Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-05-13
lTheATwO CordS OF WOOd.

fom the crane the suspended ~tea-kettl.
Hasi announcing as, loudly as possible
e1at7the hour for supper was approach.
ing BY the bright, uti6tful fire, ons
voung girl sat reading; another stooe
81 tho window Watching the CONS, a
they walked demurely from the yard tt
the stable, while a boy of eleven sum
mcrs was seated on a cricket in front Of
the Ere, gazing steadily at the flames, as
they shot upward, but with an appear,
ance of abstraction indicating that hi.
mind was elsewhere ~
.GSefly Ellen sadsanced from the win
dow, and touching her sister Ruth, to
call her attention, whispered, "Just look
at Thomas | Hes in a brown study, as a
teacher said this afternoon. I do won
der what he is thinking Of =
ASK him." responded Ruth, CLAN
cling at her brother, and then turning to
her book again ste
Thomas" called Ellen "what makes
you look so sober tonight" Do you
miss at school 2" s- -'3''rr.
The boy heaved a deep sigh, and then
.turned to his sister with asmile, saying,
slohr Ellen, you can help me. if you will;
emily you must promise not to tell any
ene."fss ~, sfF Et-e 5li ts mrs:
- Mfe1 promised, and Thomas led her
to the further corr r of the ROOM, as his
mother had come in, when he made
Known his plan. "Last night" said he,
CATER you and Ruth had gone to bed,
i heard father and mother talking. 1t
made me feel so sad, I could not go to
sleep She had been bringing in the
clothes, and kept coughing, as she al
Ways does, when she works hard. Faith
or told her she must go to taking the
doctors stuff that did her so much good
last winter. At first she did not answer,
bat pretty soon I saw her put up her
hand and brush away a tear. There
are so many things to be bought for the
children she said, after a while, that |
don't like to spend money for medicine.
7 don't often cough SO much"
= Hknow that, too replied father, but
you must attend to your health. What
should We all do without your
Il sometimes think said mother,
shat my work is almost done, and if it
Is Gods will to call me away he will
provide you and our children.
7 couldn't stay to hear any more, for
I had to run into the entry to keep from
sobbing aloud. Oh, Ellen, what could
We all do without mother?'
The young girl turned around, and
gave her brother a piercing glance, as if
to satisfy herself that her brother had
cause for his solicitude, and then asked,
"But what can you, or both of US, do
to help her?'
Il mean, somehow, to buy her a bottle
of hat medicine" exclaimed Thomas,
impressiy ely, "but how to do it is the
question. DR.. Jones had a load of wood
carted to-day, and he wants a man to
saw it. 1 would go tomorrow after
noon; and ask him to give ME the job,
and take the medicine, for pay, only
father wants his wood piled up to NOR
row, before the snow COMES"
Ellen stood for one moment return
ing her brothers, gaze, and then said
eagerly, Ruth and l will pile it for you.
Wen get up very early, and do our
stint before breakfast, and then We shall
have the whole afternoon.
Thomas joyfully accepted this offer,
and readily obtained the job from the
kind physician. Before night he had
piled the two cords in the shed, and
sawed nearly a quarter of it.
'.Well, my little man." said the Doc
tor, driving into the yard as Thomas was
hanging up the saw, preparatory to
leaving. chow much have you earned
this afternoon2- - g.. .
A bright thought flashed through the
boys mind, and in true Yankee style he
answered the question by asking, "Doc-
TOR, how much a bottle was that cough
medicine you gave mother last winter?
"Half . dollar, I think. Is she sick
again. ~
The boy then communicated his wish
Is, and with a flushed face, inquired of
the Doctor flhe would be willing to let
himzhave one bottle to- carry home with
him? = sTs s r-im&z
The good man was evidently moved
by this, unexpected proposal. He made
no reply except to invite the boy to his
office. When there, he talked to him
moro freely, and ended by giving him
q small powder for his mother, with di-
pections for taking it, in addition to the
desired cough medincina, and promised
to call himself the next day.
hour later, Thomas sat with his
sister by the fire, aud communicated to
themthe joyful results of his afternoons
labor. They then proposed to give the
medicine to their mother, as a token Of
affection from her three children, 'forI
urged Thomas, al could not have done
il, if you had not helped me-"
To say that Mrs. Grant was gratifed,
would be but feebly expressing her emo
tioa, when the love token was placed in
her hands.
" It'll moistened eyes she gave eachof
them q kiss, and then added in a sub
-dned voice, Good will reward you, my
dear on IS The blessing affixed to the
fifth Commandment will be yours, for
you have indeed honored your mother
~. God did bless them in rendering the
medicine effectual in restoring the health
of their mother, whose life he prolonged
for many years. She saw her children
growing up to be useful, happy, and
respected by ALI who knew them
,Yo1Lhis Companion. .y=r1s o
m-"what are you doing there,