Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-09-24
rHE TROUBLES oME ME cE;
OPENING A HARDENED HEART.
BY sYLvANus coBB, JR.

/ BY sYLvANUS COBB, yR.
"And so Kate Owen is coming hero 20 sale
Absalom Burr to himself, rs he paced to and fro
in his small dingy apartment why don't she
get married and go about her BUSINESS
plague on her, / say. Just because my sister
chose to marry Jim Owen, and then die and leave
this girl behind, I must take the thing and pro
vide forit. What fool l was ever to tell my
sister I'd see to her child. Why, here will be
my house turned topsy-turvy, and every thing
like peace fly out of the windows. And :hen
suppose the first thing I'll find her spending
money. Not penny--no--not one She says
she can sew, and she shall BY the host, don't
touch a penny of mine. And if she stays here
she will do my sewing TO pay for house room
and do my cooking and washing to pay for her
yictuals A plague ON the poor niecesr'
Thus spoke Absalom, and then sat down and
stuck his feet close up to the fire. Absaom
Burr was perfect miser. His face was deeply
furrowed by the hand of passing time, and its
and patched, aad his shoes, even, were sadly
in want of mending. t
The cold breath Of winter was close at hand
and yet the only fuel he had was such as he had
been able to pick up by the road SIDE and at
the edge of the pond. The house in which he
lived was but poor hovel with only two rooms,
and with furniture more fit for fre-wood than
4
the house, and every spare rag of clothing he
owned was in use for the replacing of broken
paEes.
/ And yet AbsaIom Burr was worth fifty thous-
and dollars, though he contrived to be taxed for
only about ten thousand, which was invested in
houses in town. He was never known to bestow
a penny in charity, though many poor and suf-
fering fellow creature had begged for assistance
at his hands. Alone had he lived for many a
long year, and his heart was all hardened and
closed up against every kindly feeling. He
spent his time in attending to his rents, picking
up wood and rags by the way-side, and count
his money at home.
On Monday evening, near the last of Novem-
ber the stage stopped in front of Absalom's hut,
and young female was helped out by the dri-
yer, and trunk and handbook put down after
her,. 1t was Kate Owen. The old man had not
seen her for ten years, but he remembered well
4 how his sister had looked when she was q girl,
and here was her exact image. kate's mother
was the only sister he ever had, and this Kate
was the only near relative he had living. The
girl helped carry her own trunk in, and as soon
as she had removed her bonnet she threw her
arms about his neck and kissed him. He star
ted back at this, and severe look passed over
| his face.
| Kate Owen was a pretty girl, and she had left
behind her not one acquaintance who did not
love her. She was short, plump, langhter-lov-
| ing being, with brown hair and hazle eyes, and
when she laughed, the dimples deepened in her
cheeks and chin, and the dark eures shook
about her fair temples. In fact, one look at her
face was as good as medicine for the blues, and
the ring of her rich and merry laugh was conta
| gious.
my dear uncle" she said, after she had seat
ed herself at the fire, ''are you not glad I've
come ~
"Nell-yes l shouldn't want you to be
without home. But mind--you are to help
me. You won't be an expense to me-"
"0f cource won't Why, I'll return you
tenfold. How snug and happy we will be this
winter You won t be here all alone to hear
the wind blow, and the hail thump and rattle
against the windows And shall feel better,
too, than should if was away among stran-
gers"
"But you've got TO go among strangers some
| time. You can't expect that you are going to
! find home here always"
/ YOh ne, dear uncle; but while do stay
viii try and make you happy"
And in like tones did she address the old
mser under all circumstances. Ere long she
asked her uncle where she could find the mate
rails for supper, for she confessed that she was
hungry.
Il eat some bread and cheese, when am hun
cry he told her.
But haven't you any tea 2 or any iouer? or
any butter?'
There may be a little butter, said the old
man, reluctantly; but don't think there's any
-four, and tea is something don't use."
| But you love ii, uncle 4
why, yes,-but it costs too much
And sugar-have you any of that y
| NO; get along very well without it,
| Then you wait few minutes and I'll run out
and get some. l saw store as l came by, only
a few rods back from here
And as she spoke she put on her bonnet and
shawl.
But don't have accounts at the store,' utter
ed the old man fearfuly. They wont trust
me-
Never mind. / have the money. Just you
set to the fire, and mind that the teakette boils.
And thus speaking, Kate ran out In about
fifteen minutes she returned, and in her arms
she bore quite little heap of packages. A lit
bundle of flour, a package of tea, some sugar, a
small, new tin pail full of milk, and so on.
Her next movement was to hunt up the bread.
She founda loaf of bakers bread, and having
cut it up into slices, and placed it near the hre
to toast. Then she moved out the old table
and after the leaves were raised she inquired for
the table cloth, but the old man had none. But
she was prepared for this, and for more too. In
| her trunk she not only found the CLOTH but also
a cream-pitcher, sugar-bowl, and few other ar
ticles of like description, which she kept as re-
membranes of her mother. The white cloth
was spread, the dishes put on, and then Kate
hunted up the stew-pan. This she cleaned, and
having fixed it on the fire, she proceeded to pre-
pare dip for the toast, which she made of but
ter, milk and water, thickened with little -four.
She found Absal ms dishes hidden away in
various places, as though stuck away from the
sight of tax -gatherers. But there were more OF
them than she imagined, tho they all had to I'M
dergo sort of washing process, before they were
put on the table Finally the toast was done
the tea made and then Uncle Absalom was in
formed that supper was ready.
SO intent had he been upon watching the light,
noseless movements of the fairy, that he did not
notice tie first CALL and it was not until he had
been spoken to the second time, that he fairly
understood He sat up to the table. and soft
ter shade rested ON bis features as he cast his
eyes over the board. The snowy cloth, the
steaming tea pot, the light, fich-looking toast
and, above all, the lovely presence that presided
over the scene, were new things in the hereto
fore cheerless home. Kate helped him to plate
of toast, and to cup of tea, and the shade upon
his face grew softer as he tasted the well pre-
lpared food.
4 Don't You remember this cream-pitcher, and
tthis stigar-bowl, Uncle Absalomi y Kate asked
as she helped him to second plate of toast 2
He looked at them and after while he said
4 They do look familiar, Kate. e.-;
/ .Ay, uncle, you have seen them often before
Your kind old mother always used them while
she lived and when she died she gave them t.
my mother. / love them now, for they are doubly
dear to me, bringing back to my mind one of the
best of grandmothers, and one of the most true
and faithful mothers
Absalom Burr gazed upon the mementos, and
a moisture gathered in his eye, but twas not
iquite enough to form tear
Now, uncle" spoke Kate, as they were abou
to rise from the table, isn't this better than colo
water y o Hesa8
Yes, yes, it tastes little better. but it cost,
more Kate ~
No, no, my uncle, it doesn't cost so much
1t may take little more money, but look at tnt
comfort and satisfaction which it affords, ant