Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 20, 2025
Bartlett was churning in the shadow of the wide porch, the Squire was mending a horse collar with wax thread, and fussing about the heat and the slowness of Hi Holler, who was always punctually fifteen minutes late for everything. "Confound it, Looizy, what's keeping that boy; the train'll get in before he's started. Here you, Hi, what's keeping you?"
"That was it, my dear an utter stranger and you cannot really blame me; here was Looizy and Kate and I was asked to take into the house with them a young woman whom I had never set eyes on before; it seemed to me a trifle risky, but you've proved that I was wrong, my dear, and I'll admit it."
Kate was fond of going to Boston to visit a schoolmate, and the Squire, who looked with small favor on these visits, was disposed to attribute them to Dave's lack of ardor. "Confound it, Looizy," he would say to his wife, "if Dave made it more lively for Kate she would not be fer flying off to Boston every time she got a chance." And Mrs. Bartlett had no answer.
"No, I do not think it is likely, mother," he answered. "Good land! and I nearly froze to death getting here!" Marthy said in an aside to Mrs. Bartlett. "I tell you, Looizy, there is nothing like suspense for wearing you out. I couldn't get a lick of sewing done to-day, waiting for Amasy to get in with the news." "Hallo! hallo! Let us in quick here we are, me and the Squire most froze!
"You'd better let 'em alone, Amasy; if they're going to marry they will without any help from us; love affairs don't seem to prosper much, when old folks interfere." "Looizy, it's my opinion that Dave's too shy to make up to women folks. I don't think he'll even get up the courage to ask Kate to marry him." "Well, I never saw the man yet who was too bashful to propose to the right woman."
Off with you now; and if you ain't in time for them cars you'll catch 'Hail Columbia' when you get back." "Looizy," said the Squire, as soon as Hi was out of hearing, "why didn't Dave go after Katie? Yes, I know about the hay. Hay is hay, but it ought not to come first in a man's affections."
"Look at him, just look at him, Looizy, sweating himself a day like this, over a common dusty miller. It beats all, and with his money." "Well, it's a harmless amusement," said the kindly Louisa, "there's a heap more harmful things that a man might chase than butterflies." The stillness of the midsummer day was broken by the sound of far-off singing.
And a great deal of decision went into the churning that accompanied her words. "Mebbe so, mebbe so," said the Squire. He felt that the vagaries of the affections was too deep a subject for him. "Anyhow, Looizy, I don't want no old maids and bachelors potterin' round this farm getting cranky notions in their heads. Look at the professor.
The hand on the knob relaxed, a kindly light replaced the anger in his eyes. "You are right, Looizy, what we've heard is only hearsay, I'll not say a word to the girl till I know; but to-morrow I am going to Belden and find out the whole story from beginning to end." Kate and the professor came in laden with wraps, laughing and talking in great glee.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking