The weekly Butte record., 1862-11-15


All the evening little Mary sat By the hearth
with her hand On her mothers, and her large
blue eyes fixed earnestly upon the kind farmer s
| face.
What are you thinking about, dearest ?"
asked Mrs. Ellsworth, once. She drew long
sigh, and whispered:
90, mamma he is so kind to US"
The tops of the far-of eastern woods were
just being turned to gold by that woDderous
alchemist, the rising sun, when Mary Ellsworth
and her little girl set out upon their long walk
to Breckton. Job Raynesford went with them
to the gate fumbling uneasily in bis pocket,
and glancing guilty around TO make sure
that Hannah was not within seeing distance
When Mary extended her hand to say grace
| ful goodbye, TO her astoniShmant, bank bill
was thrust into it.
Don't say notbin" muttered Job, with a
sheepish air, "ten dollars amt much to me, and
if you don't chance to get work in the factory
right away, it may be great deal o use to
you. Needn't thank me-you are as welcome
as flowers in May"
He bent over to kiss the child's fair forehead,
and stood watching them until the two slight
figures disappeared, and only the golden sky
and the moving crest of the summer wood re-
mained.
"Ten dollarsn calculated Mrs. Raynesford,
who had witnessed this little episode from be-
hind the curtains of her milk-room window
is Job Raynesford crazy? To give ten dol
lars to poor struggling vagraut? II he don't
get piece of my mind-"
And she FASTENED out, her cap border fairly
standing on end with horror Job awaited
the coming tempest with philosophical GOODNESS,
bis hands in his pockets, and his lips parted
with a good humored smile. 1t was not first
piece of Mrs. Hannah's mind that had been
bestowed upon him, nor did be suppose it was
likely TO be the last.
"She means well, he said to himself when
the volley of wrath had been discharged on his
luckess head, and Mrs. Raynesford had re-
turned to her butter-making, "but she's got
the greatest faculty for scodin' of any woman
l ever saw
The years fitted by, sprinkling the steep old
farmhouse roof with the crystal drops of april
showers and thatching it with the dazzling
ermine of January SHOWS many and many
time. Gray hairs crept in among the raven
locks of Farmer Raynesford, careworn wrin-
kes began to gather around his mouth and
brow. Alas. those swift footed years brought
troubles inuumerabe to the kind old man.
Twenty years." mused he, one bright NOR
ming, "it don't seem possible, Hannah, that it
is twenty years ago, this very day, that l
caught that ugly iall from the hay-rick, and got
lamed for life
He looked down at the cruches by his side
as he spoke, sighed from the bottom of bis
heart.
Hannah stood in the doorway, tossing corn
to forlorn little colony of chickens Twenty
years had not improved her in any respect
she was gaunter, bonier, more vinegar-faced
than ever.
g" Yes, said she, shortly, " and perhaps you
don't remember that 1t was twenty years ago
to day that you threw ten dollars away on that
woman and her child. l told you then you'd
end your days in the poor house, and l don't
see but what my prediction is likely to come
true. Didn't I say you would live to repent
it ?H
Il won't deny Hannah, said the old man,
d" but that I've done great many things I've
been sorry for-we amt tnone of US perfect, you
know wife-but that is not one of them. No
I've never for minute repented being kind
to the widow and the fatherless."
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, but made
no answer.
Didn't you say you were going up to see
that rich lawyer about the FIVE thousand dollar
note to day? she asked pleasantly.
Yes, bat don't s'pose it'll be of 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 our heads however, they tell me
he's hard man. mean to explain TO him
just how the matter stands, and"
81 told you how it would be long ago :"
calculated Hannah, unable to restrain her vex-
alton. What on arth ever possessed you to
sign for Jesse Farweather ?"
"I s'posed he was an honest man and would
not see al old friend wroDged."
Fiddlesticks :" exclaimed Mrs Raynesford
d" That's just your calculation, job! There
Zeke has brought the wagon do start right
of, or you'll be too late for the New York
train p
And Job meekly obeyed, only too happy to
escape from the endless discord of his wife's
tongue.
The rays of the MONDAY sun streamed
brightly through the stained glass easements
of Mr.. Everleigh's superb Gothic library. The