Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-11-03
THE OLD SLEIGH.

"Coming"
"Therc, mother, old Spccklc has re-
turned thanks at last" holding up a
plump, white egg that would do credit
to any queen of the poultry yard.
DWELL, | alters said that hen was
thankful for past mcrcics, though your
father would laugh every time l said so.
Liddy Stephens has jest been here. She
wanted to sec you, but you was gone so
long, l thought you must bc down to
Miss Pcnncll's."
"Ycs, l met her as she came through
the yard"
"Shc didn't tell you the news, did
shc2"
"She told me Will Marston had re-
turned from California"
at does beat all bout that boy ! Seems
jest like the piece o. poetry you read
sometimes about the fcllcr that went off
and stayed so many years. and then come
back and took his mother out O the
poor-housc-only it's the father this
time. The very worst of the deacon's
six it called him, and that's jest what
Will was then. Incvcr believed he had
anything to do with that scrapc down TO
the village. Liddy says he is terribly
rich, and is going to take care of his
father. The deacon must be glad, for |
guess he stayed with Caleb most as long
as he can comfortably. They say he's
going to marry Sam Mllcr's daughter
Ruth. You see, when Bob Miller went
out there for his health, Will found him
out and done little kindncss9s for him, and
when he was too sick to write homc
Will wrote for him. Part O. the time
Sam was sick hissclf, so Ruth answered
the letters, and he fell in love with her
in that way. There didn't anybody but
the deacon and the Nlllcrs know he was
coming. Sam drove down TO the
depot and carried him up to Calcb's.
Guess they was some surprised to see
him."
There is no knowing how long Mrs.
Allen would have gone on, her tongue
keeping time to the busy click clack of
her knccdles, had not Mr.. Aliens step
sounded on the walk.
Lzabcth never talked much, and the
mother did not mind her silence to-
night. A slight quiver about the scnsi-
tive mouth alone told how kccnly the
words were felt and the sigh of relief
which escaped at the welcome sound of
her fathers voice was lost in the noise
made as he entered stamping the snow
from his boots.
"Why, father, does it snow1 l been
so busy talking l hain't thought to look
out of the window for some time"
eyes, it's begun to come down right
smart; shouldn't wonder if it was good
sleighing by tomorrow"
"You don't think it's going to be a
long storm2"
Mrs. Aliens face had an anxious ex-
preston as she asked the question, for
long storm meant days Of exile for
her.
"No, I sh'll be surprised if it don't
clear up by tomorrow noon-so's Liza
beth and l can take ride to the village
that'll be treat, won't it, dartcr2" and
the smile that lighted up his daughters S
face pleased him better than any answer
could have done.
"Guess I'll get the old sleigh out. Ben
Smarts been down to the city and he
says he saw lots jest like it; it's five
years since sent jim down to the vii
lage for the new one, and it's never been
out since. Pm glad it's come into
fashion again, for never enjoyed my
self complete In the new one-always
felt little above my station" and Far
mcr Aliens laugh rang through the old
sitting room at the fitness of his re-
mark.
"Wcll, 'Lzabeth, you get supper on
the table, and PIl tell father tho news
while he warns his feet. He's ben down
to the wood lot all the afternoon, and
hain't heard nothing of the strange
things that has ben happening up
here"
Having arranged things to her salts
faction, the stockings, Mrs. Allen had
dropped on the entrance of her husband,
continued to grow under her deft fingers,
while the news lost none of its interest
with repetition.
That night, after Elizabeth had taken
her candle and said good night, Mr.
Allen sat for some time looking at the
fire, then suddenly broke out:
'NIother, don't you think Elizabeth
looks kind o peaked latcIya Then
she don't seem to cat as much as
usual"
"There, father, you're always fretting
bout that girl. l don't know what
you'd done if you'd had six, like your
brother Jonathan"
81 didn't know but the news about
Will might affect her some. You
know they used to think so much of each
other"
'NIaasy, fathcrF' That was years and
years ago, when they were children.
'Lizabeth's too sensible girl to let q
feller like Will Marston to disturb her.
When he stopped writing 10 her she gave