Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-11-08
The Old Bell Pear Tree,
ny VIRGINIA ,. TOWNSEND


carpets, and the spinning-wheel which had
hlled the great oaken chests with linen, stood
side by side, and where the muskets which
had done brave service under Gen. Putnam
IN the French war, and at Bunker Hill, were
laid like old veterans asleep onthe great brown
beams, and around which clustered a world
Of old tales and legends Of Indian war-whoop
and scalping-kniie, and in later times, OF the
days Of the Revolu6on--Of "red-coap and
tory, and Of true-hearted patriots, who LEFT
their fields and their harvests, and laid down
everything that was precious and pleasant TO
them for the rights Of their country and the
freedom Of their hsmes,
And these old legends and stories were
like precious jewels strung across the dark
faces Of the winter evening, when we sat
around the great IRE place 81 Rrsndmas lis
tening 10 her words and watching the flames
leap around the great " back log and q fore
stick"
"Gandmal grandmaw shouted the
name louder the second time, standing in
the back door that bright October morning,
whose mists were like torn ribbons on the
hills, and whose pulses were full OF the slum-
Der and swestness Of the dying year.
"Why Josephine, where did you come
from2' called the cheerful voice Of the old
lady, as she came around the corner Of the
house, her lace shaded by a blue sun-bonnet
while she held large wooden bowl Of pep
pers in both hands.
"lts vacation, grandma, and I've come
10 spend the day here; and sleh a search Fve
had for you"
"Wall, I'd gone back o the barnto lay out
q few yards for bleachin', and then thought
| might as well take to-day 10 pickle my
peppers, so kept on to the vines
l wish you could have known my grand
mother Morris. She was such q dear old
lady, with smile that kindled up her pale,
wrinkled face into almost the glow and fresh
ness Of youth, with a heart full OF kindness
and sympathy TO every human being, and &
TaemoVy that was Ike a pleasant book full Of
pictures and stories of the past. l think that
kind, loving heart was like stream of ever
flowing waters, which kept her life fresh and
green when her head had blososmed into the
SHOWS Of old age, ..s
"Grandma, what makes you always so
busy2 said as she came into the kitchen,
and, taking up a skein Of blue wooden yarn,
slipped il over a chair and commenced wind
ing il while she made some inquiries res
pecting my parents and the family. 1I
al expect it's the blood OF the Morrises,
my child she said, with her old mellow
laugh you never found one O. them with
idle hands, SO long as they'd strength 70 uss
EN-, or there was work for EN- TO do.A +
" You must be q genuine Morris then,
grandma, | said, and then Lifted up the GOV.
SCI f.n. 7 "a =.
what mother sent you to-dayl"
Ibid not wonder the old lady's eye brigh.
tened at the sight Of the pears which lay ther,
like great gold and emerald goblets. Sh,
took up one of the largestby its slender stem,
and surveyedit admiringly,
Il s the real old fashioned bell pear
Dear me There's nothing takes me back
threeseOre o years quicker than the sight o
one.r
"Why, grandmaGn p
"Because-no matter-it's a long story
my child"
'"But l like to hear long stories, yol
know" She looked at me thOughtfully
| moment.
50 Now do tell me, grandma"
Well, I'll get at seedin" these pepper
FIRST, removing her sun-bonnet and hurry
ing into the pantry, for a great yellow earth
ern bowl
o, 1 Icansae that old kitchen, as we sat to
| gether on that antumn morning with the plea
SAINT sunshine dimpling itall over, hutteri n
in the corners, and asleep on the ceiling, an
still hear my grandmothers voice, and Sc
her knife glance quickly through the whit
core Of the peppers,
ss was the first 10 discover them-the fou
pears on the little tree that stood among tn
ounces at the bottom of our garden. N
father had set it out three years before, an
we'd had good deal Of trouble with it fc
somehow pears didn't appear to do well o.
our soil.
Peaches and apples had always hourishe
nicely, but ill-luek seemed TO wait on OF
plums and pear trees, and knew my fathC
d taken extra pains with the one he'd 81
out among the ounce trees; so l started L
to the house, quite proud Of the discover
which had made
Father, guess what I've found
was the youngest Of the family, and
great pet with my sather, who always CALI
me the child Of his old age. He was men
ing his seine-net by the window, and moth
was carding some wool for spinning, in Ol
: corner.
! "I don't know, Dobbin, he said. ''Com
now, don't get into any fresh trouble" al
be pulled my ear playfully, for had caug
! my finger in the net. as 80 f1rIr
! " What Il you give me If I'll tell you p
I jumping up and down before him. .-a.
" | can't tell you, Rosanna, till hear WI
: it is you've found" i,-s
ave found four pears on the new tree
My father laid down his net. VII
! not the little bell pear tree among
quincesP
Yes, that very one. Now, father, wi
Z will you give me p
: am take you along with me this aft
!, nooni for I'm going down to the river Fl
ing.p -dis.
= clspped my hands for JOY, but here
), mother interposed. sss.r
y 30, Samwel, how can yousay that2
is such harum-scarum thing she'll be $
] 70 fall into the water ,1--5
> g Hpon't be afraid, Rachel, I'll keep 9 g
eye on her.
= l can't tell what answer mother wo
= have made TO all this, but Just ct that |
F AAlNAAN NAAeAN WAF4 = AaAF - NAN AAN~ANA ~
: and opened ii and little boy was stand
y there. l can see him now, said my gra
~ mother, closing her eyes and speaking sol
g He wore an old straw hatand blue ho
spun suit, and he looked sad and worm,
: but he had bright, intelligent face, '
, clear, hazel eyes.
! Can You tell me, little girl if the
anybody here wants to hire hand y
81 asked.
g You come in and see" Somehow
d. sorry for the boy.
m stood on one side, deeply interested
= ditor, while my father surveyed and questiC
Nd him ia bis matter-of-fact way, and mo
stopped carding her wool to listen.
he told plain, straightforward stor
/ he said that his home was in Woodfor
- town about ten miles from our village;
his father was drowned at sea when he
a babe; and that aferward his mother
)R supported herself and sou by plain sew
till suddenly she, too, siekened and died.
The boy-and he was only twelve
RK left homeless and friendless in The world,
the neiehbors were about 70 bind him OF
the owner Of his mother cottage, WHOM