Year: 1860

Bf MARf W. STANLEY GIBSON.


The fire cracked cheerfully on the broad
hearth OF the old farmhouse kitchen, cat
and three kittens basked in the warmth and a
decriped yellow dog lying full in the reflection
of the blaze, wrinkled his black nose approx
ingiy, as he turned his hind feet where his fore
feet had been. Over the chimney hung sew
eral fine hams and pieces of dried beef. Apples
were festooned along the ceiling, and crooked
necked squashes We'd with red peppers and
slips Of dried pumpkin, in garnishing each
window frame. There were plants, too, on the
window ledges-horse-sho geraniums and dew
plants, and a monthly rose just budding, to
say nothing of pots of violets that perfumed
the whole place whenever they took it into
their purple heads to bloom. The floor was
carefully swept-the chairs had not a speck of
dust upon leg or round-the long settee near
the fire. place shone if it had been just var
nished, and the eight day clock in the corner
had had its white face newly washed and
seemed determined to tick the louder for it..
Two arm chairs were drawn up at a cosy dis
tance from the hearth and each other, candle,
newspaper, pair Of spectacles, dish of red
checked apples and a pitcher of cider, filled a
little table between them. In one of these
chairs sat comfortable looking woman about
forty FIVE, with cheeks as red as the apples,
and eyes as dark and bright as they had ever
been, resting her elbow on the table, and ber
head upon her hand, and looking thoughtfully
into the fire. This was the Widow Cobb
''relict' of Deacon Levi Cobb, who had been
mouldering into dust in the BytOwn Church
yard for more than seven years. She was
thinking of her dead husband, possibly be-
cause-all her work being done, and the SER
wants gone to bed-the sight Of his empty chair
at the other side Of the table, and the silence
of the room, made her little lonely


''Seven years, so the widows reverie ran
1t seems as if it was more than ffty-and vet
l don't look so very old either. Perhaps it's
not having any children to bother my life out,
as other people have. They may say what
they Hke-children are more plague than
proft-that's my opinion. Look at my sister
Jerusha, with her six boys. She worn to a
shadow, and I'm sure they have done it.
though she never will own it.''


The widow took an apple from the dish and
began to peel it.


How dreadful fond Mr. Cobb used to be of
these gratis. He never will eat any more of
them, poor fellow, for 1 don't suppose they
have apples where he has gone to. Heigho!
remember very well how used to throw apple
parings over my head when was girl, to see
who was going to marry


Mrs. Cobb stopped short and blushed For
in those days she did not know Mr.. Cobb, and
was always looking eagerly to see if the peel
had formed capital IS" Her meditations
took new turn.


How handsome Sam Payson was and
how much used to care about him. wonder
what has become of him. Jerusha says he
went away from our village just after / did,
and no one has ever heard Of him since And
what silly thing that quarrel was Ifit had
not been for that


Here came long pause, during which the
widow looked very steadfastly at the empty
armchair of Levi Cobb, deceased Her fingers
played carelessly with the apple pairing; she
drew it safely towards her, and looked around
the room.


Upon my word it is very ridiculous. and
don't know what tho paiOhh horc
they saw me-


Still the plump fingers drew the red peel
nearer.


- But then they can't see me, that's a COM
fort, and the cat and old Bowse never will
know what it means. Of course don't he.
lieve anything about it"


The pairing hung gracefully from her hand


But still / should like to try: it would
seem like old times, and


Over her head it went and curled up quietly
on the floor at little distance Old bowse,
who always slept with one eve open. saw it
fall, and marched deliberately up to smell it


'BOwse-BOwse-don't touch it :" cried his
mistress, and bending over it with a beating
heart, she turned as red as fire. There was as
handsome capital 'S'' as any one could wish
to see.


great knock came suddenly at the door.
BOwse growled and the widow screamed, and
snatched up the apple-pearing.


q" It's Mr.. Cobb-its his spirit come back
agsin, because 1 tried that silly trick" she
thought fearfully to herself


Another knOck-lOuder than the first, and a
mans voice exclaimed


{. Hillo, the house,


Who is it?" asked the widow somewhat re-
lieved to find that the departed Levi was still
safe In his grave upon the hillside


a. stranger" said the voice


"What do you want"


'' To get lodging here for the night


The widow deliberated.


Can't you go On-there's house half a
mile further, if you keep to the right hand side
of the road-and turn to the left after you get
by"


It's raining cats and dogs, and I'm very
delicate, said the stranger coughing I'm
wet to the skin-don't you think you can ac-
commodate mel don't mind sleeping on the
floor"


Raining is it didn't know that and
the klnd-hearted little woman unbarred the
door very quickly. Come in who ever Won
may bel only asked you to go on because
am lone woman, with only one servant in
the house"


The stranger entered-shaking himself like
Newfoundland dog upon the step, and scat.
tering q little shower Of drops over his hostess
and her nicely swept floor


X'Oh-that looks comfortable after q man
has been out for hours in a Storm he said as
he caught sight of the fire. and striding along





shifted suspiciously at his heels, he stationed
himself in the arm-chair-Mr Cob5's arm
char, which had been kept sacred to his
memory for seven years, The widow was
horrihed, but her guest looked so weary and
worn out, that she could not ask him to move
but busted herself in stirring up the blaze that
he might the sooner dry his dripping clothes
new thought struck her Mr.. Cobb had
worn comfortable dressing gown during his
illness, which still hung in the closet at the
right She could not let this poor man catch
his death, by sitting in that wet coat-if he
was IN Mr., CObb's chair why should he not be
IN Mr.: Cobbs wrapper? She went nimbly to
the closet, took it down, fished out a pair of
slippers from bOot-rack below, and brought
them to him.


think you had better take off YOUR coat
and boots; you will have the rheumatic fever
or something like it, if you don't Here are
some things for you to wear while they are
drying And you must be hungry, too; will
90 into the pantry and get you something to
sne hustled away "on hospitable thoughts
intent, and the stranger made the exchange
with quizIieal smile playing around his lips.
n al