The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-03-21

white bread and sweet cakes she
would have at her wedding dinner,
for white flour was a rare and beauti-
full thing in those days, rye and
injun" and corn bread being the
staple so Phoebe was a proud and
happy girl.
But alas pride and happiness
grow upon slender stalks.
Two or three days before the
yearly meeting, grandmother. then
roly-poly and six, was wandering
with her brother roly-poly and four,
discontentedly around the house
having been forbidden the kitchen,
they strayed into the back shed, and
there a wonderful vision greeted
their eyes.
The great bread-tray was standing
on the table heaped with snow.
Snow in June! where did it come
from, when for two months they
had not seen a flake ? Memories OF
their winter sports turned their little
heads, and into the bread tray they
climbed, pelting each other with the
queer snow, that wasn't cold, and
wouldn't shake off good until they
were little fourv pillars, with flower
faces. Then Phoebe came; but
where was the white bread? Poor
Phoebe
1t was Fifth day, and yearly meet
ing in hesquare bare meeting house.
All the people had assembled. The
only sound, inside or out, in earth
or sky, was the rasp OF the locust,
and the occasional stamp OF some
worried horse fighting a persistent
fly.
For half an hour the silence con-
tinued. Then Reuben arose, tall
and strong, with deep red slowly
struggling through the brown of his
face to the roots OF his hair; and
Phoebe in her misty gray, with white
kerchief meekly crossed in front,
showing glimpse of gold beads
and her dainty face blooming out
from her shirred white bonnet. They
came to the front and joined hands,
and there was never rustic through
out the whole audience, SO well bred
are the Quaker people,
Still the silence continued. Phoebe
stole quick look into Reuben's
face, wondering why he did not be-
gin ; but Reuben stood there in
awful torture. His mind was a per-
feet blank TO everything but that
nOrrlDle verse;
''1f the Lord permit,
And the friends think fit
Over and over it sang itself. He
tried to think of the marriage SER
vice, until it seemed as though his
brain would burst. His eyes blurred.
He thought he had stood there an
hour. and still not a thing in his
mind but those lines. At last, in
horror of despair, he cried,-
If the Lord pernsit,
And the friends think fit,
I'll have Phnpe before quit"
Then, as though the spell was
broken, the marriage lines came to
him, and he repeated them with
scarcely a pause. Phoebe's hand
grew cold in his and if he had been
capable of any emotion. he would
have pitied her, as he looked down
at her horror stricken !; but he was
beyond that. And after she had
ALTERED out in scarcely audible tones
her part of the ceremony, then sat
down with head dropped SO low that
her fearful face was concealed, he
looked toward the men.
All the young faces were red with
laughter the old ones
with wrath.
In few minutes an old preacher
arose, and commenced to shake
hands. That was the signal that the
was over and the congre-
cation arose, all solemnly shaking
hands with their neighboors.
Phoebe fled out Of the meeting,
to her home, never stop
ping to shake hands, rever stopping
to peep into the brick oven, here
pies, puddings, bread, chickens and
potatoes had been serenely baking
since meeting began ; never stopping
to look at the long white table, with
its custards, stewed cherries, peaches
and apples, great slices of honey
and imposing election and pound
cakes but straight on to her own
years of age. Those who love her
should learn this before it is too late,
and make it possible for her to take
life easier and lay by a store of physi-
cal force against time OF need fast
approaching.
The much needed rest the mother
will always protest against taking SO
long as she feels that any of the family
need her care and labor, but her future
health, and in many cases her life,
depends upon few years of rest, rest,
rest physical and mental. Who will
say she has not earned it? Can you
let the time slip quietly b. and do no
thing while the life of one you dearly
love Is slowly wearing away in treadmill
round which seems daily necessity 10
the familyP
Arouse yourselves see to it that your
mother gives up her cares entirely for
a time, even though your comforts are
lessened.-Send her to visit sister or
some dear friend, and make her stay
good, long time-slX weeks or more.