The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-10-03
asked Mrs. Ellsworth, once. She drew
long sigh. and whispered:

40, mamma! be Is 20 kind to us!'
The tons of the hs-oG eastern woods we're
lust being turned 70 gold BY that wondro ron
aIchemist. the rising sun. when Nary Els.
worth and her litite girl set out uPos 'ns
long walk to Breckton. Job hsynes'o.u
vent with them TO the gate. ium0hng ~: -
se.1d ~ msIe sure that Hannah was not
,-;thin seeipg distance. When Mary ex
..,ded her hand to say a grateful good oye
- ~, .stonishment Q bank bill was thrust
into il.
. .h.ep;sb air. ."Ten dollars amt much
to me. and, il you don't chance to get work
in the factory right away. it may be good
deal Of use 10 you. Needn't thank me-
you're ~ welcome - in May.
He bent over to kiss the cbild's fair fore
head. and stood watching them until the
two slight figures disappeared, and only
the golden sky and the moving crcsts OF the
summer woods remained.
.Ten dollarsr' calculated Mrs. Raynes-
ford, who had witnessed this little episode
from behind the curtains Of her milk room
window. "Is Job Raynesford crazy?--to
give ten dollars to poor. strolling vagrant!
If be don's get piece Of my mind"
And she hastened out, her cap border
fairly standing on end with horror. Job
awaited the coming tempest with philosophic
coolness, his hands in his pockets, and his
lips parted in q good humored smile. 1t
was not the first piece of Mrs. Hannah's
mind" that had been bestowed upon him,
nor did he suppose it was likely to be the
last!
"She means WE'LL" be said to himself
when the volley Of wrath had been dis
charged on his luckless head and Mrs.
Raynesford had gone back to her butter
making. "but she's got the greatest faculty
for scoldin' Of any woman ever saw!"
The years fitted by. sprinkling the steep
old farm house roof with the crystal drops
of April showers. and thatching it with the
dazzling ermine Of January SHOWS mary and
many q time. Gray hairs crept in among
the raven locks OF Farmer Kaynesford, care
worn wrinkles began to gather about his
mouth and brow. Alas! those swift footed
years brought troubles innumerable to the
kind old man.
Twenty years!' unused he, one bright
June morning: il "don't seem possible,
Hannah, that it was twenty years ago, this
very day. that caught that ugly tall from
the ay-rick. aud got lame for life."
He looked down at the clutches by his
side as he spoke, and sighed from the very
depths of his heart.
Hannah stood in the door way, tossing
corn to forlorn little colony OF chickens.
Twenty years had not improved her in any
respeot-she was gaunter, boDier, and more
vinegar faced than ever.
"Yes," said she shortly, "and perhaps
you don't remember that it was just twenty
years to. day that you threw ten dollars away
on that woman and her child. told you
then that you would end your days in the !
poor.house and do not see but what my |
prediction is likely to come true. Didn't l
say you would live to repent it?"
man, "but that I've done a good many
things I've been sorry for--we amt none OF
us perfect, you know wife-but that is not
one OF them. No. never for minute re-
pented being kind to the widow and the
fatherlcss.''
Hannah shrugged her shoulders. but made
Didn't you say you were going up to see
that rich lawyer about the tive thousand
dollar note o-day?" she asked presently.
Eyes. but don't sposc it'll be much
use. If he'd wait little, I'd do my best
to pay him. Jones says he'll be sure to
sell the old place from over onr leads. how
ever; they tell me he is hard man; mean
to explain to him just how the matter stands,
and"
II told you how it would be long ago!"
calculated Hannah, unable to restrain
her vexation. "What on airth ever pos
sessed you to sign for Jesse Fairweather?"
IL s'posed he was an honest man. and
would not see an old friend wronged.'
"Fiddlesticks!' exclaimed Mrs. Raynes
ford. That's just your calculation. Job!
There-Zeke has brought the wagon; do
start of, or you'll be too late for the New
York train"
And Job meekly obeyed, only too happy
to escape from the endless discord OF his
wifs's railing tongue.
The rays of the MONDAY sun streamed
brightly through the stained glass easements
of Mr.. Everleigh's superb Gothic library.
The room was decorated with every appur-
tenance of wealth and taste. We vet chairs, /
with tall backs of dainty carved rosewood. |
were scattered here and there, marble vases
occupied inches beside the doorway, and
the rarest pictures hung on the psneled and
gilded walls. But the pret,iest object Of all |
the one which the rich lawyer oftenest
raised his eyes from his writing to contem-
plate with an involuntary smile in pride and |
affection-was a lovely woman in white
cashmere morning robe trimmed with white
velvet. who stood opposite, arranging flow.
ers in q bouquet. She wore a spray Of ber-
ries, carved Of pink Nespolitan coral. at her
throat. and tiny pendants of the same rare
stone in her small. shell.like. ears, and the
slender waist was tied round with a broad
pink ribbon.
"There, Walter, isn't that pretty?" she
asked. holding up her completed bouquet.
"Very pretty" he answered, looking not
at the roses and geraniums, but directly at
the blue eyes and golden curls Of his beauti-
full young wife.
''You are not even noticing it," she pout-
ed. .
because see something so much better
worth looking At" he said. playfully.
''Do you really love me SO very muchl"
she asked. throwing down the flowers and
coming round to his side.
He rose and drew her oaressipgly toward
him.