Year: 1874

and its great white meeting house on Il
hill, with galleries on three sides and
square pews and a high box pulpit.


The first Sunday after Aunt Augusta
went there, she climbed the hill. of course,
and went in the front pew with Uncle
Nathan and his wife She was fashion
ably dressed in a black Grape gown, a
scarlet shawl and a white silk bonnet with
pink roses inside. Her cheeks were as
pink as her roses, and her ewes We're as
black as her gown


There was no need that Mr. keeer
should point her out to the Young men.
but he took pains to do it, MI Keeler,
the minister, was n little lank man. as
plain and gray as 4 door-bug and so afraid
Of the pomps and vanites that he wouldn't
wear buttons on his coat No sooner had
his eyes fallen on Aunt Augusta, settling
herself in the front pew like variegated
tulip. then he dropped the subject he had
started upon for his sermon, and began to
preach against conformity to the world.
He was sincere and earnest man, and he
preached with all his might, emphasizing
and illustrating his words by pointing with
his blunt finger at the scarlet shawl and
pink roses. SO if any body had neglected
to look at them before, they looked then


Among those who were obedient to the
ministerial torefinger was Abner Stanton
the village blacksmith.


Abner Stanton's heart isa good deal like
his iron--nOt easily melteG--but when
once it had been hammered into shape
there ii was fixed, and steadfast And that
day Aunt Augus.a's eyes went through it
like d-hot arrows as he peered around at
her from behind one of the pillars in the
gallery.


The next day he came to get vest
made The day after he came to bring
the buttons for it; and the day after that
he thought as he was going by, he would
call and see if she had everything she
needed. and how soon the vest would be
done. 1t was not two days more before
he was there again to bring letter.


Il happened to see it at the post-oflice
when | went after my paper, and so |
brought it along. could as we'll rs not, y
said he


The letter was from Sam Avcrill, telling
about what luck he had had in mining, the
weather, and the fact that he was we'll
Nothing more; nothing about the home
he was building in his fancy, and the
figure that was always central in his
thoughts


81 hope" said my uncle Nathan, ''you
are not foolish enough to set your mind on
such a rolling gstone as Sam Aycril He
has no continuity to him.


'If we are going to hunt for man that
has no faults in this world, Well have a
long road of it, returned Aunt Augusta
bearing down the heavy pressing-iron up
on her seam as though she We're trying to
crush the life out Of something


In less than week Abner Stanton called
again. lie thought perhaps Miss Augusta
didn't know the sWamp-pinks We're out
and SO he brought her Il handful, that he
got on the way over from Cowesett
Aunt Augusta had weakness for flowers
she and my mother are alike about that
and she put Il cluster OF blossoms in her
hair at once, and another at her throat,
while Abner Stanton looked at her with
admiration in every hair of his head
III you were Il sister of mine, YOU
should always sit in a rocking chair and
wear swamp -pinls" said he,
"Abncr Stanton is a most excellent
man." quoth Uncle Nathan, when he had
gone his way, IAN esquire and head man
in town. He's. all wheat and no chat,
He'll make Il tirSt-rate OF 4 husband, and
the girl who gets him will get prize
Aunt Augusta made some fierce clip
pings with her great tailor's shears, but
she said nothing, and presently Went up
stairs to answer sam Averill's letter
The next day Abner Stanton called to
see Uncle Nathan on business, and she
sent her letter to the office by him. SO
the months drilted along one after another
like pictures in a magic lantern. Abner
Stanton came often on one excuse or an
other, or on none. He brought flowers
| and berries strung on grass. and sweet
tlag-root and birds eggs. He was never
intrusive with his love, but he made Aunt
Augusta conscious Of it every step she
walked and every breath she breathed. 1t
was below her, above her. and all around
her. He often brought her letters from
Sam, and carried hers for him to the office


''All things are fair in love" said he to
himself SO now and then he forgot to
mail OF to deliver one dropping it in the
fire instead At last, as his love grew
hotter and more impatient, he kept them
altogether, and still never allowed Aunt
Augusta to lose SIGHT OF thought of him
self.


Thus the time passed, until Sam Averill
having made and lost and made again his
twelve thousand dollars among the copper
mines, came home to 'marry Augusta and
settle down.


Suddenly one day he appeared before
my uncle Nathan, travel-worn and brown
and shaggy. My uncle received him with
great cordiality.


'Sam, I'm glad to see you'' said he
GLOW have YOU tared all this great, long
while p


"Fair to middling. Where's Augusta p
returned sam.


.sOh, Augusta She is all right You
60 to the tavern and fix up, and I'll find
Augusta. will be around in an. hour or
SO and call for YOU Augusta will be
proper glad to see you, and SOIL the rest
of the folks | don't know when there's
been such q surprise in Coos before"


so Sam went off with his honest heart
to find q razor and a wash bowl, and my
uncle Nathan did very mean thing He
went straight to Abner Stanton. "Abner,"
said he, going into the smithy out of
breath, '.Sam Averill has come, and you
must so right up and get Augusta to name
the day, or you will lose her I'll keep
him out of the way as long as can


Abner dropped his hammer, without
saying word, and went up the street,
rolling down his shirt sleeves as he went.
An hour after Uncle Nathan came home
with Sam Averill


Here is an old friend you will be glad
to sec, Augusta" said he, opening the
door Of aunt's work room. where she sat
stitching the pocket of a primrose -colored
vest, and looking fresh as a hundred prim-
roses herself


at is Samr said she family, starting
to her feet and dropping her work


1t was Sam. Sam come at last, with
his long smouldering love and tardy
speaking.


"You are too late! An hour too late, -
said my aunt Augusta, when he had told
his errand East. 81 have Just engaged
myself to another man."


"You haven't done right, Augusta, said
Sam. ''You belong to me; you have al
ways belonged to me, and you ought to
have waited till | came''


sIXo,, IiIp't COW ouyth;nfr INV