Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-01
A Shaker Wooing.
by EVA WILDER MCGLASso,

by EVA WILDER NCGLASSoN
1t was chill morning late in April. and
the land about Shakertown had certain
| frosty look which comported well with the
rigorous aspect of the houses themselves.
! The leafng trees seemed to fluff them
selves like cold birds. and shreds of some
budding maple iloated in the air like stray
/ snow flakes Dog-woud blossoms overlaid
their branches with a white fleece. ana
even the pink hawthorns had a livd lint.
az II they were freezing. Scattered petals
of Towering fruit tree made the stone
flags al the side of East House fresh
enough for brides feet, though indeed
brides were unhcard of at Shakertowu,
and there was nn one about to enjoy the
sweetness Of the morning except Sister
Rose Trap, who had been sent to sweep
the walk.
She was taking her time to the task, her
/ brown little hands set far apart on the
painted handle of the squarc-> >houldered
] Shaker broom, " hich >heDherded the flock
/ OF fieeCy white flowers with so much need
less care that if Elderess Hsuuah had
/ chanced TO be looking from her upper win
/ dow on the womrn's side of the house She
would no doubt have reminded Sister Rose
! of tie sin pf wasing time.
Bot E'dere>s Hannah had other affairs
in hand that morning. and Sister Rose was
free to be as idle as her conscience would
allow. Now and then she stopped TO put
| back the yellow silk strings of her tunnel
shaped bonnet, or to strs shten the edge
of the stiff round cape which Is a part of a
/ Shaker woman's garb.
/ Whenever the wind stirred protest in
the lilac bushes along the fence. she gave
stealthy glance around her bonnet as If
she had surm-ed a footstep. and once
. when flight of small birds made a sudden
. descent on stark branch hard by, blow
ing about the tWi2> like SO many dark
leaves. Sister Rose let 90 of the broom in
. rather a startled fashion, clasping one hand
/ over heart which had undergone throb
not in any way the outcome of the teach
4 ings OF Ann See
4 Il thought | heard some one coming f."
4 breathed Sister Rose. look Of disappoint-
ment in her face, which wss young and
I pretty and full of bright color. the eyes as
4 gray As the clear water, with lashes alto
/ gether too long for Shakeress As she
! spoke, she glanced a little resentfullv at a
/ group of children PLAYING In corner of
/ the garden. II wish they would 20 away
/ before Sister Liza comes" she considered.
Looks like there's always some one round
to run and tell eld'ress if you want to talk
to any one for minute. Oh, wish un-
! profitable discourse wasn't wicked,
| wish il wasn't against the rules =,
Suddenly she caught her lip in an ex-
preston Of listening. A firm quick step
! was on the stones behind her, as q woman
whipped about the house corner
sis Rose" she called. in an eager whis-
per "as, Sis Rose
She was lean old creature, with dark
falcon face and voice like croak: her
eyes bad bird-like yiyacity, and she
moved after the manner of a robin, in
succession of swift forward sweeps and
furtive pauses.
"Eld'ress er any of 'em at the up win
dows?" she demanded, laying on Sister
Roses shoulder withered hand bossed
with knuckes like brass studs.
! The girl reviewed the houses green-cur-
tanned windows with swift glance and
shook her head. "Uck-uh," she reported
fixing the old woman with an intent eye
"Oh, Sister Liza, hev you seen him this
morning."
| jest for word, as he brought in the
/ milk, said the other. He set the buckets
| down, an was on the 60 lickety-switch,
| but jest says, Look a-hear. james Hen
! ry, I'm your mother, an though Shaker
rules is aginst owGin ties of kinship an
/ sech, you got to listen when / Law out to
| speak says l."
| IN what did he say:"
Talk is onproftable an bar to spir-
| itool good, Sister Liza says he. an out
lie put. But hollered arter him an says,
Sis Rose Trapp was askin' about you last
night"
IN what did he say?"
jest turned and looked at me like a
stray dog thet 'spicions p'ison on scrap
you're oterin him"
Sister Rose Traps face tagged little
II don't reckon he cares single thing
about me, she muttered ''Sister Marthy
Grooms was telling me last night thet +
any one loves you they can't hear enough
about you; and If James Henry won't
| even listen"
Sister Liza gave an impatient grunt.
isis Marthy doesn't know nothin' bout
men, They amt all alike. James Henry
never was no hand to gas. He thinks lots
of you, Rose. I've seen him watch you in
meetin, thet's shore sign"
do you think so-honest?" Roses
tone was doubtful. Il never lived in the
world and don't know how folks act when
they do like you"
They don't all act the same" said
Liza, in willy whisper, her sharp face at
the girls ear. Loves like whiskey, it
'fects people differ'nt; some gifts cheerful
and talky, and some gifts moody an still ;
some gifts thet peaceable, they go round
claimin' friends with every one, and Others
git quarrelsome enough to take exceptions
to other folks livin'. See, you can't tell.
James Henry's a pious minded boy, an it
takes him against grain. He fights it like
he fought whoopin'- cough when he was a
baby. jest wouldn't whoop till he was nigh
near strangled. But he's bound to give in
He's got me an you an the hull everlastin
universe aginst him"
Rose smiled dreamily. not perfectly COM
pretending this exposition of positive
philosophy. Il think lots of James
Henry" she said, openly; "ever since you
told me he liked me better than any girl
in Shakertown. Id like to live in thet lit
tie green house in Burgin you showed me,
and have sewing-machine and flower
gyrdeD-"
''An' keep chickens, an mebby nice lit
tie hawg er two. Fatten 'em on the scraps
no expense skercely."
Yea. And sit of summer evenings on
the doorstep talking, just US two! him
a-leaniug against the door! l can see it
as piain!''
Sister 'Liza's face suddenly executed a
remarkable change from rapt satisfaction
to indignant conjecture. jest you twoT
she demanded hoarsely. "An' where'd
be, Rose Trapp? What do you think I'm
wheedlin James Henry Hoggins into this
thing for! Look here, missy it's because
I'm sick of 'countin' to people for every
breath | dror, an workin' constant an git
tin no money ahead, an hevin' no say-so
in anything. an no chance of risin,' seein'
all our deaconesses are as robust lot as
any one would wish to look at. James
Henry kin make big wages at shoemakin',
an NAV as well hev the good of 'em. But
! he's so firm set in doctrine. know can't
| get him away without fixin' his heart on
some gyrl or other; an picked you out
| hacansc pua noficed him lookin, ut Won