Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-02-23
The One Thing
Forgotten
By OSCAR cox

from her. One day she sent him to the
market to sell some eggs. In order
that no girl might see how handsome
he was she covered his head with q
pumpkin rind-That he might not lay
his hands upon a girl she filled them
with the eggs. not putting them in a
basket, but leaving them loose in his
hands.
There" she said as she saw him
walk away. Il don't see how he can
get into trouble. If he meets girl she
will laugh at him and go on. If he fol-
lows her he cannot touch her with Ell
ther his hands or his lips. | am well
pleased with what have done"
She followed him with her eyes till
he had passed out of sight. then went
into the house The young man went
on, and though his mother was right
in expecting persons to laugh at him
she did not count upon their wonder
ing why he was so equipped. The chill
dren booted at him. the men shouted
and the women made facetious re-
marks. He stood the jeers as well as
he could and at last struck an unfre-
quented path where he was free from
them.
On stile that he must pass sat a
girl. He could see through the eye
holes in the pumpkin that she was
comely. AS he approached she re-
mained directly in his way and did not
mavp asida for him m pass
81 am going to market" he said, Ito
sell these eggs for my mother. VIII
you be good enough to permit me to go
over the stile?"
First tell me why you wear that
strange helmet on your head"
my mother put it there. Why do
not know. and, being dutiful son.
did not ask"
And why do you carry those eggs
loose in your hands instead of in a
basket?
That. too. was my mothers doing.
but she did not tell me why"
4 wonder what you look like?"
"Other men, suppose. But please
let me pass or | shall be late to mar
ket and miss an opportunity to sell my
eggs"
Il prefer that you should sit beside
me on the stile. The market is open
all day. and you need not hurry"
MY mother has always chided me
against sitting beside comely maidens.
She says they are like the outer waters
of whirlpool: at first man does not
realize that he is being drawn in, and
when he does realize it it is too late"
"Oh, your mother said that. did she?
How can your mother remember what
she was when a maid since she has
son as old as your"
Let me go on"
81 have mind to walk with you a
short distance am curious to know
why your mother so encumbered you,
and by speech with you ! may get
clew."
DO so. Only do not delay me-"
She permitted him to cross the stile
and walked with him till they reached
a wood. but she learned nothing from
him as to why he Travelled in such an
unusual fashion or whether he was
handsome or ugly.
~ must return now" she said you
being a stranger would not dare go
into the wood with you. You might
kiss me-"
How could I do that" he asked,
when my mouth is covered?"
"At any rate you might put your arm
around my waist"
Put my arm around your waist with
my hands full of eggs? l could not do
that"
"You could lay them down in the
grass"
But what would 1t avail for me to
put my arm around your waist when
could not kiss you?"
"You might take off the pumpkin"
81 could not do that MY mother has
tied it securely about my neck"
You might take out your knife and
cut the thongs"
"I have nothing to cut them with
except my knife, and that is In my
pocket. | could not get it out with
out dropping the eggs In my hands,
and they would be broken. However,
| might set the eggs down gently,
then take out my knife and cut away
the pumpkin"
"You would not do that. You would
force me to hold the eggs for you"
why would force you to hold the
eggs?"
THAT 7 might not be able to defend
myself from your efforts to kiss me-"
II see." said the young man. 1T
would not be safe for you to go to
the wood with me. so we must part"
How much do you want for your
eggs?'
"A shilling"
She took shilling from her purse.
and he placed the eggs in her hands,
taking the coin.
"Oh. dear. she exclaimed. why
did l trust you? Your hands are now
free. You can relieve yourself of
your helmet and kiss me-"
He proved the charge by doing that
very thing.
When the young man returned to
his mother he told her that he had
sweetheart and recounted what had
taken place.
"How foolish | have been" moaned
the old woman, "One thing forgot"
"What was that. mother!"
"Curiosity. She wished to see your
face"