The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-11-29
when didst play with Abigail

p;sh Mnen a,. alass play with Abigail
"This morning, mother. But I
don't like her. She's rough and she
pulls my curls and laughs at them"
NAY, then, but well she may and
the mother thought of the contrast
between her own child's prettiness
and Abigail Bishops coarse features
and stubby locks. "But, alackl that
/ should encourage vanity in my
child. Sweet maid, thy locks should
have been shorn this many a day. So
thy father says, but he mislikes to
see the pretty ringlets co. He says
they r like mine when he first saw
me step on shore at Boston port
when father and I arrived from Eng
land" + .
"Abigail's mother says you are
above your neighbors in pride, be-
cause you came from England. She
says you ought to cropmy hair close
and not let it grow. Abigail wants
my Kitty, but I told her she couldn't
have it." .
"And what said Abigail?" asked
the mother, smiling at the mixture
Of matter in her daughters speech
| who, precocious as the children of
| those stern times were wont to be-,
| yet showed her childishness in this.
"She called me a proud mink. I
told her she was verify an ugly one."
"Child, child! and is this all the
breeding thy mother taught thee? I
am vexed for thy words. And what
said she them"
"She said she did not want my dew
IFS cat. What did she mean, moth
er? She said fire came out of it's
| eyes and she ran and told her moth
err"
ooh, my poor maid! Tear me thy
tongue has brought us into trouble.
Did'st come home them"
Eyes; and as l passed Dame Bish-
| ops door she called me a vainrogue,
and asked why 1 came to plague her
child"
ri like it not. I have ever felt
GOODNESS towards her hypocritical
ways" said Dame Carny,- setting
down the child and walking to the
door, anxiously watching for her
husbands coming. before he
reached the step she saw his face
wore a troubled look. She stepped
out to meet him.
"Nay, then, sweetheart, and what
is thy vexation," said he, as he
scanned her face. She gave him the
substance of Deliverance's words.
II would not mind them at other
times, but with the past troubles
fresh in mind"
"And goodwill, they have broken
out again afresh. Good MI. Mather
has been called to Boston to inquire
into a new case more full of enchant-
ments and devilish torments than
any other" And he gave her the
particulars as he had them from
Elder Winthrop who had heard them
read from a letter sent to their
minister. Seeing his wife's deepen
ing distress be ceased to dwell on
the probable miseries to follow, but
tried to encourage her.
"Nay, then, be not SO downcast.
What evil should come to us? Are
we not G%od-fearing and earn
est in well-doing? Are any more
constant in attendance on the pro,
vided means of grace? Neither k now
I any woman in u goodly settle.
ment who is so kind to her neigh.
bors as my good wife, and all spe ak
well of her in turn"
GAIL save neighbor Bishop, and
sbe'is sore against me. because Of
our sweet maid, D%eliverance; she
harbors jealousy towards u.s."
"Be not SO downcast, and all will
be well. sweetheart"
"Nay, then, according to Good.
wife Bishop, thou art the one who
by thy sweet titles and endearments,
sets thy wife and child to feeling
above their neighbors, Goodman
Bishop does not SO, she says"
Goodman Carny laughed as he
moved towards the door, at the I'm.
couth, coarse-grained and uncourt'
eous Bishop showing sings of en-
dearment towards a wife and child
SO truly his mates, even to exceeding
him in his unamiable qualities. But
for time these people were forgot.
ten in his play with his little daugh'
ter. In his love for her he was negli:
gent, as his minister warned him, in
enforcing the strict discipline ap
proved by the Puritans in the rearing
Of children. Besides, as she grew old,
} er, he thought her quick tongue anC
merry ways should b %repressed. Dur
ing the customary silence of dinner
the thought of the mornings news
coupled with his wife's words, caused
him uneasiness, but he would mo-
that she should seeit. He therefor'
chatted with D%eliverance about tn
coming Thanksgiving to be spent a
her grandfather's in Boston, ant
laughed at her extravaganza ideas o
the wonders she would see in tn
town. He fingered longer tor hi
incoming than his won't for his hear
was tender towards his home, ant
for some curious reason he misliket
to leave his dear ones. This was tn
last Of their merry times for many
weary day.
When, at last, he did start to hi
labor, he met one and another of TIL
settlement folks in an evident dis
traction Of mind. The i'll news of tn
fresh ~Witchcrafts had spread ant
sorely vexed them. As he passes TIL
house of Mother Bishop, he sees he
and Abigail mounting Carrier Hub
bard's cart. The dame gives hin
naught but q scowlinglook in answe: