Year: 1876

"reminiscences, ana she cOulu not nelp
wondering if it would make any differ
ence to John if she should lose her
good looks that is suppOsing they had
been engaged like Clarissy and Hiram
Of course as things were John would not
care if her eyes should suddenly turn
crooked IN her head. or if her pretty lit
tie nose were to assume gigantic proper
tions on the instant


John was what women call handy"
about the house and often helped Polly
wash dishes and peel potatoes and on
wash days in very cold weather, he had
even been known to hang out the clothes
all of which his mother and the neigh.
Dor women put down to the score of
Johns kind heart, and they were all
agreed that he would make a model hus-
band.


Perhaps it was all abstract goodness
on Johns part but if so, why was it
that nobody had ever known him to
show the least concern about old Mrs.
Moss's rheumatic hands when she took
POlly's place at the washtub ? though
he had been seen to hold POlly's rosy
digits for five minutes just to warm
them, you know, and then send her in
doors while he battled manfully with
wet, tapping sheets and stringy tow
els.


As time went on, however, he seem
ed to lose all his little helpful ways
about the house the water bucket might
stand empty half the day without his
perceiving it-Polly might reduce her
fingers to pink jelly driving nails to
train her roses-JOhn never seemed to
know it or to imagine that any assis-
tance was needed or expected from him.
He was not actually unkind, but there
was difference he did not appropri-
ate Polly as he used to do; he always
gave way when Simeon Brown or Hall
Burton or any other of the young men
came about He was away good deal
in the evenings, and when he did re-
main at home was usually absorbed in
the newspapers or a book; or else he
was busy with accounts and must not
be disturbed


Polly wonders sometimes if John has
forgotten all about that little scene in
the old kitchen, one spring morning,
not so very long ago. She does net won-
der if he has gotten over being fond of
her-as he said he would endeavor to
dO-she is quite sure that he has.
Though why she should cry about it is
not quite so clear to Polly; but she
does, nevertheless, and the briny drops
fall slowly and mournfully into the
dish-pan. When she had ''done up"
the dishes and wept her .-little weep. :"
she bathes her face in cool spring wa
ter, and without even one peep into the
little cracked looking glass goes into
the sitting room.


Uncle Silas was enjoying his pipe and
the newspaper together, and Aunt Deb
by was counting off the loops on her
knitting needles preparatory to setting
up" the heel in gray yarn stocking,
whose dimensions proclaimed that II
was intended to warm and comfort dur
ing the storms of the coming winter,
one of pair of feet at present reposing
inside of Uncle Silas's far-from Lilipu-


tian slippers John is not present, SC
the room is very still it is worse even


than the great empty kitchen, for the


cr1ckets keep that from being utterly


dreary, but the ticking of the tall clock


in Its dim corner onl y makes the sitting


room seem more lonesome Polly take:


her work aud sits down in her little sew.


ing chair, and wonders what ais her


self and everybody and everything


She longs to throw her work into tht


fire and herself on the floor and cry hel


eyes out; but what would Aunt DebbJ


say to such doings? All, if the Aun


Debbys could but look beneath the sur


face. Ofteutimes, what an uplifting o


hands and eyes would take place, to b
sure But Aunt Debby "set up" he


heel undisturbed, and, getting into plair
sailing she remarked how quiet ever,
one was. This eliciting no response
she next supposed it would be late be
fore John would get home then Poll,
asked where John was.


.He's gone to Deacon Browns to cor


meeting Simeon cum along this srter
noon and gin him notice I think you,
, better went too, Polly; you don
) seem pert there's nothin' like bit Q
company to liven young folks up. or oil
ones either"


: Polly did not say anything, but
r pang shot through her heart aud sb
wanted to cry worse than ever-wha
could all her?


5 Uncle silas laid down his paper an
e cast shrewd glance at Polly over hi
D glasses, then hemmed and said Mott
/ er do you think it's the singin' and notE
/, in else that takes our John to Deaeo
: Browns so often of an evenin' ?"
t why, what should it be? 70
' don't think he's under conviction, q