Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-09

out of the keepin'-room." And Mrs. Kit
tredge opened the door softly into that
room.
" Perhaps it would be pleasanter to sit
in the sitting-room," feebly suggested Mar
garet.
"No, know just how it's. Twas just
so to our house after gran'fther died. For
a week we couldn't none of us bear to go
into his room. Seemed as eff twas chilly
somehow, like vault" The good woman
took off her spectacles and wiped them
with the corner of her black silk apron
She had gray hair, and years of labor had
left their record in wrinkles upon her face
That face with its large features, could new
er have been beautiful even in its best es-
tate; but over many a sick bed, over many
a sad and sorrowing soul, it had shOne as
the face of an angel.
I" 1t seems as though | must see your
mother round somewheres," she said, and
the spectaeles grew dim again It's go
ing on thirty year now that we've lived
long side of each other, and a sight O COM
fort we've had together a sighto' comfort,
Marg'ret," she repeated, "an we never took
nothing but comfort together, the Lord be
thanked and that's more'n most neighbors
can say"
The old clock ticked in the corner, and
the two sat silent for little. Mrs. Kittre-
dge was knitting very fast The tears
would keep coming, and she was choking
them down under that string of gold beads
about her neck She had come over pur-
posely to ''cheer up Margaret, and here
she was crying herself She has never
I,o,,l +l,,t 81, ,l,,+
one has said " Be not consistent, but sim
ply true :" and so consistency and truth are
having a sore battle of it. The former con-
quers, however, and she says :
We'll, Marg'ret, she was a good mother
to you; and now t she's gone, you'd ought
to be grateful that she was spared SO
long"
Il know it, Mrs. Kittredge, but it is very
hard to be grateful always :" and Margar-
cts lip begins to tremblc
Bless your dear soul know it's hard :;
but, as my husl and says, WED ought to
thark the Lord that it's as well with us as
it is"
Very homely consolation this, but never
theless, all the more possibly, it went down
into the orphaned, solitary girl. 4 dry soil, !,
which all day long had scorched under a
burning sun, receiving at night the cooling
rain and the dews of heaven, it was like
this, Margaret thought, the low spoken
comfort of an honest soul.
" suppose you'll sell the place, most
likely r said Mrs. Kittredge, presently. 1T
was well enough" she said to herself, 'for
Margaret to begin to think of those things.
'Twould take up her mind "
Sell the old place Margaret had never
thought of such a thing before. And yet
why not She could not manage the farm
herself Besides, it was all she had-its
value might be more available in some 9th
er form. SO she replied, quietly enough
81 don't know that there will be any 9th
er way"
Yes; was tellin' him"-(for good Mrs
kittredge there seemed to be but one sub
stantive possible to this personal pronoun)
4 was tellin' him this mornin' that there'd
be enough that would be glad to buy the
Frear Farm. It's under good cultivation,
and the buildn's all ingood repair. There's
Squire Varnum now, he'd be glad to take
the ten-acre lot long side O his mowin; and
Tor the rest ont, there's my brother Hall
lookin' round for farm for Zimri He's
layin' out to be married this fall, you
know"
"Oh, Pm sure there would be no difficult
ty in disposing of it," said Margaret, for
the sake of making some reply Her
thoughts were too busy just then for her
to talk
1t was sudden this plan of selling the
homestead. \ little like taking the ground
from beneath her feet, it seemed to her, and
she hardly knew what would become of her
afterward. Mrs. Kittredge's thought must
have been nearly in the same place, for she
asked,
"And what are you intendin' to do, Mar
g'ret?7
" Indeed hardly had thought yet, Mrs.
Kittredge. Perhaps | might take room
somewhere, and board myself, and teach
the district school," she said.
"Now that sounds sensible and as for
room you're welcome to come TO our
house
"Thauk you," said Margaret, and Mrs
kittredge went on:
q can't help thinkin' ,Marg'ret, how most
any girl situated as you are would be think
in o getin' married, and havin' home o
their own. But that amt your way This
was said i'll a deprecatOry tone, and Mrs.
Kittredge gave Margaret's face a searching
look The face told 10 tales which she
could read There was only little twitch-
ing about the mouth so the good woman,
shulfling a little i'll her chair, and knitting
with.a speed perfectly incredible proceeded
as she would have said, to free her mind
" Now. Marg'rct, | suppose yo1'll think
like enough t I'm mcddlin' with what don't
concern me but must tell you t we al
ways wondered, my husband and |, that
you couldn't a seen yer way clear to take
up with Squire Narnum's offers"
Margaret's white face redeemed. Mrs
kittredge noted il, and took courage
He's professor, and, 50 fur's | know, d
consistent man. Be sure he's a good deaI
older II you, but after "a woman's twenty
five that don't signify And mebbe his
children, eight of m, might be an object
ton with some folks. But you're good-tem
pered. You'd get along well enough An
then, another thing, whoever goes there u
have enough to do ,cith, for the Squirc's
worth property, an there amt a meaI
streak about the man. 'Tain't too late tc
think ont now The Square, he said az
much to him the other day. Hadn't yor
better now, Marg'ret?" ?"
Mrs kttredge :"
SiX consecutive stitches were let dOwI