LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2202, 17 March 1881, Page 3

LITERATURE.

NATHAN APPLEBY’S MABMAGB. Continued.) The reproach iras without avail. Indeed, the look seemed only to aggravate Mr Goodwing’s miitb, and bis laughter became so uproarious that his fellow members forgot Mr Taylooatt’s narration, in their astonishment at such c .nduct and their desire to know the cause of it. *ln sooth, neighbor Goodwing, have you secretly persuaded Mose Butler to fill your mug again?' This Mr Birchwood said by way of reproof and not as meaning it, for he thought that the insinuation of drunkenness would sting Mr Goo swing into Bn explanation, ‘ That he has nor,’ said Moses, as be throw down his snuffers and rose in his place behind the s ab, ‘for yon well know that one mag of flip, and only one, yon receive from me of an evening, and that is of good measure; but neither seven coppers nor twice seven will get you another, save only on the night before the meeting of the General Court.’

‘ Ycur words, though true, are n - ‘t recsssary, Moses,’ said Mr Birchwood. ‘I spoke as chiding neighbor Goodwing, net you.’ And yet Mr Goodwing’s laughter did not cease, and at length Squire Whytynge turned hie back toward him, and, bending forward, looked steadily at the blazing leg Mr Pantry essayed another plan. Ho inquired of Mr Tavlcoatt if he had found a purchaser for the likely neg-o wench be had given notice on the public signboard he would sell. Mr Pantry’s plan, however, was a failure. Mr Taylooatt made short answer, and the others paid no heed to the remark. At last Mr Goodwing stopped suddenly. An expression of pain came upon h s face, and with a movement so quick that bis threecornered hat fell to the floor, he pat his hand to his side and began to rub vigoronaly.

* I h»ve, methinks, oanght such a stitch as never before,’ said ho. * ’Tis a mercy I trow,’ said ’.'quire Whytynge, without removing his eyes from the log. ‘ Truly a just observation,’ said Mr Taylcoatt.

•Mayhap,’ said Mr Qoodwiag, after he had sipped from his mug, having seemingly rubbed tho ttitch oat, ‘mayhap you will not oonta'U yourselves either, when I tell you that which neighbor Taylooatt’a tale of the bear brought to mind.’ Here tho six companions of Mr Goodwing cease d to cast reproving glances at him, and their countenances were brightened by the glow of ex; eolation. * I’ll venture tho appellation once given to Polly Appleby, she who was idistrens Polly Prentiss, of WB‘.thernfield Green, has been beard by all of you,’ said MrGoodwiug by way of beg'nning. •If 1 have board it,’ said Mr Pantry, ‘it has o' capod me. No. I have it. It was Malame de la Mell Hobo Scratch.

‘No, neighbor 1 antry. You bear in mind tho tale Squire Why tynge narrated some weeks ago,’ said Mr Blumfirld. ‘ I remember the appellation well, though I never made use of it.’

* But never, by all accounts, did woman so deserve an unkind name,’ said Mr Birchwood. ‘ They called her, I believe, a mountain bear, because her disposition was of such savage sort.’ ‘ Some women deserve hard names,’said Mr Purchas, who, by repute, had married a woman of shrewish tamper. ‘the was and is a comely woman, spite of her vinegary tongue,’ said Mr Blumfield. ‘Well, neighbor,’ said Mr Goodwing, * she was delivered of a boy a week since, and I visited her yesterday with my spouse, and you may believe me or not, but sho was lulling the babe with a soothing song, and did hold it with exceeding tenderness and love.’

* Yet her husband hath great dread of her.’ said Mr Blum field.

Here Mr Goodwing again burst into laughter, and when he had checked himself, ea’d —‘ I cannot call to m>nd my nephew Nathan’s—for ha is my spouse’s sister’s son —wooing and marriage of that woman without great merriment seizing me.’ ‘I admit that, of all the marriages in my time, that of Nathan Appleby to Mistress Folly was the one to cause greatest astonishment,’ said Squire Whyiynge. * For Nathan is a gentle person, and bring wall-to-do and well favored in his figure and face, he might easily have taken to wed the sweetest and oomeliest maid in this part of the country. That he should choose that shrew seems to me a matter for amazement more than for laughter.’ ‘How in the mercy of Providence happened it that she who is so fair to look upon hath such fierceness of temper ?’ Mr Blumfield asked, but without expectation of answer.

‘When I heard that she had married,' said Mr Pnrchas, ‘I did remark to my spouse that sometimes Providence permitted gentlemen to wed those whose words were as gall.’ Here Mr BlnmSeld slyly nudged Mr Good wing. ‘And I also reminded my spouse,’ con. tinued Mr Purchas, ‘that whom the Lord lovetb he chasteneth, for such a marriage mutt be a sore affliction.’

* Well, neighbors,’ said Mr Goodwing, ‘ I will relate to you how happened it th»t this gentienan did choose this woman to wife, when he might have had the oomely Widow Spence, whom he did always favor, and might have had her before Godfrey Spence took her. I will also tell you what has come of this marriage.’ NEIGHBOR OOODWINO’S STORY. ‘Nephew Nathan was always gentle. I doubt if he ever knowingly trod upon a worm, and I’ll venture no word ever escaped his lips that he would wish to recall. He early found the peace of Heaven, and has been all bis days thanking God that the blessings vouchsafed to him are so manifold. It is, as I now call to mind, some eighteen months ago, as my spouse stood under the maple tree that is near our porch, busy, as is her wont, with some dairy matters, that she heard the clatter of a herae’s hoofs, and, looking up, whom did she see but her nephew, Nathan, He rode up to her, and, without dismounting, saluted her, bending low to do so ; and after presenting her with a fat and . neatly plucked fowl, made discourse which I will repeat os nearly as my memory bears out what my wife did tell mo. ‘The Lord hath been very good to me, my Aunt Charity.’ ‘ Si he hath, Kathon.’ * My blessings are more than I can reckon, my aunt Charity.’ ‘ Trnly yon do well to always bear that in mind, Nathan.’

4 Set. I fear that through bo many mercies I sha 1 ba unmindful of my spiritual duties, and become attached to the things of time and sense, my aunt Charity.' 4 You must pray to be delivered from temptation, Nathan.’ 4 X have oast my eyes about seeking some means by whioh I may ba tried as by fire, my aunt Charity.’

‘ You do wrong, Nathan, Tho Lord works in His own way. ’ 1 Therefore I believe that He hath directed my thoughts.’ * What mean you, NathanJ?’ ‘ Toward Mistress Polly Prentiss, my aunt Charity.’ ‘Now if I know my spouse, neighbors,’ said Mr Good wing, interrupting the course of his,narrative, ‘and to judge.by the flash of indignation that was in her eyes as she told roe this, t e answer that she gave Nathan was not gentle. Her words were—- ‘ Toward that shrew! Why, she hath it iu her to afflict a znau worse than he from whom our Lord did drive seven devi's.’

* Yet, knowing that I desire Mistress Polly in marriage, surely iu that way, if in no other I may make self-sacrifice, and bo tried as by fire,’

* You are pleased to jest, Nathan.’ * I never jest, my Aunt Charity ; for every light word we are held to account.’ * Bat heaven doth not command you to eat bread that hath moulded, nor to take a wild beast to your home, Nathan,’ * Nay ; bnt it hath come upon me with the force of conviction, my Aunt Charity, that I must have snob, trials as will wean me from tho world, and if I marry this woman I shall have such trials ever present. ’

4 Thereupon my spouse,’ again Mr Goodwin g said by way of interruption, 4 did call him a st' pid fool, and did pray heaven afterward to forgive her. She said to him also that to wed that woman would be to seek a grave or the mad bouse. But he shook his head, and without further remark rode away ; and my spouse did comfirt hers> If by the thought that, determine as he might, two minutes of conversation with Mistress Polly would drive the notion from his head. A week later Nathan came again. 4 She hath promised to wed me, my Annt Charity.’ 4 She hath promised to wed yon, Nathan ? Have yon in truth asked her hand ? I could cry with vexation and sorrow.’ 4 How else, my Aunt Charity, could she promise to wed me nnless I asked her hand ?’

« How else ? Why, the shrew, had she taken the notion, would not hesitate to go to yon or any man and demand marriage. Of bourse, she promised yon. Little chauoe had she of a husband. Why, fc'athan, why did you not wed the Widow Abigail Spence ? Tell me that ? A good woman, a thrifty house wife, and a gentle sonl. ’ • Ah, my aunt Charity, much did I desire to do so, but that would have been too great a blearing. Sorely was I tempted to ask the widow’s hand on the day that her sister Lyd’a wedded young Spicer. I sat that evening in the kitchen fcy the widow as she knitted, and marked her grace of manner and comeliness ; and I made mestion of Lydia’s happiness, and when I did this Abigail turned to me with tender eyes and coyly said—- * Will yon not take pity on Lydia’s lonely si ter?’. and for an instant, even many minutes, I did have sore t-mptathn to woo her ; for I judged by that remark she might, if urged, have given me her band. Th«n came the words of Scripture to mo. to flee temptation, and I made great effort and quitted her. I have not seen her since, except in church, where she docs gaze on me with sad eyes.’ ‘You are a wicked man, Nathan Appleby, tbns to break the heart of a good won a i and to take up with a shrew. Still, having done so, Nathan, tell me of your wooing of Polly.’ ‘ It was on the evening of the lasi Lnrd’s day, my aunt Charity, as the went down, that I made my way to Mistress Polly’s dwelling. I heard the sharp tone of

her voice as I approached. If I mistook noil she was speaking to one of her father’s farm hands, ana she said, "Yon great seed-sowing numbskull 1 Oat of my sight, you ilkfavored, hideous-mannered clod !’ ” (To be continued. [