The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-11-26
family was I.

NS91SstcTSI was housed and
~ssEJ the minis ter's
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 $500 year and two donation
parties, but Mr.. Preston said that per-
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 Miss
Apple, and she had died when the young
est daughter was little more than baby.
The pastor, who was q man as full Of
quaint humor as he was of goodness,
called his girls his apples, the baby and
the next to her We're called Blossoms"
and the two eldest went by the na1nes OF
NuDD1ns and Twist, while the three in
termediate ones We're called Russet,
Pippin Tor Pips more often and Ciderkin.
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 We're conced-
ed to be, and yet none of them had mar
ried, and only one had even had 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 vii
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 no.
wise discouraging him, nor on the other
hand encouraging him. But Walter De
Witt was poor, and worse, for his IA
Their had died a drunkard, after having
broken his gentle wifes 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 a marriage, and had set
tied every point to his or her own salts
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 We're 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 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
sincerely ana 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 a gift. But, Nubbins, I have
also come to say goodby. am going to
California-tO the new gold mines,
where | shall work at my trade, because
workers are scarce there and wages
high. and I think I shall do better at
that than hunting for gold. AS soon as
l have made money enough | shall re-
turn for you if You are still willing, and
we will then be married You must not
look so sad, for l shall probably not be
away more than a couple of years.
Now let us go, dear, and speak to your
father and ask his consent"
Mr.. 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, | 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 rosy Apple
and you are going to take up with a
Nubbin.'
Il prefer this Nubbin to all other
girls, Mr.. 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-
manned at home to keep his remem-
brance sweet in her heart after the
manner of women.
1t was six long months before a letter
could reach her, and six more before she
heard that he had started his little bust
ness, with good prospects. Then her
mother died and she devoted herself to
the care of the little ones and the gen.
eral overseeing of their home. They
managed to live decently on the prod
ucts of their farm and the $500 in spite
of the two donation parties.
as