The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-07-19

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
"That woman, "said Squire Dockley
within himself, fought to have been a
manr'
Tho English language, as the squire
interpreted it, had no higher form of
praise than this. The squire believed
implicitly in his own sex. And when
he said that Maria Poole fought to have
been man." he did homage to her ca
pacity.
Squire Dockley was on his way to the
postoffice. He liked to go in the early
morning, before the thermometer had
mounted to too high a degree. and
while the dew yet sparkled upon the
close, short grass along the road.
Old Mr. Poole had been postmaster at
sassafras Gap for 10 years, but his
daughter Maria performed all the duties
of the position, as the old man was bed
ridden, deaf and helpless. Maria also
worked the farm, with the aid of va
can't faced, red haired auxiliary, named
Elias Smith, who came for half wages
on account of limp in one leg; and
she kept boarders in summer.
"There's the clothes all out on the
lines, and it amt 8 o'clock yet" said
tho squire. ''Aud not a weed in tia
garden, and nobody to raiso finger
about tho place but Maria! I declare
that woman ought tohave been maur
Close beside him was the well, shad-
owed with canopy of bluc-cupped
morning -glories which had not yet
folded their silkcn tents away from the
sun.
The squire stopped to get drink of
water, when suddenly human head
popped up before him like a jack-in the
box.
'Je-ru-sa-lem p calculated the squire.
starting back. "Why, it's you, amt it,
Miss Poo!e2"
'Yes, it's me-" said Maria. 'Tve
bccn down the we'll to clean it. A tin
trumpet, two doll babies, a spelling
book, cocoanut shell and fourteen ap-
pie -cores---that's what the boarders
children have dropped down since this
day week. I sometimes think" giving
herself shake, aud sending tho sur
plus moisture of the we'll flying in all
directions, 'that King Hcrod wasn't so
far wrong as folks pretend to think. If
you want drink, Squire Dockley you'd
better 60 down to the spring house. The
Wells sort O. stirred up"
The squire meekly followed Maria
Poole down to the cool, sweet-smelling
spring -house where living stream
flowed beneath the shelves, all laden
with pans of milk and glittering
spring bubbled up in the corner like q
magnified diamond.
''Madc much butter thi, year2" the
squire inquired as he slakcd his thirst.
"Two hundred and nine pounds,
packed down already" was Maria's re-
sponse.
"Well, I declarep' admiringly COM
mented the squire, as he laid down the
gourd- shell. You'd ought to have
been man, Miss Maria; and SO I've
said ag'in and ag'in."
"Humph," observed Maria. 'If I
couldn't a-made smarter man than
some know of, would give up. Well,
squire, 1 don't want to hurry you, but
its most time to open tho post office
and see about the morning mail"
II was a-thinkin' of calliag for my
letters and papers," said Squire Dock
ley, wiping his mouth with a red ban
danna pocket-handkerchief.
"Can't nobody get into the postoffice
not if they had letter for the presi-
dent himself-aforc o'clock, ]" said Miss
Maria, curtly. Business hours is busi-
ness hoursr'
YES, knoT--I know" apologized
the squire, as he followed Miss Poole
up the winding path; "but i was calcu-
latin' to speak to you. Maria"
"Well, what is it7 Don't keep me
longr
The squire shifted from ono foot to
the other Was ever lover expedited
like this bcforcf
Il was a-thinkin', Maria" said ne,
'that it wan il place for woman to
be kcepin' postoffice-'
'Oh, that's your game, is itT re-
torted Maria. "You'd like to get the
Office away from father, would youi
And you're gettin' up p,tition to edge
rome friend o yourn inl Well, it won't
70 down. Squire Dockley. All the folks
hereabouts know father well, AID you
won't get no signatures to your pap,rs.
And should thiak you'd be ashamed
If yourself to 60 and"