The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-11-12
heart involuntarily warmed at the genial

angular looking female who emerged from
O pantry near by, at the sound Of his
footstep, her face nearly or quite as sour
as rhe saucer of pickles she was carping,
"jest set coupls more plates on the table
will you. I've brought home woman
and a little gal that found piece below
here, even Almost tired to death. They
was calculatin' to walk on to Breckton,
but I thought it wouldn't hurt us to keep
'em over night" asae5
"I'm astonished at you, Job Raynes-
ford" said his better half, in tone OF IN
ldignant remonsxance. eve might jest
as we'll hang out a tavern sign at once,
and done with it-youre always bringing
home some poor miserable cretur OF other,
and t1'l@ .sa7f's /.
"There, there, Hannah" interrupted
Mr.. Rayne.ferd, "I'm always wiilin' to
hear you when you're anyways reasonable,
but it goes clear agin my grain to see poor
! folks sufferin' and never stretch out
helpin' hand. ,Taint Scripter nor faint
human natur."t h9snt
aWell, go your own gait, Job Raynes-
ford, responded his wife, tartly, tsonly
mark my words, if you don't end your
lie IN t0e pOOI uouSC o"oH ~ 49, %
no fault O yourn!" eaa,' = :, :
She shut the pantry door with bang
that made all the jelly cups and milk pans
rattle, while Job, with an odd grlmace,
went out and helped his guests to alight.
"Don't mind my old woman, said he,
apoIoeetically, as Mrs. Ellsworth sprangl
| to the ground; she's kind o sharp-spoken,
but she means we'll arter all. We ain, t
all lest alike in our notions, you know2''
sIf all the world were like you,s sir, =
said the young widow, with tears in her
eyes" there would be less want and sNf-
fering by far" ea.5e.its J.
Farmer Raynesford pretended not to
hear-he was busy lifting Mary out. y =
| s.Set on them black berries, Hannah! -
said he, toward the close of their evening
meal; 6 the little gals SO tired she can't
eat nothin' solid!' sf,.ssasa
.ssI was calculatin' to keep the black
4 berries, for the donation party to morrow
said Mrs. Raynesford, rising with rather
an unwilling air. aa.i,e1 I
"Nonesense!' quoth the farmer, with a
broad laugh, sI' m havin donation par
!. ty of my own tonight Here, little one,
see if these berries don't put the color
i into your cheeksr' gk.ubs.ES
All the evening little Mary sat by the
tEhearth, with her hands in her mothers
and her large blue eyes fixed earnestly
upon the farmer 8 face. z1sI.
Il tWhat are you thinking about, dearest?
! asked Mrs Ellsworth, once. She drew a
!; long sigh, and whispered:
i 20, mamma! he is so kind to us !''oA
The tops Of the far off eastern woods
r were Just being turned to gold by thai
, wondrous alehemist, the rising sun, wher
!, Mary Ellsworth and her little girl set ou
upon. the long walk to Breckton. Jot
? Raynesford went with them to the gate
: fumbling uneasily in his pocket, ane
7 glancing gniltily around, to make snr'
that Hannah was not within seeing dis
tanee. When Mary extended her hand tt
g say grateful good bye, to her astonish
a ment bank bill was thrust; into 1t.
: Don't soy nothin', muttered job, will
: sheepish air. Ten dollars amt mucl
!, to me, and, if you don't chance to &c
j work in the factory right away, it may b
:, good deal O. use to you Needn't thanl Al.
me-you are as welcome As flowers i i
+ MayP
r He bent over to kiss the child's fai
d forehead. and stood watching them unit
d the two slight figures disappeared, an
l, only the golden sky and the moving crest
of the summer woods remained. fs.
e Ten dollarsp calculated Mrs. Raynes
ford, who had witnessed this little episod
e from behind the curtains of her milk
e room window. is Job Raynesford crazy
To give ten dollars to a poor, strollin
lyagrant? IF he don't get piece of m
) mind
u And he fastened out, her cap borde
nearly standing on end with horror. 10
a awaited the coming tempest with philoss
s phic GOODNESS, his hands in his pocket
X and his lips parted in good humore
. smile. It was not the first piece of Mr.
IS Hannah's mind that had been bestowe
IT upon him, nor did he suppose it was lik'
of ly to be the last.
ls tShe means well,' he said to himsel
t. when the volley Of. wrath had been di
le charged on his luckless head, and Mr.
20 Raynesford had returned to her butte
g making, but she's got the, greatest faeu
se ty of scolding of any woman l ever saw
It. The years fitted by, sprinkling Il
d, steep old farm house roof with the cryst
& drops of April showers, and thatching
1 with the dazzling ermine of Janua
De SHOWS many time. Gray hairs crept
re among the raven locks Of FarmeraRayne
! ford. care-worn wrinkles began to gath
IS around his mouth and brow. Alas! tho
se, swift footed years brought troubles inn inn
wi merable to the kind old man.
oy Twenty years!' mused he, one brig
nd n, June morning; sit doesn't seem possib
oe Hannah that I caught that ugly fall fr'
LEI the jhay-rick, and got lame for life, !,
3 He looked down at the cruthes by
Sc side as he spoke, and sighed from the W
sh- depths Of his heart i-s' 80 9'oLti
.ra .e Hannah stood in the doorway, tossl
} corn to q forlorn littleaeolony OF chicke
sn Twenty years had anotimproEedher in
~ respect-she was gaunter, bonner, q
VOC m more vinegar-faced than ever: - 6s
oor Yes said she, shortly, eand perh
7 as YOU don't remember that It was just tw
up, ty years ago to-day that you threw
Il