The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-11-15

done when considered the immense appe-
tite which had considerably offered to sup
ply, and which well remembered Of DID,
But chung to my bargain and begged her
to come with me Immediately.
"You will find me in rather close quarters
said, 'but you shall come and be welcome" !"
We agreed that she should be there the
following Monday, and I went home to
Susan, whom met with rather an embar-
rassed air. She looked at the matter more
philosophically than | had expected, and
prepared her best chamber for Mrs. Jones'
reception, keroical'y ca, .ynig in many little
conyeniencies of which we had no duplicates.
NV relation Of Mrs. Jones' former kind
ness to me, and my description of her pres
ent lonely and widowed state, made Susan
shed tears. She promised to do everything
in her power for the forlorn woman, who she
thought would now be thrown upon me for
maintainance, and herself for compaf,ionship.
Mrs Jones arrived on Monday morning,
carpet bag in hand, and followed by a hand
cart. bearing her old fashioned and some
what dilapidated hair trunk. We received
her kindly, and she seemed pleased and
happy when she sat down to Susan simple,
but excellent dinner The children were at
tentive and kept passing the food to the new
guest "
A fortnight passed away and we began to
feel that we could scarcely do without Mrs
Jones. She was invaluable as an assistant
to Susan, and in marketing for us, her SER
vices were beyond all praise. We gave her
our slender purse every morning, as she
thought she could do better with il than we
could, and it was perfectly amazing to see
the loads of provisions and the superior
quality of tie same which she obtained.
Susan and began to think that we had
been grievcusly cheated in our former pur-
chases. So when our wardrobe Imperative
ly called for additions, Mrs. Jones would 60
out with the money for sixpenny print and
return with something really handsome and
valuable for my wife, and a nice remnant
for little Katy, and then she would sit down
and make them both up with all the skill of
an experienced mantuamaker.
Susan handed me some bills one dav that
she said were left there by the collector, in
cluding one for our rent, and one for the last
suit of clothes, which had been unwiinglv
/
forced tobuy in order to keep up respecta-
BILE appearance My countcnance fell some
degrees, fancy, for had no money to pay
them.
Mrs. Jones was busting around the din
ner table, and she said rather sadly, that she
felt that she ought not to be living uopn US,
and perhaps she had better go away.
"Never mind, my good fiiendl" said I.
and "Never," uttered Susy.
Iassured her that would not listen to
her leaving us--that trusted veiy soon to
get business, and that come what would she
should share our last loaf The good old
soul hugged us both at once, and then set.
ting her cap and wiping her eyes, she went
quietly back to her work After dinner she
went o, {, but we reiterated the Injunction
that she should not seek another home as
long as she could put up with ours.
called around in the evening at the va
rious places from whence had received the
bills. Tony utter surprise the answer was
that they had sll been scts,,ed. enquired
by whom, but no one could recollect. They
were all Cancelled on the various books.
was thoroughly amazed, for knew no one
but Mr.. Russell who could do it ror me, aud
hardly believed it of him. Susy was as sur.
prised as myself, but she rather inclined to
the belief that it was her father, so quietly
let her indulge in the pleasant belief.
We got through the summer, but the win
ter was coming on and actually trembled
at its approach. Industrious as l was-pru-
dent as Susy had ever BEEHIVE could not
hope to 60 through the cold season without
both suffering and toll, and with debt super
added
l had been in the Office all day, one gloomy
day in November, anxiously doubling
whether l should go back to printing again.
l considered all tho why's and wherefores,
counting the cost again aud again, and by
the most careful arithmetic, could not end
that the change would benefit me single
sou. Twas toiling unremittingly now, and
l should have to do so if turned to print
ing, and with scarcely so much gam as now.
/ was heartily discouraged at the prospect
before me; had been alone in the world
could have patiently borne it. Suffering and
priyation brought no telrors to me individ-
ually, but the thought of those who were
dear to me at home unnamed me; and the
darker the prospect, the more I shrank from
allowing Mrs. Jones to feel that she was
burden upon US. No, come what might, the
good old soul should not be removed from
the circle iu which she seemed to have placed
all her happiness. She should lived with us
as long as she lived at all, and if we were re-
duced to beggary, we would beg for her too.
Istarted up and paced the Office with an
impatient step. 1t may seem strange that q
strong, healthy man should be SO powerless
as Twas to procure aliving; but SO it was
1t was growing dusk, and felt it was near
my time to go home. had intended send
ing some fuel home, but was disappointed
in some money certain publisher Of daily