The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-11-20
HILLSDALE, MICH, TUESDAY, NOV. 20, 1860.

lieycd 10 frd out that he dcpartsl aud L
menlcd Levi Was still safe in his grave on IL
hill side.
"A strangorv said tho voice.
What do YOU wantF
TO get lodging here tonight
The widow deiibcratcd
Can't Won 90 on--lhere's u house half
mile further, il you keep TO the right han
side Of the road-snd turn TO the left afte
You GET
It's raining cats aud dogs--snd | am yer,
de,icatc said the stranger coughing. In
wei 10 tie skm-don't you thiuk you can ae
couuodate me | don't mind sleeping o
tho loor.'
Raining, is iti didn't know that an,
the kind hearted iiltle woman unbarrei tn
door.
Come in. whoever you may bel only
asked you to 90 on because | am a lone wo
man, with only one servant in the house.
The stranger entered. shaking himself like
n Newfoundland dog upou the step, aud scat
tering little shower Of drops over his hostess
aud her nicely swept floor
'Ah--that's comfortable. after man ha'
been for hours in a Storm he said rs he saw
the bright fire, and striding along towards the
bearth Bowse, who shifted suspiciously AZ his
heels, he stationed himself in the arm chair
Mr.. Cob5's arm chair. which had been KEEP,
sacred to his memory for seven years The
widow was Mortified, but her guest looked 50
weary and worn out, that she could not ask
him to move, but busted herself in stirring up
the blaze that he might the sooner dry his
dripping clothes. A new thought struck her
Mr.. Cobb had worn dressing gown du-
ring bis illness, which still hung in the clos
OF at her side. She could not lot this poor
man catch his death by sitting in that wet
coat-if he WIS in Mr.. Cobb's chair, why
should he not be in Mr.. Cobb's wrappers She
went nimbly to the closet, toek it down. fish
ed out pair of slippers from the boot rack
below, and brought them to him.
| think you had better take off your coat
and boots-you will have the rheumatic fe-
yer or something like it if you don't. Here
are some things to wear while they are dry
ing. Aud you must boo hungry too. will
g ONTO the pantry and get you something to
eat
She bastled away 'on hospitable thoughts
intent and the stranger made the exchange
with quisical smile playing around his lips.
He was tall, well formed man, with bold
but handsome face--sunhurned and heavily
bearded, ana looking anything but delicate
though his blue eyes glanced out from under
a forehead as white as snow. He looked
around the kitchen with mischevious air,and
stretched out his feet before him, decorated
with the defunct dearons slippers.
Upon my word, this is stepping into the
old mans shes with vengeance! And what
a hearty, good -humorad looking woman she
is s!-kinl as a kitten and he leaned and
strokei tn, cat and her brood, and then pat
ted old Bowse upon the head. The widow
broginr in snndry GOOD things, looked pleas
ed at his attentious 70 her dumb friends.
4 = strange Bowse don't growl,h general
ly does if strangers touch him. Dear mel
how stupid"
The last remark was neither addressed to
the stranger nor 10 the dog, but to herself
She had forgotten that the little stand was
not empty, and there was no room on it for
the things she held.
'Oh, III mauag. it., said her guest, gather
nc up paper, candles, apple and spcctacles-
Ut was not withou. little pang that she
sha saw them in his hand, for they had been |
the Deacon's and were placed each night like
the arm chair, beside her)sud deposited them
on tho settee.
Give me the table cloth, maam-I can |
spread il as well as any woman-Fve learned !
that along with scores Of other things in my |
Now let me relieve you Of those
dishes, they are far to heavy for those little
hands The widow 5lushel- -"and now |
please to al, down with me, or cannot eat
morsel'
Il had supper not long ago, but really
think | can take something more said Mrs.
Cobb, drawing her chair nearer the table,
'Of course you can, my dear lady, ic this /
coli autumn weather, people ought to eat
twice Us much as they do iu warm. Let me
give you piece of ham--your own curing,
dare say
YeS-my poor husband was very fond Of it
be used to say that 10 one understood cureing
ham and drying beef better than l.
He must have been a most sensible man,
sure. drink your health, Madam, in this
cider
He took a long draugh, aud set down bis
glass.
1t is like nectar
The widow was feeding Bowse and tho cat
who thought they were snticled to a share
Of every meal eaten in the house and did not
quite hear what he said. | e. ncy she would
hardly have known what nectar was, so it
was quite as well.
a fine looking dog, ma'am-and a very
pretty cat
They were my husbands favorites, and
'igh followed.
'Ah--your husband must have been very
appy man.
The blue eyes looked at her 30 long, that
The grew furred
is there anything more can get for YOU,
'ir,' she stamered.
'Nothiag thank you, have finished,' he
replied.
She rose to clear the 'hings away. Ilo as.
sisted her, and somehow their hands had
queer knack of touching ao they carried the
lishes t. the pantry shelves. Coming back
% the kitchen. che put the apples and cider
Il their old places. aud brought out clean
,ipe and box Of tobacco from an arched re-
,c,s near the chimney.
Nv husband always aaid he could not sleep
'f,er eating late supper unless ho smoked,'