The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-11-13

}, "Who told you that had spolter
unSindly OF your daughters"
Miss Perkins, was the firm an
swer.
ooh, no--no;" Mrs. Pendcrerass
you forgot. Itwasn tine; you forget.
Mrs. Perkins was all in ilutter.
"Not ut al. My memory is very
clear on the subject. You were my
informant. and nobody else.
"What did she say?" inquired Mrs.
Johnson.
"Why, that you said my Hester
wna ~ ugly ~ sim
II never used the language. MOI
anything like it, was positively an.
swcred.
"Oh, but Mrs. Johnson, did you
not say you could make---"
eyes, Miss Perkins, I did utter the
thOughtless, silly speech; regretted
it in moment afterwards and | also
said that she was goad. and that was
best of alt Did she tell you that
also ?"
"No, Mrs. Johnson, she dill not
evil mischief maker that she is - said
Mrs. Pendergrass. rising and extend.
ing her hand.
Mrs. johnson grnsped t,,,and replied
Forgive my foolish speech. that
had in it no real meaning and would
have done no harm If there had been
10 evil tongue to bear il to your ears. -
"hnd forgive my hasty words ut
tered in blind passion" said Mrs
/ Pendergrass. II have been sufficient
ly punished"
And so have l. As for yonr Hes.
ter, have always liked her; and have
said many q time, rs Miss Perkins
well knows, for have said it to her
that | have wished my Ruthy was rs
thoughtful of her mother, and as kind
among her brothers and sisters As
to good looks, don't thing there is
anything to boast Of on my side Of
the house. Ruthy is plain enough. |
am sure aud il you could not make
as good face ont of putty. I would
not give much for your skill. -
A CLEAN of kindly feeling threw its
warm rays over the flushed counten-
ance of Maria Pendergrass The out
ragged mother was full Y satisfied She
saw that neither illwill nor contempt
had darkeuca the mind of her neigh
, Dor, who had, as every one knew "a
funny way of speaking sometime,
but meant no harm, and was true
woman at heart.
p n 10 m p,,,ot,t- nhupna -, N
over the face Of Mrs. Penderrrass.
rs her thoughts took a new direction.
! A sudden fire flashed in her small
black eyes; her brows fell and her
flexible lips took ~ firm, angry carve.
Turning to the astonished aud CON
fused Miss Perkins, she said, sharp
~:
"Anl now, my lady, you shall have
I piece Of my nind,--yo1 tltlirg-
mischief making wicked
: Mrs Pendergfass was losing her
self, and would nave gone quite pas
sion blind again, hal not Mrs John
son laid hand firmly upon her arms
and said
Marial Maria Penier9rass. Don't
waste words on her' She ism worth
a decent womans Indignation.
She grasped her neighbor Just in
time, as drowning man is sometimes
! caught and saved ut the last moment
OF impression, and drew her back To
u dry ground OF reason and self pos
session.
Right, Ruthy Ann! Right! Thank
IyOJ for the timely words And Mrs.
Pendergross caught her breath like
one who had becn Oh the verge of
sntlocation. i must say this, howev-
or, and she turned again 10 Miss Per
liins.
Don't darken my doors again. YoI
have done so once too often.
Miss Perkins arose, and turning
Imeekly away, retired slowly, and with
the air of one who has been deeply
/ injured.
/ The sncaking hypocrite! calculated
Mrs. Pendergrass
i would have liked her better if she
had shown fire and fight. said Mrs
Johnson But your secret detract.
ors are always spirtle5s cowards,--
/ Let her 30! She i5 not worth, rs
! have said, decent womln's indigha.
ton; and am vexel when think
I that her smooth tongue and false
| heart were able to arouse into such
angry turbulence the feelings Of two.
women who had been friends from
girlhood mp TO middle life. Anluow
Maria. if You hear any more Of my
| foolish speeches, come to me in all
friendly frankne,s, not AZ you dil-.,
Don't fear another Indignation Wis
it, Ruthy Ann! said Mrs Pendcrgriss
interruptiug her neighbor, I'll acy-
er make such roGl ofmysclf again -
never
Have you ever spoken Of Il to any
one? asked Mrs. Johnson, little
gravely.
No; have yonY
Not even to my husband. was
too much ashamed ormyself.
Good said Mrs. Pendergrass, it il
our own secret.
And SO it must remain. By its
memory we will be faster friends
Many a good laugh had they after
wards TO themselves, about the skill
of Mrs. Johnson in making faces ont
Of dough and putty, and over that Ia
dicrous Indignation meeting, which