Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-10-24
mended for the village lads without

! draft on their boarded sIxpences.
: mo, DEAR he answered in kind
voice, going to the bed and STOPPING
down over the child. "you shan't be- left
here alone" Then he wrapped her,
with the gentfeness almost Of a woman,
in the clean beIcIo.hes which some
i neighbor had brought; and, lifting her
in his strong arms, bore her out into
the air and across the field that lay be-
tween the hovel and his home.
! Now Joe Thompson wife, who hap
pened to be childless, was not IA woman
of sanity temper, not much given to
self denial for others good. and Joe
had well-"rounded doubts touching the
manner of greeting he should receive on
his arrival Mrs. Thompson saw him
approaching from the window. and met
him with ruff1ed features. He bore a
precious burden. and he felt it to be so.
A bond had already corded itself around
them both, and love was springing into
life
"What have you there?' harshly
questioned Mrs. Thompson.
Joe felt the child start and shrink
against him. He did not reply except
hy 4 look that was pleading and caution
ary. that said, Wait Il moment for ex-
planations. and be gentle. and passing
in, carried Maggie to small cham her
on the first floor, and laid her on bed.
Then stepping back, he shut the door.
and stood face to face with his vinegar
tempered wife in the passage way out
side.
: You haven't brought home that sick
hrAt?" Anger and astnniShment were
in the tones of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her
face was in flame.
IL think womens hearts are some
times very hard said Joe. Usually
Joe Thompson got out OF his w'fe's way
or kept silent and ..on -comhative when
she fired up on any subject; it was with
some surprise, therefore, that she now
encountered firmly set countenanee
and a resolute pair Of eyes.
"Women's hearts are not half 50 hard
rs mems"
Joe saw by quick intuition that his
resolure bearing had impressed his wife.
and he answered quickly and with real
indignation, BE that as it may. every
woman at the funeral turned her eyes
steadily away from the sick child's face,
and when the cart went off with her
dead mother, hurried away and left her
in the old hut, with the hot sun not an
hour high in the sky
"Where were John and Kate?" in
quired Mrs. Thompson.
Farmer Jones tnssed John into his
wagon and drove off Kate went home
with Mrs Ellis; hut nobody wanted the
poor sick one Send her to the poor
house, was the cry.
"Why don't ynu let her go. them
What did you bring her here fcr2''
'"She can't walk to the poor house.
said Joe; ''sOmebody's arm must carry
her, and mine are strong enough for
that task"
'Then why didn'tvou keep on? Why
did YOU stop hern?'' demanded his wife
''Berause am not apt ta 90 on fools
errands. The guardians must first be
seen and permit ohtaned.' "
There was no gainsaying this.
''When will you see the suarlians?''
was asked with irresistible impatience
ITO morrow"
"Why put it IF until Tomorrow? Go
at once for the permit aud get the whole
thing off your hands o-niyht."
"Jane." said the wheelwright, with
m impresSiveneS> of tone that Suhlneh
his wife. Il read in the Bible sometimes
and find much said about little children
how the Savior rebuked the di di>riples
who would not receive them; how He
took them up in His arms and blessed
them; and how He said that whatsoever
gave them a cup Of cold water should
not go unrewarled Now it is small
thing for Us to keep this poor mother
less little one for il single night; to be
kind to her for ii single night; to make
her comfortable for single night
7 The voice Of the strong, rough man
shook, and he turned his head away that
the moisture in his eyes might not be
seen Mrs Thompson did not answer,
hut a snit feeling rrept into her heart
.'Lnpk at her kindly. Jane; speak
Kindly said Joe Think Of her dead
mother. and the lonelaess. the sorrow
the pain that muSt be on all her coming
life The softness of his heart gave
unw"ntel eIoquenre to his lips.
Mrs Thompson did not reply, bu,
presently turned toward the little cham
Der where her husband had deposited
M,.yie; aud pushing open the door
went 1nietly in. Joe did not follow; he
h. .h, e. u,
that it would be best to leave her alone
with the child So he went to his shor
which stood near the house, and work e
until dusky evening released him from
his labor.
f A light shining tarough the little
chamber window was the first object
that attracted his attention on turning
toward the house; it was good omen
The path led hun by this win low, and
when opposite, he could not help paus
ing to look in. 1t was now dark enough
outside tn screen him from observation
Maggie lay Il little raised on IA pillow
with the lamp shining full upon her face
Mrs. Thompson was sitting by the bee
talking to the child, but her back WA:
toward the window, so that her counte
nance was not seen. From Maggie
face, therefore. Joe must real the char
acter Of their intercourse. He saw tha
her eyes were intently fixed upon hi
wife; and that now and then few word
came as if in answer from her lips, tina
her expression was sad, tender; but he
saw nothing of bitterness or pain. 4
deep drawn breath was followed by one