The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-06-27


clover, and Mrs. Blake's eyes fol-
lowed her, with longin', pityin', anxious
look, and then turning upon me-
>.Oh, Mrs. Strong, what will become of
her2' she said.
'Godn take care of her, Mrs. Blake
But sometimes forget this, and then
it seems as if I couldn't die in peace, and
leave her here, without friend in the
wide world to look out for her, with her
father sleepin' away off under the deep
waters. and her mother lying in little
corner of the village churchyard.'
Come, wife, come here interrupted
Mr.. Strong, in quick, sharp voice, and
he took out his pocket handkerchief, and
blew his nose with great deal of empha-
sis: t .ta-
His wife did not observe it-she was
very intent, just at that moment on shap.
ing her ball of yarn with her thumb and
fore6nger. ..-
We'll, Jason, haven't much more to
say, for Mrs. Blake broke right down here
herself, and couldn't find word to COM
fort her, for something away down in my
heart kept whispering, Suppose, now, it
was your little Wealthyr'
IL would be dreadful tough, wife, that's
the fact!' exclaimed the carpenter, and he
put one foot uneasily before the other.
And then suppose Mrs. Blake stood in
our case2 $50 .
'Oh, mother, see now just what you're
coming to, interrupted Mr.. Strong, in a
half surly, half despairing tone.
i amt coming to anything but this,
father, that we've got all Gods promises
on our side, and don't believe he's going
ito let rs break down because we take
that poor little motherless thing under
our roof, when she would have to be put
into the poor house or among strangers
that would abuse her, and here the tears
flashed right ont into the little woman's
eyes, and the soft voice gathered new
strength and fervor, every mouthful that
I eat would choke me, and my pillow,
when lay down on it at night, would be
full of ,thorns to me, thinking of that poor
little lamb among cold hearted strangers
Mr. Strong muttered something that
sounded very much like 'woman's nom
sense but somehow the words did not get
fairly ont, of his throat. .'.I.af -.
Mrs. Strong went up to her husband,
and laid her hand on his arm, and the
pale face shone with something that was
fiher than the lost beauty of its girlhood,
as she said, Nov, father, there's no use
trying, you know you'll never let that
child suffer as long as you'v got roof to
cover you, or crust to eat
We'll, wife, take your owu'wsy. Inev'
er was good at argufyiD' with q woman,
and the man turned shfuptly and went ou
of the house. ashap6aSlo own that hi!
warm, true hear dorsed every wore
that was spoken. ~ ,s
In minute, h6Wever, the kitchen doc
opened again. Is. sas sr 81 .-ss..
.Wife, / sayf z ia, t.,s
We'll, father 4a1 a.s.t.
/ You'd better go right over and tel
Mrs. Blake that you've concluded to tax
the child, it'll set her mind at rest like
and Just now she needs it enough =
There, didn,s I see2' murmured Mrs
Strong to herself, after the door closed.
1T is we'll know how to get on the righ
side of father's heart
There, now, johnnie, don't Mimi
look pre.ty2' and Wealthy Strong turne'
round the dainty little creature, who's
! golden head she had crowned with
wreath of white and pink wood blossoms
p Yes, she does, that's fact answere
J the very practical boy, as he slowly DIRE,
in his fishing line. @
It,wss bright, still afternoon, in th
. early summer, and John Strong ha
brought the two little girls over to- th
pond, and while be hauled in, with shout
i Of triumph, his prizes of pickerel and bas
!, Wealthy had twined a wreath of blossoms
D (which she and Minnie had gathered
r the woods, little way of, and woun
( them in the child's tresses.
!, The brother and sister were health.
t. robust looking children, with round limt
8 and sunbrowned faces. which tell the
, Town tales Of country life; but Mimi
, Blake was one of those children, the ver
sight of which brought new light int
{ the eyes of those who love beauty. St
was small and delicate, with eyes blue an
, deep as still lakes locked beneath dee
. mountains, and her. hair had the golde
! ripeness of the harvest pears that droppe
levery autumn on the grass in Mr.. Strong
garden.
D The bloom of two woodland roses wei
set in her cheeks, and sweet smiles wei
8 forever clustering over the dimples hidde
about her lips. -
: She had resided with the Strongs fl
9 more than two years, and all this time ii
IL little orphan, Minnie Blake, had been lii
o sweet flower, filling their home with fir,
d Igrance.
!. But it had been home where went @
!, constantly g sharp, strong battle wi,
o poverty battle that was lighted an
b sancti6ed BY faith in God. and sweet a
:. fections and tender cares. But this sun
IS mer had opened more darkly than its pr