Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1875 — HULDY’S YOUNG MAN. [ARTICLE]

HULDY’S YOUNG MAN.

“Sol I sec Huldy Blare’s young man as I came up the lane,” said Miss Mallet, a-leaning in her keeping-room winder as cozy as you please! An unkiminon smart-looking chap. Eh, Cyrus?” “Do tell!” spoke up sister Jane. “Is Huldy Blare about a beau at her time of life? Rather late in the day.” . “ Never too late to mend,” said Cyrus, , facetiously. Now Cyrus had been sweet upon Huldah all his days; but latteriy there had arisen a coolness between them. Huldah wanted him to study law, while he had set his heart upon filling the pulpit at Rowley, and settling down soberly with Huldah at the parsonage. There had been a quarrel, and Huldah had gone away on a visit, to be followed on her return by the aforesaid young man. Nobody knew exactly whether she had jilted Cyrus or whether he had changed his mind; only Jane suspected, and Miss Mallet thought she’d heard words one night when she went to see Huldah, before raising the knocker. Miss Mallet always made it a rule to stand on the door step for a few minutes before knocking, in order to collect herself, and whatever unguarded words might float outward from the neighbor’s lips. “Yes, Huldy’s no chicken,” pursued Miss Mallet. “Lemme see; her folks was married forty-nine year coming Thanksgiving-time, and Huldy’s the baby. She’ll never see thirty-five agin. Her young man must be consid’able younger,” “Younger!” cried Jane. “Dear me! I did think Huldy had more dignity. I’d iiko to see a boy proposing to me /” “Hoity-toity! 1 dare say you would, Jane Allan," laughed the visitor. “ There ain’t nothing in the Scriptures agin it. Eh, Cyrus?" “Against a boy proposing to Jane?” “Cyrus! how can you be so frivolous? You, a clergyman! Dear me, what can Huldy be thinking of ?” “Her young, man, I reckon. Don’t you, Cyrus?" “ I don’t reckon on anything where a woman’s concerned!” said he, with some bitterness. “Deary me, Cyrus Allan, how come you to let this young popinjay cut you out —that’s what I’d like to know? llere you was right handy, and knowed"Huldy ever since she was that high. I alius thought you’d make a match of it, you two. She’s jest the cut-out for a minister’s wife, to sing psalni3 and lead in prayer at class-meetings, and carry broth and flannel to the poor.” “Huldy? Why, Miss Mallet,” cried Jane, “I’ve heard her say she wouldn’t marry a minister if there wasn’t another man in creation—having everybody in the purish bringing tithes of mint and cumin* as she calls it.” “ P'r’aps she wa’n’t asked.” “Like as not,” said Jane. “Sour grapes. But it does beat everything her taking up with this boy!” s ‘Oh, he’s got as good a mustache as Cyrus has; he’s old enough to go alone!” “To know belter!” “ Wa’al, it ain’t sueha terrible thing no way. Deacon Canticle’s younger’n his wife, and they was alius peaceable together. Nobody’d knowed about it if they didn’t go peeking into the family Bible!" “Time’s a delusion,” said Cyrus. “ Wnen people reach maturity, a few years on ciiher side don’t signify.” Cyrus was a trifle the junior of Huldah himself. “ Shakespeare was younger than Ann Hathaway, and Dr. Johnson ” “Law|" interrupted Miss Mallet, “did you know his wife was down with measles?" Liking it for granted that he spoke of the village doctor, and thankful she hadn't forgotten to tell the news. “Ob, Cyrus means the Dr. Johnson who wrote dictionaries and things,” corrected Jane. “ Lawl I don’t know nothing about him. I nevef see his wife, neither." ,

“Well,” continued Jane, with Huldy still heavy on her mind, “ I’m willing folks should marry their grandmothers if, they want to; but I must qay I’m disappointed in Huldy.” “ And I shouldn’t wondor if Cyrus was, too!” , . “ He’s got his calling—“l guess he won’t need to be calling round to Huldy’s now; she serins to be already under conviction." ADd to Cyrus’ jaundiced eyes she did indeed appear content and happy, as he watched her strolling among the beds of larkspur and love-lies-bleeding with “ her young man;” and when presently she plucked a carnation for his button-hole and leaned-on his arm as if it belonged to her the heart of Cyrus stood still, and he didn’t feel in the least like practicing what he was about to preach. Neither could he help acknowledging, as they stood to-, gether in the paling light, that the young man had a taking way with him, and that Huldah herself looked his peer, with her sparkling colors and pretty coquetries—that there would always be something girlish about her were she ninety-odd. It was almost twilight when Huldah «losed the garden gate between herself and her young man, who bent and kissed her hand as he withdrew. She was still lingering there, while the stars blossomed out overhead, when Cyrus himself passed by, hesitated, and returned to the gate. “ A flue evening,” he said. “ I suppose it isn’t too late for congratulations, Huldy?” She gave a start that-shook-all the dew from the syringa bush at her elbow. “ Better late than never,” she returned, in a minute. “ Congratulations are always welcome, you know.” “I don’t know anything about it. I was never congratulated.” “ Oh, but you will be; I shall congratulate you on your first sermon!” “ Pardon; 1 did not mean to speak of myself; and then, I doubt if you ever hear a sermon of mine.” “ Oh!” (sharply) “ are vou going for a missionary?” If Cyrus could have seen the face that grew pale and convulsed at the fear he would have felt appeased; but the darkness hid It. “No; only you will not be here to profit by my pastoral instructions. Well, Huldah, don’t suppose that I grudge you your happiness.” “I’m sure yon needn’t.” “ I’d rather you had it than I, since it has been shown that wc couldn’t both share it together.” Thank you. I dare say you’ll find your own share yet.” “I don’t look for any. There are plenty in the world who get on without it, I suppose. Good-night, Huldah." “ Good-night. But, Cyrus ” “ Did you speak?” turning back. “ No, no” (hastily). “ Here comes Miss Mallet. Good-night.” “ You don’t say that your young man leaves as early as this?” queried that personage; “jest on the edge of the evening, too. My stars! w r hen I was young things was different. But, law! girls wasn’t so ready to snap at a husband as nowadays! Men was tliicker’n flies in July, and now they’re skeerse as good sense.” “ Won’t you come in and make it up to me?” asked Huldah, laughing. “ Wa’al, I don’t care if I do. S’pose he won’t be back. He’s a likely-looking chap enough, but Jane and Cyrus don’t think you’d oughter be marrying such a young fellow. They’re terrible disappointed in you, but I tell ’em it won’t matter a hundred years hence.” “ Did Cyrus say so,” asked Huldah. “ Him and Jane bed a good deal to say. I don’t rightly remember the whole on’t. Folks will talk spicy, you know, when others get in luck. I s’pose you’ll be thinking about wedding-cake afore long?” Miss Mallet always baked the weddingcake for the people of Rowley. “I thought I’d better speak early, as I’d alius baked for the family and I knowed you wouldn’t want a new hand a-mixing it. And there’s the bride-cake. You might order the butter and eggs and fruits all together, or p’r’aps I could do it as I go home, and save you the trouble. Scales & Weight keep open till nine mostly, ana I could get a good bake on to it early in the morning.”

“ You needn’t be in such a hurry, Mis 3 Mallet,” said Huldah. “ I’ll let' you know when I’m going to be married in good season to have the cake 'done through. So they think I oughtn’t marry such a young man, do they?” the thorn rankling. “ Law! I wouldn’t let that hinder if I was you, Huldy.” If anything should persuade Huldah from the match, it was plain there would be no cake to bake. “ Let them laugh as wins. The Allans, to be sure, turned noses as high as nine, and don’t think you’ve got any dignity to spare, and Miss Higgins she laughed as though she’d ’a died when I pointed him out to her. ‘ That Huldy’s young man!’ says she. ‘Ddtell! had she took that child to bring up for better or worse?’ But law! if you're satisfied, and the cake’s got a good bake, there ain’t nobody hurt.” , Next day when Huldahdropped into Mr. Inche’s store for some trifle he seized the opportunity to tell ner that he had just received some choice silks, Which he could offer her at a bargain. “ Real bridal colors, Miss Blare.” And Miss Pucker, the dressmaker, refused several customers in order to be in readiness to make Huldah’s wedding gowns. But the world wasn’t made In a day, and Huldah and her young man seemed in no hurry. The neighborhood, indeed, had hardly grown familiar with their goings and comings, when a young lady appeared to vary the scene. It was nothing new for Huldah Locke to visit her aunt, but every one decided that this particular visit was ill-timed. And when Huldy’s young man and Huldy’s young niece were met walking in lonely paths together, or rowing on the twilight river, side by side, Mrs. Grundy could no longer contain herself, but must speak her mind, convulsed as she was with jealous misgivings on‘’Huldy’s account. Why had she been such a fool as to ask Huldy Locke down till the thing was settled beyond a peradventure? “ W hy didn’t she let me bake the cake and have done with it?” sighed Miss Mallet. “It’s a jus ice upon her for trifling with her luck in this way. It ought to be a warning to others!” “ It’s what she might have expected of such a chit of a boy," said .Taue Allan. “ She oughtn’t have put temptation in his way. Children always take to sweet things. 1 ” k “ For the matter of that,” said Cyrus, “ Huldah is only ten years older than her niece, and much the pr» ttier.” “ Speak for yourself, Cyrus,” snapped Jane. “ Every eye makes its own beauty. I thought you had more spirit than to stand up fo'r her. She’s only getting her come-uppance. Ten years is no laughing matter, and I’m afraid Huldy'll laugh the other side of her mouth!”

But Huldy appeared confident of her own charms, and oblivious of danger; though little Huldy was sometimes seen at the station taking leave of the young iinan. @ “ Huldy’s either too good for ’arth or vainer ’n a peacock,” Miss Mallet assured the public, “ for she lets little Huldy harness Old Daisy and gallivant off to meet Mr. What’s-his-name at the train when he’s expected down; and if it ain’t little Huldy’s picter he keeps in his watch I’ll never believe my eye 3 agin. I think you’d oughter call over and console the afflicted, Cyrus," said she, after Cyrus had been called to the parish of Rowley. “ She’s one of your flock, and likely to remain so. P’r’aps you might show her how ’twas all for the’ best, eh?” But Cyrus did not undertake that pastoral duty; he wrestled daily with himself instead, because his heart rejoiced in spite of him at the possible inconstancy of Huldy’s young man. Surely it was npt meet that a minister of the Gospel should entertain such weaknesses, but ministers as well as people are unsublimated flesh and blood as yet. Not that Cyrus in the least believed the current gossip; in the first place, the man who had once loved Huldah could never think of another, and, secondly, it was too good to be true. “ Wa’al, the cake’s in the oven, sure’s you live, Jane Allan,” said Miss Mallet, coming in one morning, later* in a flutter of excitement. “My word for it, I’d give it clean up; thinks I, that cake’s dough to the end of time!”

“What cake are you talking about?” asked Jane; but Cyrus, who was meditating a sermon in the adjoining room, knew by instinct, and his heart began to throb in great pluDges, as if it out of its place at every pulse. “ Why. Huldy’s wedding-cake, to be sure!” “All’s well that ends well. I wish her joy.” “ You may wish me joy when that batch is well out of the oven, neither too hard-baked nor with a quagmire in the middle of it. I ought to be beatiDg eggs for the bride-cake this minute, but 1 knew you’d want to have the news first-hand. I s’pose Cyrus ’ll git a proper handsome fee!” Cyrus groaned and threw down his pen. It had not occurred to him before that he should be called upon to marry Huldah to liis rival. “You never see such a heap of finery as is lying round over to Huldy’s—silk gowniand things, just down from Boating, bows and ends—Miss Pucker didn’t git that job—and the wedding-veil spmwling over a lounge. Huldy sliet the door when she come out to speak to me, but I’d seen my fill through the crack afore; and little Huldy’s to be bridemaid, I reckon, for she was a-tryin’ on some white fixing in the parlor chamber.” It was going to be a very quiet wedding—nobody invited but a very few friends from Boston, and the Rev. Cyrus Allan and his sister. Cyrus would have given all he was worth if it would have enabled him to stay away, but how could he refuse to marry a parishioner and an old friend, unless he were to fall ill or break a limb in the meantime? But the fated day drew on, and found him sound in body if distracted in mind as he helped Jane into the carriage and shut her finery in the door, thinking how much it seemed as if they were going to a funeral instead. A handful of friends were assembled in Huldy’s parlor, dnd a swinging bell of flowers marked the spot where the bridal party were to pose; and presently there was a portentous rustling and murmuring in the hall, and Cyrus caught sight of a cloud of tulle aud a confused panorama ot faces, from amidst which Huldah’s shone out like a fixed star, before he dropped his eyes upon his prayer-book and began the service, with a countenance as white as his gown. .' “ I was looking through the crack of the door,” chronicled Miss Mallet, who was always present on such occasions to cut the cake and order things duly, “ and I thought Cyrus Allan would drop every minute, and I jest- run for the campliire bottle.” He went through the ceremony as if he had been wound up for the purpose, without once raising his eyes to the bride’s. The response, “I, Huldah, take thee, Henry, to be my wedded husband,” sounded to him like the far-off whispers in a shell; all the faces about him seemed wavering and disturbed; he saw Jane standing primly against the wall in her stiff, old-fashioned brocade—her grandmother’s wedding gown—with its modern ruffles of embroidered muslin, and the great fronds and ferns upon it seemed to grow as she waited there, while he speculated if all the hearts that had ached under that bodice could make up the sum of his present agony; and directly the blessing was over, and summoning up all his strength of will and pride, Cyrus bent forward to congratulate the bride, and—the bride was only little Huldah!

“I never knowed it myself,” reported Miss Mallet. “ till I come back to the crackpot the door and see, all of a suddiftg, that the veil was on to little Huldy’s head, now that they faced round, and that old Huldy was nothing but a bridemaid. I was all struck of a heap, and I had to take a good sniff out of the camphire botile myself! And I was downright mad, too, at beingao took in. You see, the way of it was, little Huldy’s step-father wouldn’t let her marry her young man, ’cause the minute she up and did he!d lose control of the property her own pa left to Tier; and her ma, she hadn’t no marrer to her bones and never durst say her soul was her’n if any man thought different; and as little Huldy’s step-father was her guardeen, and she wa’n’t of age, and a-wasting her money for her in riotous living, and keeping of her pinched and treating of her shameful, they was afeard he’d forbid the banns if he got wdnd of it, he was sech a heathen; so they’d kep it sly', apd the rest of us bed wasted enough sympathy on Huldah Blare to found a hospital, you see. “ 1 How'could you play us such an unneigkborly trick, Miss* Huldy?" says I, afterward, ‘ and keep us so long in the outer darkness? We did a sight of worrying for you that we might have been spared if we’d only know ed he wa’n’t ~your young man.’ , “ * 1 never said htTwilTHyyjOThlpiisnp 1 said she, a-laughing. ‘ You drew your own conclusions.’ Yes,’ thinks 1.-“ I drew my own conclusions from hanging around the premises and watching the shadders on the window-curtings.’ jest then Cyrus Allen he came in and, ‘ Miss Mallet,’ says he, joking like, 1 1 thought it was a pity to have to leave Miss Huldy without her young man after all the talk, and disappoint the s, too, and I’ve kindly volunteeredto take his place and “show her it was all for the best;" ,so you’ll have to bake cake for the whole •"*rish!’ And Huldah blushed jest like a

rose in June, as putty as if she’d bin sixteen; but, you see, she’s got her youqg man after all, if he is a minister, and she don’t seem noways sorry.”— Harper's Weekly.