thought
that, determine as he might two minute
conversation with Mistress Polly woulC
drive the no.ion from his head. A Aweel
later Nathan came again.
She hath promised to marry me
my dear Aunt Charity"
'She hath promised to wed you, Ma
than? Have you in truth asked her hand
L Icould cry with vexation and sorrow"
How else, my Aunt Charity coul
she promise to wed me, unless aske
her hand?"
"HOw else? Why, the shrew had sh
taken the notion, would not hesitate t
go to any man and demand marriage
OF course she promised you. Lift
chance had she OF a husband. Why
Nathan, did you not wed the wido
Abigail Spence? Tel me that A goo
p woman, thrifty housewife, and a ger
+. tie soul"
D "Ah, my Aunt Charity, much did
\ desire to do SO, but that would hay
been too great blessing Sorely was
= tempted to as, the Widows hand on til
day that her sister Lydia welded your
D Spicer. sat that evening in the kitche
by the window as she knitted, al
= marked her grace of manner and com
illness, and made mention of Lydia
\ happiness, and when 1 did this Abiga
turned to me with tender eyesaud COO.
S said,- -
e "'Win you not take pity on LydiG
lonely sister, aud for an instant, ev,
many minutes, did have sore tempt
5, ton to WOO her, but judged by tn
remark she might if urged, give Il
her hand Then came the words
= Scripture to me, to flee temptation, al
I made great effort to quiet her ha'
not seen her since, ,xcept in churc
where she does gaze on me with sad eyes
''You are q wicked man, Nathl
Appleby, to break the heart of eo
!. woman and ma up with shre
Still, having done SO, Nathan, tell
of your wooing of Polly"
{" 1t was ON the evening of the
Lords Day, my Aunt Charity, as
sun went down, that made my way
Mistress Polly's dwelling. heard
sharp tone of her voice as 1 approach
So y, If 1 mistake not she was speaking to {
90 Of her fathers farm-hands, and {
~ said,-
i, "'You great, seed-sow ng gnumbeskI
ay Out of my sight, You i'll favored, h
eOus-mannered clodl
4 Auu JoV you pOlooNSAS GU IA JNe'A
y tentions, Nathau?"
Truly did, and heard her say,
hate a man, great, stupid, ill-begot
things. Then her father repl
Il. L fear you will.never have an opport
ity to do aught but hate man. .''
- "And earring that much you did
+, turn away, Nathan?" ;"
D "What heard only satisfied me,
Aunt Chority, that ! should find
tribulation 1 do greatly need.
L. Prentiss came to me, and l spoke
by mind without delay. ] said that de
t ed his daughter in marriage.
~ "He answed that Eunice was '
ted favored girl, and he could not deny
ice ie,, to me, if she chose to take me. 1
EY that not Eunice, but Mistress Polly
isIv desired and I confess that he did 81