Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-11-27

! in the wide, fashioned fireplace,
were the members of the opposite
sex, including Brother Goodlove, who,
though opposing the donation for
himself, was heartily willing to see it
bestowed on another. The coast
therefore being clear, Hiram leaned
nearer to his companion.
"Lyddy," he whispered, "ten years
ago I asked you to marry me, and
you said no."
ayes, Hiram," assented Lyddy,
family.
"What would you say if I asked you
to marry me to- night?o
'I-Id say yes, Hiram," after
short pause.
Cali right! To night, it is then! Just
let me give Brother Goodlove a
hint
go Hiram!" gasped Lyddy in af-
fright. CT didn't mean so SOON"
s'But you promised" insisted Hi
ram, San you can't back out. To
night or never. Which is it, Lyddy?"
''It-it's to- night, then, if you won't
listen to reason" stammered Lyddy.
And Hiram slipped away to whisper a
word in Brother Goodlove's ear.
The feast was ready at last. Plat
ters Of roast turkey, fried chicken,
and slicea ham, extended from one
end of the long extension table to the
other, surrounded on every side by
dishes Of pickles, sauces, and pre-
serves, plates Of doughnuts, crulls,
jelly cake, pound cake, mince- pie,
pumpkin pie, custard-pie in fact
nearly every kind of pastry that ever
was known or heard Of.
Parson Goodlove stepped to the
middle of the floor.
"Ladies and gentlemen" he said
impressively, "your attention is re-
| quested one moment by Mr.. Havi-
| land;" and Hiram, standing near his
chosen wife, briefly addressed the as
| sembled guests:
"Friends an neighbors, thank you
| from the bottom of my heart fur your
goodness in coming here to- night. AS
fur the feast of good things spread out
before MEL will give you ample proof,
by an by, how entirely acceptable
they air, though words of mine kin
never express how truly grateful L
am fur your kindness in rememberin'
the lonly bachelor. But my friends,
as the old sayin' is, Turn about is
fair play;' an SEEM you hev sur
prised me to your hearts content,
will take the liberty of turning the
tables, am surprising you.'' And
without another word he took Lyddy
by the hand, and led her out before
the parson.
The surprise was certainly a COM
plete one, and the silence which over
spread the room was SO profound that
the typical pin might have been
heard falling to the floor, that is, if it
had not been for the carpet. But
when the ceremony of uniting the
young-no, the middleaged-couple
had been concluded, there ensued
hubbub which defies all description
Even the feast was forgotten until
the last kiss was bestowed on the
bride and the last congratulation
given, when Mrs. Hiram Haviland
suddenly remembered the coffee,
which she declared must be entirely
ruined with boiling SO long.
''It's quare how things turn OUT"
philosophical Mrs. Larkins, when the
wedding supper had been eaten, an
ample supply being left to furnish the
newly married pair their Thanksgiv
ing dinner next day. Here [ was
grumblin'and growlin' because Broth
er Goodlove wouldn't except our do
nation; an if he had, Hiram an Lyd-
dy mightn't never Nv come together.
An Pm as tickled as I kin be the way
things has turned out!''
t'Me, too" agreed Mrs. Gillet. sI
was powerful anxious fur Lyddy to
marry, fur knowed she'd make some
man good wife, an [ feel it in my
bones that Hiram won't never regret
it; fur as they say,
'Happy is the wooin'
''That amt long a-doin'."
"Jest my way o. thinkin',n added
Miss Nabby Cobb. s'But would give
penny to peek in the winder when
Merry Giddings hears the news Ldy-
dy's marriedn'