Betty's Bright Idea; Deacon Pitkin's Farm; and the First Christmas of New England

t you might have seen the dark form of the Pitkin far

canopy of elm, stood out like an old

corn-stalks and heaps of golden pumpkins in the neighboring fields, from

a fence, waiting for his evening meal; indulging the while in a stream of conversational wisdom w

tistical dictionary of all the affairs of the good folks of Mapleton. He knew every piece of furniture in their houses, and what they gave for it; every foot of land, and what it was worth; every ox, ass and sheep; every man, woman and child in town. And Biah could give pretty shrewd character pictures a

out a file to sharpen 'em! Deacon Pitkin did a putty fair stroke o' business when he swapped off his old place for this 'ere. That are old place was all swamp land and stun pastur; wa'n't good for raisin' noth

om this stream of remark was addressed; "this 'e

't scratch for it and pay up squar to the minit, old Squire Norcross'll foreclose on him. Old squire hain't no bowels,

hand to work," said A

in't the most work got out of 'em that ken be, down to Jed and Sam, the little uns. They work like tigers, every soul of 'em, from fo

Pitkin is," said Abner,

mnly expressed his highes

ep' no gal nor nothin'; allers up and dressed; allers to meetin' Sunday, and to the prayer-meetin' weekly, and never stops workin': when 'tan't one thing it's another-cookin', washin', ironin', making

a sort of musical rest in this monot

in' on in that house. The deacon wouldn't know himself without her; nor wouldn

interlocutor, who seemed to be possessed by a d

' Pitkin is; and her hand allers goes to the right spot, and things is done afore ye know it. That are woman's kind o' still; she'll slip off and be gone to heaven some day afore folks know it.

e matter o'

long as yer arm. 'Tis a putty tight pull havin' Jim in college, losin' his work and havin' term bills and things t

ege?" said Abner with slo

e's sot on't, too, in her softly way, and softly women i

king towards the sunset. The evening light lit up a jaunty spray of golden rod that she had wreathed in her wavy hair, and gave a glow to the rounded outlines of her handsome form. "There's a sparkle

s it's Bill," said Abner, delighted to be able to add

k round to everything that going. She gives one a word over one shoulder, and one over t'other, and if the Lord abo

heologians or philosophers in general. There was a point, it appeared, whe