Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-04-13
THE PRETTY QUAKBR'S
CALL.

Philadelphia boasts probably of the
prettiest Quaker girls in the world.
Twenty years or more ago, there
dwelt at the corner of Chestnut and
streets a certain dealer in cheese
and butter, by the name of Ephraim
Prout He had made fortune in the
trade and was widely respected.
His aged mother was one of those
distinguished personnges who take
their seats upon the platform in the
meeting-houscs, and occasionally, say
once, in six months or so, have ga call
to speak.
And his wife was an Industrious
body, as young looking as her own
daughter
As for that daughter, words cannot
describe her. Nature, in pity for the
prejudice which doomed her to wear
sad-hued garments ali her life, had
showered upon her all the brilliant
tints upon her palette Friend Eph-
rains daughter was fair TO look upon.
Perhaps she knew it, for she had a
looking-glass, but not one word of
tlattery had she ever heard
SO, week after week, first day, found
Bessy at meeting second day busy
with household affairs, while her
mother superintended the washing !;
third day, ironing; fourth day, bak-
ing; aud SO on till the seven were
-TecUunted.
She was twentyfour Twenty four
and not married. Had you asked
Friend Hannah Prout why, she would
have said "Nly daughter does not yet
bake bread as | could wish, and can
not allow her to marry until that is
well learnt
Young men who saw Bessy at the
meeting or in her fathers store were
not so calmly Indifferent. More than
one Quaker youth, with a pleasant ap-
preciationof Bessy's beauty and thrifty
consideration of her fathers wealth.
were like Borkis willing. But on
none Of them did the paternal eye fall
with favor.
Ephraim Prout and his wife Han
nah had already selected a husband
for their child. That husband to be
was one Peter Potter, widower of
forty, who talked and occasionally
preached and owned three blocks Of
Arch street property, Squares" the
parlanee of the Philadelphians.
Bessie had not been consulted. Often
she acquiesced in the maternal opinion
that Friend Peter was worthy man.
Ann probably she would have as calmly
in the opinion that he was
the proper husband to select when
the time came, but for one unIucky
About the middle of December, Just
when Bessy's louyes were beginning to
merit approval, Selma Grief was mar
ried After passing meeting and
going through the other ceremonies,
the new-made couple gave house
and thither of course, went
Bessy, Bessy's mother and father and
Friend Peter.
Thither also came young man of
the worlds people, one Mr.. John
Hubbard, who wore black coat, a
pair of patent leather boots and a
stove-pipe hat, and VINO was regarded
by the youthful Friends with feelings
Of mingled admiration and terror.
OF course, there was neither singing
or dancing, but they played, the for
feits being generally kisses. Mr.. Hub
bard enjoyed himself amazingly He
to kiss Bessy oftener than any
one else, and that night walked home
with her.
Questioned by her mother, Bessy
answered:
81 thought it but right to allow him
lest he should think Friends proud.
So maternal solicitude was put at
rest and few impressions were awak-
ened by the fact that Mr.. John Hub
bard soon took an immense interest in
butter and cheese, conyersed with
Friend Ephraim on those subjects
with great animation when they en-
countered each other at that Friends
store and managed to be invited home
to tea because he really could not
leave Friend Ephraim until he quite
comprehended the advantages of the
new patent churn.
One evening Hannah cut the loaf. |
and smiling turned to her daughter
and said:
'Bessy, thee makes bread as well as
thy mother.
That afternoon was one to be re-
membered.