The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1865-02-01
Selestsd aStaru,
HANNAH GNELDT's DOORSTEP

ana lOUkeu out rom tu0 low kllcDeu uuoT
across the wintry fields and the ice glazed
streamlet which lay between her home and
and the little village Of Greennook, with its
one tapering spire, sIoping roofs and blank
white wallis, bare row of the summer yer.
dure. She had done her household work
polished every article capable of polish, and
sanded all the rest. At the last she had
swept clean her door.stone, and now felt
free to do what she choose, to rest, or gossip,
or cit down to needle,work--a thing i'm
possible to her while a spot beneath her
roof was out of order. Just now che felt
neither like gossipipg nor sewing; her heart
was very full, and she found it necessary to
stand still and think q while, Only that
she was not used toit, she would have cried
she was so very sad. 1t seemed TO her that
the happiest people were those who lay in
their green graves in the church. yard, with
crossed hands upon their bosoms, and feet
quiet from all earthly going to and fro for
evermore.
Not that Hannah Gneldt was tired in
boly, or weary with the toll of household
duty: for she was strong Of frame, and her
health was perfect, as her bauds were viii
ling. 1t was on her humble heart the
burden lay, her spirit that was worn with
earthly travail.
'rwenty three years to-day I've been bis
wife," she muttered, "and I've loved him
well, and worked hard and faithful, to keep
things decent lapd it's come to this at last !!
Things had been better says he, If he'd
married Miss Lesterr"
Yes that was what Farmer Gneldt, har.
assed by ;oil and debt, and said to her that
very morning; aud it seemed to Hannah
like the confession of long repentance,
forced from her husbands lips at last.
"Poor mani I with could help him"
she sighed, leaning on her broom beside
the door. IL doubt he's right about Miss
Lester
With that her eyes fell and sested by
chance on the doorstep.
IL can mend that, any how" she said
land | have time, for work is done"
So she hung the broom up, ard peeped
into her oven, and set the kettle en-, and
then, hooded and shawled, crossed the fields
to where the farm joined tina, of Simeon
Gray.
On one spot were men at work, and stones
lying about
Hannah Gneldt nodded TO tie old farmer
aud he came TO meet her.
u want a stone," she said. "May have
onef'
,a"i wish you'd take 'em all" said the
farmer; "a lot o rubbish. You sec I'm
clearing away what they call the old grave.
yard at last. Wife talks to me o sacriIees
and disturbin' bones. Bless you, there amt
beer none for years and years; and thee
hard times man can't let land go to waste
tell wife she don't know nothin' about il
What dye wan; to dol Pave bit around
the welp
"No, ! want step" said Hannah. "That
great white one ia just the thing" And
she POINTED to a slab hard by,
"lke shall bring it over tonight" said
the farmer
"No," said Hannah, II can roll It along"
And her arms, strong as most mems,
went to work at once. and the slab wa,
rolled, and pushed, and lifted on lis way
1t was toll for laborer, but it did Hannah
good. She tagged away, pushing, and
lifting, and adding womsn's Ingenuity to
mans strength; so that at last it was al her
own door. There she LET il rest, and dug
the old stone out, and afterwarG brought
water to wash the slab with; white as driven
snow, for the most part, with some little
yellow weather-stans about the edge, and
on one side the black inscription--a name
line of eulogy, and dates. Hannah
stared with the curiosity Of one who can
p not read
II wish could tell what that was" she
said. "Some ones name and age All,
there we're sore hearts when that was new.
j hope when ! die Oliver will have written
over me that wssa good wife I've tried
to be. ! ought to know that big letter.
wait bit believe il is Z.'
Then she turaed the inscription down
Ii IL a.