The Newtown bee., 1897-01-01

swered the minister back in meetin' time when the good old elder said that your father was hypocrit."
 Asahel sat down on the unipod, winch sometimes did service as milking stool. The weather door opened again, and handsome girl appeared, all smiles and roses.
 Mandy" said Asenath, "you've got back early. Well, you put off your calash and things and come here and sit down on the tripod beside Asahel. I want to talk to you both for your good. have been hesiJatin' about the matter for long time, but the time has come for me to do my duty, and when have duty to do I do it. And Caleb, you shell corn; think what good wife I've i wOmen.n
 1 Amanda sat down on the tripod, which was not souvenir of any classic art, but another milking stool that the handy Asahel had made, and that he kept in the kitchen on the woodbox to have ready for use on winter mornings Asenath rose up from her arm chair, let fall the rags that she had been sewing and seized the courting stick.
 Caleb looked around with open mouth | He saw that 8 storm was coming without any rainbow, and in any struggle in life his heart always turned toward the weak CT opponent. He thought of what wife she had been to him. "As good as four,'' he said to himself. multiplying. .<
 He turned the side of his face guarded ly towards the queer group-A manda on the tripop and Asahel on the unipod, and his resolute wife, who stood like kind of prophecies holding over them the court | ing stick.
 "My bowels yearn with compassion for ye all, ye poor critters" said he, with an avast sort of motion of his rugged hand. He moved his corn packet into the shadows of the room, turned his back on the scene, and began to shell corn agaIn with an electrical resolution, try ing to review swhat good wife Asenath had been to him-as good as five or more ,
 I ''Now listen, both of ye," said Asenatb, "for am talking to ye for your good. I haven't got anything against you, Asahel. Think what mother I've been to you, and what wife I have been to Kaluh there shellin' corn. But you are our hired man-just that aud Dothin' more. What more be ye, now? You are almost old enough to put on g pea jacket and to go courtin'; and Amanda, come next Monday week, which is Thankagivin' week, will be old enough to receive calls from some of the young property people. Now no one in One's senses would ever think of our Amanda's receiving any par ticular attention from our hired man. Asahel, that is plain talk, but don't you see it so?
 I s'You two have been cowslippin' to. gether, and sassafrasin' together, and a huntin' turkeys' nests and wild honey, and pickin' Indian pipe and all. Now that was all right when you were children. But, Asahel, you and Amanda have come to the pastur' bars of life, and you must part, and you, Asahel, mIist be contented to become just one of our hired men and sit at the table with the other hired men, on Thanksgiyin' days the same as on all other days, and not stand in the way of any one. And, Amandy Short, do you see that P
 l Asenath held up the courting stick.
 ssDo you know what that h P
 It is just hollow stick. I've seer sticks before. What does all tn Is mean r
 You've seen sticks before, haye you Amanda? And you have experienced lem, too, for1 have been faithfuI moth. CT to youas good as two. But this il the stick that must unite some farm to ours, and am goin, to hang 1t np over the dresser, and when the right young maa comes, Amanda. want you to take It down and put It up to your ar, U, and it may be chat you will hear sone. |thins useful, something IT ypnr advan. tage md ourn. hope tllAt ' naAde nay. I self clearly understood z
 she did The two yonng people m not becn lefs n my q man Fl III ln xe- eard fo her aoIution q nm es1lias inn Asshsl lssppe la IT. 11 & "