Arizona republican., 1891-11-26

S,sa1DC ks~ been laid on the 1NSl (& pile, all the rest SANK X NJ of the produce of S SSS5SSISS the little farm
 (S1SgIHl5l was housed and
 s SSS the ministers family was ready to settle down to a season of rest and quiet after the labor of harvesting
 The farm lay on the outskirts of a pretty New England village, and the minister worked its acres six days in the week and preached the seventh. His salary was S200 a year and two donation haps his preaching was about on a par with his pay, so he did not complain even when he thought of his seven daughters. They were all nearly grown into womanhood now, and three were somewhat advanced toward old maid hood. Their mother had been a Miss Apple, and she had died when the young est daughter was little more than baby.
 The pastor, who was man as full of quaint humor as he was of godliness, called his girls his apples, the baby and the next to her were called "blossoms, and the two eldest went by the names of Nubbins and Twist, while the three in- termediate ones were called Russet, Pippin for Pips more often) and Ciderdn,
 No one ever thought it odd or out of the way that the minister should call his daughters by these fanciful names, for it was quite in keeping with his quaint character, and the seven daughters had almost forgotten they had any other titles.
 Pretty these girls had always been, good they were known to be, notable housekeepers the five oldest were conced- ed to be. and yet none of them had mar ried, and only one had even had a beau,
 Some fourteen years previous there had lived in this little place handsome young man who worked out his appren- ticeship at the glowing forge of the viii lage blacksmith, and he had often been seen to offer those little attentions which spoke of his preference for Miss Preston, otherwise known as Nubbins, and she received them with sweet gravity, in mo- wise discouraging him, nor on the other hand encouraging him. But Walter De Witt was poor, and worse, for his fa- ther had died a drunkard, after having broken his gentle wife's heart, and so the son not only had his own way to make in the world, but also to rise with the weight of his fathers misdeeds on his shoulders He did bravely, and the people around spoke of him as likely young man.
 As soon, or even sooner than the young couple became aware of their growing affection for each other, everybody in the village began to discuss the advisa- bility of such marriage, and had set tied every point to his or her own satis- faction, and the decision was that Nub- bins had better be cautious.
 One lovely summer morning Nubbins was walking slowly along the meadow, keeping her watchful eyes upon the two blossoms, who were respectively two and four years old She had brought them out here to play in the daisy span gled grass to give her sick mother a respite from their childish noise, and here she was when Walter came up to her, walking and looking as a man does when determined to do or die. He took her hand shyly, yet firmly, and said but it doesn't matter as to his words. He asked her to marry him in his own fashion, and she answered "Yes' frankly. sincerely and without coquetry, with a world of tender joy in her tremulous voice and a great glory in her humid eyes.
 Holding her hand in his tightly he said solemnly:
 "May God make me worthy of so precious gift. But, Nubbins, have also come to say goodby. am going to California--to the new gold mines, where l shall work at my trade, because workers are scarce there and wages high, and think l shall do better at that than hunting for gold. As soon as have made money enough l shall re- turn for you if you are still willing, and . we will then be married. You must not look so sad, for I shall probably not be away more than couple of years. Now let us go, dear, and speak to your father and ask his consent"
 Mir. Preston was shocked at first with the knowledge that his daughter was old enough to be sought in marriage, but he liked Walter and knew of his brave struggles against fate, and after a pause, during which he choked down his regrets, said. "Well, Walter, l am will ing that you should have my daughter as soon as you can give her a home as good as this one."
 Then they went to the invalid mother, who consented tearfully, for she loved this first born child tenderly, but she saw that Nubbins loved Walter.
 The old minister then laid his hand on Walters shoulder and laughed:
 "Ah! Walter, married a rosy Apple and you are going to take up with a Nubbin."
 'I prefer this Nubbin to all other girls, Mir. Preston, and l wouldn't change her or her name for millions"
 So it was all settled, and Walter started on his journey, and Nubbins re- mained at home to keep his remem- brance sweet in her heart after the manner of women.
 It was six long months before letter could reach her, and six more before she heard that he had started his little busi- ness. with good prospects. Then her