United States or Bermuda ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The scene that followed could not be told. With flying feet the whole congregation sped up the steep hill Angy Plummer half lifting, half dragging Reuby, and the poor grandparents supported on each side by strong men. As they drew near the house, they saw Draxy apparently sitting by the open window. "O mamma! why that's mamma," shrieked Reuby, "she was sitting just so when we came away.
Your prayer was better for the people than my little sermon, a great deal." The deacon wrung her hands, but did not speak a word, only stooped and kissed Reuby. After this day, Draxy had a new hold on the people. They had really felt very little surprise at her speaking to them as she did.
"I never said a word to him about obeying me in his life; I never shall. I can't explain it, father dear, but you must let me do my way. I shall tell him all I know about doing right, and he will decide for himself more and more. I am not afraid." She need not have been. Before Reuby was seven years old his gentle manliness of behavior was the marvel of the village.
Then taking little Reuby by the hand, she walked slowly back to her pew. Then Deacon Swift made sad work of reading the hymn, "Blest be the tie that binds," And the choir made sad work of singing it. Nobody's voice could be trusted for many syllables at a time, but nobody listened to the music. Everybody was impatient to speak to Draxy.
When the study-door next opened, Draxy herself came out, walking with a slow, measured step which transformed her whole bearing. Her face was perfectly calm, but colorless as white stone. At sight of her father her lips quivered, and she stretched out both hands to him; but she only said, "Where is Reuby?"
"I wondered how Reuby spent his time," said Dorothy, and the mother hastened to interpose. "Well! here's a passage that may be interesting: 'On sixth day attended the youths' meeting here, a pretty favored time on the whole. At a meeting at Plumstead we suffered long, but at length we felt relieved. The unfaithful were admonished, the youth invited, and the heavy-hearted encouraged.
It was not gray it was silver-white; and as it retained all the silken gloss which had made it so beautiful the shining of it was marvelous. It kindled her beauty into something superhuman. The color had left her cheeks also, but in its place was a clear soft tint which had no pallor in it. She was dressed in pure white, so also was little Reuby; but for this the parish were prepared.
"Make a mark on me with your white pencil," she would say, offering her dark cheek to Reuby, who would scrawl hieroglyphics all over it from hair to chin.
If September chickens have feelings as susceptible as their bodies, Dorothy's orphans must have been imperiled by her caresses. "Look here, Dorothy! Where's my trousers?" cried Shep, opening the door at the foot of the stairs. Reuby was behind him, fully arrayed in his own garment aforesaid, and carrying the bedroom candle. "Here they are with a needle in them," said Dorothy.
Slowly and reluctantly the people went, and a silence sadder than the sobs and grieving voices settled down on the house. Reuben sat on the stairs, his head leaning against the study-door. Presently he heard a light step coming down. It was young Mrs. Plummer, the mother of Benjy. She whispered, "I've found Reuby. He's asleep on the garret floor.
Word Of The Day