Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-12-29
Go to your room, Miss Wood, and pray to
be comforted. l will pray for YOU

be comforted. Will pray for you
Assist me to rise,' says Rosy.
"There was kind of humping sound,
and we knowed it was time to light up.
In minute blaze of brilliance from half
dozen kerysene lie lamps and as many
taller candles flooded the room, and Mr..
Tobias Starch, settin onto the floor, looked
around and saw the company, and heard
'em. too, for we laughed until we had to
stop for breath. At last Jeremiah riz up.
and says he:
Come, Mr.. Starch, don't feel mad.
Rosy heard tell how't you said she was
settin her cap for you. and this is only tit
for tat
But Tobias Starch never smiled. He
riz up from the floor. walked into his room,
come out with his bag in his hand and his
hat on and walked out of the house, and
next week left Soapstone for good.
THAT night we jest larfed over our nuts
and gingerbread and cider; but purity soon
it got to be no laughin matter for Rosy
Wood. Some wicked critter spread the
report that she had actilly proposed to Mr.
Starch. meanin it, and she was world sick
by it.
THAT" says |. closin my book, was
twenty years ago; but only this October
the report was riZ again, and spiteful
things has been said in my hearin ag'in a
lady that does not deserve it, So, unac
customed as ! am to public speakin, hev
riz up to tell the truth on my Bible oath
over a seal and postage stamp, and let
everybody ever after hold their tongue"
Shere was a kinder solemn silence |
dunno what may hev been comm, but jest
then up riz the strange gentleman with the
hall n
and says he:
81 should like to add my testimony to
that of the sister that has just finished. !
am witness she has forgotten. | am To
bias Starch himself, grown considerably
older, and | solemnly attest to the state
ment you have just heard. ! was a little
prig in those days, brothers and sisters
very conceited and very anxious to do
right, too solemn and pokey, and not able
to see joke, and spoiled at home by my
dear old mother, who spoils me still but
was not bad enough to tell falsehood.
never misrepresented Miss Wood, whose
New Years eve joke gave me good les
son. regret others have done it. think
see Miss Wood yonder Will she shake
hands with me?''
remember his very words, and how
noble he looked standin there. And Rosy
Wood came out of her corner, laughing
and blushing and holding out her hand.
''Pm glad to ask your forgiveness, Mr.
Starch" says she. Il was young and too
full of fun in those old days. I've certainly
got bravely over the first of those things
anyhow"
"And my conceit has dropped away with
my hair" says he.
But they didn't look either old or ugly
for all, rs they stood there shakin hands.
first with each other and then with me
and felt proud of what I'd went and did.
That evening Mr.. Starch devoted his at.
tention most petickeler to Rosy Wood, and
she didn't seem to hev no objections. He
took her down to supper and pulled snap
crackers with her, and gave her notices,
and eat Il philopene with her, and he beaued
her hum. He was bachelor and had been
goin west, and it seemed kinder providen
tial that he should hev been visitin our
dominic that very New Years eve when
made up my mind to give the facts of Rosy
Woods case and stop the slander And it
seemed more so Jest few days before the
next New Years came round, when Rosy,
with her eyes cleaning and her cheeks as
red as lady slippers, put her arm through
mine comm from church and said:
"Aunty, Tobias Starch and are going
to be married New Years eve, and am
going with him on his mission. This time
he proposedp'-Mary Kyle Dallas in Fire
side Companion.