True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-23
STEUBENVILLE, .oHIu} WEDNESDAY December % 1857.

before. Your kind mother always used
them while she lived, and when she died
she gave them to my mother. | love them
now. for they are doubly dear to me,
bringing back to my mind one of the best
grandmothers, and one of the most true
aud faithful mothers" .t
Absolom gazed upon the mementos, and
a moisture gathered in his eye, but it was
not quite enough to form tear
81 I" Now, uncle" spoke Kate, as they
were about to rise from the table, "isn't
this better than cold water :" 4 ...-
:" Yes, yes, it tastes better, but it costs
MORE" h' ''..'....
'v" Oh no, uncle. it doesn't cost so much.
1t may take little more money, but look
at the comfort and satisfaction which il
affords, and which would be lost without
it, Who so poor as he who has no COM
forts and joys! But l know what you
mean, you would be prudent and saving
and so we will be; and YET we viii!
have some comfort too
The table was soon, cleared away, and
then Kate proceeded to wash her dishes.
After this she sat down and conversed
with her uncle and for two hours she en-
tertained him with accounts Of her parents
experience When bed time came, she
found her cot ready for her, and though
she saw how she could better it, she said
nothing. She put her arms about her
:uncle's neck and having kissed him, she
said: : ,u.
!. " Good night, uncle, God bless and
keep you. 7... : 0':.' ''. ~.
And then she took her candle and went
away to bed, leaving her uncle to find his
way'by the light of the fire. '..'
How these words hung on the old mans
mind How strange and sweet they were!
how many long years had passed since
he had heard such words before! He
went back to the time when his mother
used TO kiss him at bed time, and for a
while he had forgot the long, dark years
that had passed away since those boyhood
days! .. "..'
The old man went to his bed and
dreamed. He dreamed that he was a
boy once more, and that his mother was
with him to care for and love him. ~
In the morning he was aroused by The
notes of sweet bli,he song. He started
up and listened, he heard the same beau.
.tiful song which his mother used to sing
in her happiest moments. He arose and
dressed himself. and shortly after Kate
came in. She had built fire in the old
fire place out on the porch, and the coffee
was already made She greeted the old
man with a happy smile. and another
kiss. Her cheeks were all aglow, and
her face presented the very picture of
health and happiness.
A breakfast Of dry toast and butter,
coffee and few warm biscuit, was soon
on the table, and as the old man sa, down
that shade on his face grew softer STILL
After breakfast, Kate arose, and put her
arms about his neck said: ID.
"Now, uncle, that you have female
in the house, you ought 10 sleek up lit.
tle--enough for comfort at any rate. In
the first place we want just seven panes
of glass set. Now 90 to the glazier and
have this done at once, for you know
your own health and comfort will be en-
HANGED thereby"
4" Yes--well--I have been thinking of
this for some Time, Kate, bu. it costs too
much" '.t ..t.. :.'
Never mind that, uncle Atsolom.-
Let us first have those things which are
absolutely necessay,,o our health and
comfort, and then we will examine our
funds, and if we are likely to run short,
we can economise in something else."
$50 we cam" said the old man, and
thus speaking he left the house. ..-.,n
And all that forenoon Kate worked
briskly about the house, with mop and
soap, and water, SO that when Absolom
came home he was astonished. The floor
was clean and white, the fire place neat,
and the new windows let in such quan>
tity Of light that it seemed like a new
ROOM. Kate got such a dinner as she
was able 10 pick up, and the afternoon
she spent in mending some other unCle's
clothes. He came in towards the mid
die of the afternoon, and she told him
that she was out Of -four. He proposed
getting two pounds, but she finally made
him see that it would be TO his interest to
geta barrel. 1t came hard 10 pay out six
dollars for barrel of -four, but he did it,
and while he was about it, hegot pound
of tea, pound of coffee, dollars worth
of sugar and some other little things
These he had sent home, and when he
came to sit down to his supper of warm,
light biscuit, and taste the fragrant tea,
he really confessed to himself that he had
been the gamer by the money. thus far
expended.
Thus matters moved on for a week.
The old man watched his niece's every
movement, but he could sec nothing was
ted Every crumb, was cared for and sa.
we'd, and he was surprised to see what
excellent dishes she prepared from almost
nothing. & .e,ea.a \ W. ,,.
|, One afternoon, when the wind blew
Icold, and The snow was falling fast, a
poor girl raped at The door, and Kate let