The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-05-04
MINNIE BLAKE.

| II ..HF - rlTI N 90 H. y
SHOW, father. They wcre only two lit
tie words, but they were said in soft, plead
ing tones, which have more weight than o
score of arguments. -r- -.
81 know just what you mean, Esther, /"
exclaimed Jason Strong, o. he slipped his
right arm into his worknans ovenlls, that
spring morning, set In low, dull clouds,
'ibut there's no use In wasting any more
words between us. Il would Be folly and
madness for Us to think OF adopting widow
Blake's child, when Its Just as much rs VIC
can do, by screwin' and turpin' to put bread
into the mouths ofth three we've got ut
home. No man has better will than mine;
but when I'm laid up half the winter by
rheumatic, and can't earn but scvcnty.fyc
cents day on tho best jobs, It's high time to
put down notions about taking other folks
children, when the chances are that our
own'll have to scatter aforc long"
He was n large, bcavy-limbcd, stalwart
man, she wns n s,uail, shrinking, gentle
faced and voiced woman. and now her tones
came like minor key, after the gruf, posi-.
tive voice, which half concealed rs honest
and true heart as ever beat in mans bo-
som.
al know, Jason, its oil true, that you've
hard row to hoe; and It seems, as you say,
mighty hard thing to make both ends meet,
and take care of the children God has given
us; but don't believe he'll forget US, II we
remember the widow and the fatherless in
their aflliction; and what If 1t wero little sis
now"
Here Mr.. Strong raised tho key, and went
energetically to wind up the clock.
"You know" continued the little woman,
setting couple Of chairs opposite to each
other, and girding their backs with skein
of blue wooden yarn, "that the doctor says
Miss Blake can't stand it more'n this week
out, and tell you, Jason, 1t fairly broke me
down, when | went in there last night, and
little Minnio's golden head was shinin'
and she was bobbin' round among the
chairs, where she was playin' singin, school,
till could think of nothing but buttcr-cups
a-twinklin' every May, amongst clover, and
Miss Blake's eyes followed her, with long.
in, pityin', anxious look, and then turned
upon me-"
"Oh, Miss Strong, what'll become Of
her ?" she said.
"God'll take care of her, Miss Blake"
"But sometimes forget this, and then II
seems us If couldn't die in peace, and leave
her here, without friend in tho wide world
to look out Tor her, with her father sleep.
in away of under the deep waters, and her
mother lynn in little corner of the village
churchyard'-
"Come, wife, come" here interrupted Mr
Stong, in quick, sharp voice, and no took
out his pocket handkerchief, and blew his
nose with great deal Of emphasis.
His wife did not observe it-shc was very
intent, Just at that moment, on shaping her
ball of yarn with her thumb and forclinger.
"Well, Jason, haven't much moro to
say, for Miss Blake broke right down here
herself; and couldn't find word to com.
fort her, for somethin' away down in my
hear Lept whispering, Suppose, now, 1t was
your little WealthyT"
at would be dreadful tough, wife, that's
the fact" exclaimed the carpenter, and he
put one foot uneasily before the other.
"And then suppose Miss Blake stood in
our case"
"Oh, mother, I SEQ now just what you're
coming to-" interrupted Mr.. Strong, in o
half surly, half despairing tone.
81 amt coming to anything but this, fa.
ther, that we've got all Gods promises on
our side, and don't believe he's going to
let US 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. tell you" and here tho tears flashed
right out INTO tho little woman's eyes. and
the soft voice gathered now strength and fer
vor, "every mouthiul that ] eat would choke
me, and my pillow, when l lay down on 1t
at night, would bc full of thorns to me,
thinking of that poor little lamb among
cold.hearted strangers"
Mr.. Strong muttered something that sound.
ed very much like "woman's nonsense" but
somehow the words did not get fairly out OF
his throat.
Mrs Strong went up to her husband, and
laid her hand on his arm, and tho palc face
shono with something that was finer than the
lost beauty of itsgirlhood, rs she aid, "Now
father, there's no use in tryin', you know
you'll never lot that child suffer as long Us
you've got roof to cover you, or crust to
eat"
"Well, wife, take your own way. / new
er was good at argufyin' with woman,"
and tho man turned abruptly and went out
of the house, ashamed to own that his warm
true heart endorsed every word that was
spoken.
In minute, however, the kitchcn-door
opened again.
"Wife, say"
"Woll, father"
"You'd better 60 right over, and tell Miss
Blake that you've conclsdcd to take tho
child. It'll ret her mind ut rest like, and
Just now she needs it enough"
"Therc, didn't see?" murmured Mrs.
Strong to herself, after the door closed. "lt
is well that know how to get on tho right
side of father's heart"
"Therc, now, Johnnie, don't Minnie look
prctty?" and Wealthy Strong turned round
the dainty little creature, whose golden head
she had crowned with wreath Of white md
pink wood-blosoins. :,
"Yes, she does, that's fact" answered
tho very practical boy, Us hc slowly drew In
his fshing.line.
1t was bright. still afternoon in the ear
ly summer, and John Strong had brought
the two little girls over to tho pond, and,
while he hauled in, with shouts Of triumph.
his prizes Of pickcrcl and bass, Wealthy had
twined wreath of blossoms, which she and
Minnie had gathered in the woods, q little
way OF, and wound them in tho childs
trcsses.
Tho brother and sister were healthy, 70.
bust-looking children, with round limbs and
sun.browncd faces, which tell their own
tales of country life (; but Minnie Blake was
one of those children, the very sight oil which
brought now life into tho eyes Of those
who love beauty, She was small and deli.
cate. With eyes bluo and deep ns still lakes