The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-08-31
The Two Cords of Wood.

The Two CofuS OF Ncou.
Just at dusk one November evening three
children occupied large kitchen connected
with the establishment Of farmer Grant
A bright wood fire blazed cheerfully in the
wide chimney, while from the crane the sus-
pended tea kettle was announcing, as loudly
as possible, that the hour for supper was
approaching. BY the bright, but dtful light
one young girl sat reading; another sat at
the window watching the cows rs they walk
ed demurely from the yard to the stable,
while a boy of eleven summers was seated
on a cricket in front Of the fire, gazing stead
lily at the flames as they shot upward, but
with an appearance OF abstraction, indicating
that his mind was elsewhere.
Softly Ellen advanced from the window,
and touching her sister Ruth to call her at
tention just whispered, "Just look at Thorn
as He's in a brown study, as the teacher
said this afternoon. do wonder what he S
thinking Of
ASK him. responded Ruth glancing at
her brother, and then turning to her book
again.
Thomas, called Ellen, "What makes
you look so sober tonight? Did you miss
at school r
The boy heaved deep sigh. ana then
turned TO his sister with Il smile, sa;i 20,
Ellen, you can help NE, ifyou will, only you
must first promise not to tell any one.
Ellen promised, and Thomas led her to the
further corner ofthe room as his mother had
come in, where he made Known to her his
plan.
Last night said he, "aftcr you and
Ruth had gone to bed, heard father and
mother talking. 1t made me feel SO .ad
could not 60 to sleep. She had been bring
ing in the clothes and kept coughing, as
she always does when she works hard Faith
err told her that she must go to taking that
doctors stuff that done her so much good
last winter. At first she did not answer;
but pretty soon ! 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 awhile,
'that | don't like to spend money for medi
cine don't often eough..so much"
Il know that too replied father. 'but
you must attend to your health. What
should VEAL do without you p
sometimes think" said mother, that
nv work is almost done, and if it is God S
will to call me away, he will provide for you
and our dear children"
, Il couldn't stay TO hear any more for
had to run into the entry to keep from sob
bling aloud-Oh Ellen, what could we do
without mother?
The young girl turned around and gave
her mother piercing glance, as If to salts
fly herself that her brother had cause for his
solicitude, and then asked, "but what can
you, or both Of US, do to help her 2"
al -lbap Hanaha,r IN brp bar ,tlo &c
that medicine, exclaimed Thomas impress
sively, "but how to do it is the question:
Dir. Jones had q load of wood carted to-day,
and he wants a man TO come and saw it. |
would 90 to morrow afternoon and ask him
to give me the job, and the medicine to pay
only father wants his wood piled up tomor-
row before the snow comes"
ELLEN stood for one moment returning
her brothers gaze then said eagerly, Ruth
and | will pile it FOR you. Wen get up very
early, and do our stint before breakfast. and
then we shall have the whole OF tie after
noon
Thomas ioyfully accepted this offer, and
readily obtained the job from the kind physi-
elan. Before night he had piled the two
cords in the shed and sawed nearly quar-
ter Of it
Wei, my little man, said the doctor,
driving into the yard as Thomas was hang
ing up the saw preparatory to leaving. How
much have you earned this afternoon p
A bright thought flashed through the boys
mind, and in true Yankee style he an
swered the question by asking, doctor, how
much a bottle was the cough medicine YOU
gave mother last winter p
Half a dollar think Is she sick
again q
The boy then communicated his wishes,
and with flushed face inquired of the doe.
tor il he would be satisfied to let him have a
bottle to carry home with him
The good man was evidently moved by
this unexpected proposal He made no re
ply except to invite the boy to his oihce.-
" hen there he talke! more freely, and end
ed by giving him a small powder for his
mother with directions for taking it in ad-
dition to the desired cough medicine, and
promised to call himself the next day.
An hour later ! homas sat with his sisters
by the tire and communicated to them the
joyful tidings of his afternoon labor They
then proceeded to give the medicine to their
mother as token OF affection from her three
for said Thomas, 81 could not
have done it, il you had not helped me
To say that Mrs Grant was eratifed,
would be but fully expressing her emotion,
when the love token was placed in her
hands.
With moistening eyes she gave each of
them kiss, and then added in IL subdned
voice, God will reward you my dear ones
The blessing affixed to the iiifh command
ment will be yours, for you have indeed hon
ored your mother.
God did bless them in rendering the med
icine effectual in restoring the health Of their
mother, whose life was prolonged for years.
She saw her children growing Up useful
happy and respected Ivy all VINO knew them.
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