Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-02


could see over miles of fertile valleys, to
the Chestnut Hills. Surely the rare sun
sets he must have noticed had developed in
him some love of the beautiful. With no
one to understand him as to bring him out,
because of his deep feelings, he became
very silent man, and never voiced his emo
tions.
He kissed her, and henceforth he was a
different Jesse Lukens, and it seemed to
him as if seventh-day never would come.
Fondly be dwelt upon one event, when,
few months before his marriage, Hannah
was lying back in the rocking-chair. Young
Quaker women in those days were prone to
wear their simple dresses with modest "
cut at the neck, and her pure, white throat
looked so attractive that he bent over and
kissed it. Perhaps she thought he was too
free; perhaps he thought it was too much
after the manner of the worlds people, so
he did not repeat it. Seventh-day morning
came at last, and he helped Joseph to start
on his first trip to market alone, and then,
being hours before daybreak, he put on
fresh back log and laid down before the
open fire on the settee, but not to sleep.
That pure, white throat was before him,
and he regretted he had kissed it but once.
Hannah will be back to-day and henceforth
she shall know that her husband loves her.
During the days of her absence he had not
been happy, but, as never before, he had
studied the needs of the human heart, ana
he was so glad that he kissed her, and his
refrain was: Hannah will return to me
to-day"
The hired man, though seeing no need
thereof, yet obeyed him, and washed the
carriage, which was only used on rare occa-
sions. and Jesse scolded him, for he had not
sufficiently groomed the horse, and when it
was all ready for Hannah's return, the
keenest Quaker eye could discern no speck
of dirt upon horse or vehicle. He must put
on his best coat and hat, which he had not
worn before since they attended Horsham
quarterly meeting together, and he was at
the station full an hour before the train was
due. He walked about enjoying the deli
cious Indian summer, and often consulted
his solid watch, as if that would Easten the
arrival Of the train; and as if be had heard
no words since then, he heard her pleasant
voice: Farewell, Jesse, 1 will surely return
on seventh-day, and Twill expect thee to
meet me-
At the depot, at Ninth and Green streets,
Philadelphia, Hannah's son-in-law met her,
and drove her to his house. Elizabeth was
quietly pleased at meeting her mother, but
was somewhat disappointed that she could
not put her babe in grandmother's arms, for
Hannah was not willing that the child
should be awakened. She took her mother
to the room prepared for her, and when she
had put aside her wrappings, she exclaimed:
"Why, mother, what has come over thee?
Thee looks ten years younger than when l
saw thee last. Mother thee is real pretty.
Elizabeth! Elizabeth
"But thee surely is, mother, and thee
must kiss me-" and Elizabeth wept, for her
memory could not recall mothers kiss,
and Hannah's eyes were moist.
well, Elizabeth, Just turn down that
white spread and l will lie down awhile"
But when Elizabeth was gone, Hannah did
not lie down. There was large mirror in
the room, and she readjusted her modest
neckerchief; no worldly vanity was hers,
but as she stood before the glass she saw
that she was comely. Oh. no, she had never
forgotten it, and she was pleased to notice
that her throat was still white and pure, and
then her husband was her lover, albeit she
did not use such a worldly term. Yes, he
was about to say that looked SO pretty, so
sweet. He did mean that; know he did"
and her blue eyes were tender and moist as
she again recalled his parting kiss. Love,
ever young, was bringing to her youth she
may have imagined, but had never expert
enced. Certainly Jesse appeared a very
fine looking man as he bade her farewell,
and on seventh-day be would not go to
market, as he had ever done for 80 years,
but would meet her at the station. Jesse,
thee did mean that looked pretty"
The next day, at Townsend Sharpless'
store, she purchased a new silk dress, and
Elizabeth easily persuaded her to buy
brown one instead of drab one. Mother,
brown makes thee look younger, and even
Lucretia Mott wears a brown silk, and 1
L. faf 10 boe
docs thee really think so, Elizabeth?'
81 know it, mother. am a wife now, and
1 know that every husband likes his wife to
look well and pretty too" Her mother had
kissed her, and the Quaker reserve of years
was gone, and Elizabeth was surprised that
she could talk to her so freely. And here,
mother, is nice, plain collar that will Just
suit thy new dress"
mo, Elizabeth, can not wear that"
''Now, mother, thee must, just to oblige
me, and am sure that father will like it,
for mother thee has such a nice white throat.
1t is so round and pure; it is a young
woman's throat, and 1 am really envious Of
it"
Elizabeth, am afraid that thy city life
will bring thee into too much conformity
with the world. Does thee think that the
collar would be becoming to me? Perhaps
thy father will not like it"
mot like it'll feel sure that he will like
it, and though, man-like, he may not men
tion it. yet it will please him, because it
lightens up thy whole face so.
"Well, will take the collar, and if it
does not please him, 1 can lay it aside.
What is the price of it dollar?''
Unconscious of the new experience of her
mother, Elizabeth did not find it very diff
cult to get her to order a new bonnet not
quite SO plain as her old one. Somehow the
daughter had been fully apprised of her
fathers tastes, and her "Oh, how that will
please father" led Hannah to assent to sew
eral notifications of her plain attire, for
back of her daughters voice she ever heard:
"Why, Hannah, thee does look so pref, so
swe-, so very WE'LL" Jesse, thee did mean
that looked pretty"
ONLY once did Hannah kiss the baby in
its mothers presence, but Elizabeth knew
not what to make of it, for several times she
saw her caressIng and kissing the child, not
knowing that she was being observed, and
the daughter said to herself: "I guess it is
true that people love their grandchildren
better than their own children" Wherever
Elizabeth wanted her to go Hannah went,
but the daughter thought she seemed listless
and uninrerested. The last day of the week
had come, and as she rose early, she said:
This is seventh-day, and he will meet me
at the depot" The new silk dress came in
due time, and when she had tried it Oh, she
was not sorry that she had not carried it home
for Priscilla Evans to make. With some
hesitation she put on the little collar, that
peeped modestly above the brown silk, max
ing her throat look yet purer and more
youthful. 1t was quite an innovation upon
Quaker simplicity, and she said: "Does thee
feel quite sure, Elizabeth, that thy father |
will not object to this collar?"