The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-02-21
FOR COMMON USE.

Podunk village lay asleep under
the sunlight of warm September af;
ternoon. The neat frame houses,
with their pretty yards in front, were
all quiet and still; and even at the
little school house, nestled among the
pines, only faint hum of voices came
through the open door, through the
long row of pegs hung with hats and
sun -bonnets telling that there were
ample materials for noise within
The wooden benches were vacant on
the long piazza of the village tavern,
while farther up the street at the 'dry
goods and grocery store kept, as its
sign affirmed, by 'Enos McGavern,'
the proprietor dozed in his chair be,
hind the counter as he waited fol-
customers, and the old gray cat, com
fortably ensconsed among the pipes,
candy.jars, skeins of yarn and silk
handkerchiefs that decorated the
show window, was peacefully follow
ing lis example.
Up this quiet street passed wo
man-neither young nor old-with
weak, faded ont look. She walked
with a slow, listless step as if, now
that she were going, she thought il
just as well to keep on as to stop,
though she cared but little either way
By the hand she led little girls
little four year old gipsey. with great
dark eyes that discovered so many
objects of interest as to make her tiny
feet lag sadly, and prevent their keep
ing up with even her mothers slow
pace. AS they passed the store, and
their shadows fell through the open
doorway, Mr.. McGavern opened his
eyes with a quick thought of 'cus
tom,' but, on discovering who it was
closed them again, murmuring tc
himself
sPoor Martha. She looks as if she
hadn't been fust class piece O. goods
to start with, and had just been took
for every day wear, and hadn't wash
ed well! Going up to Miss Stones,
l suppose
Tagging little feet and listless larg
er ones, on they went until they
came to a low gate, and opening II
passed up the cleanly swept garden
walk to the comfortable house be-
yond. The door was open, but there
was no ore in sight, and the mother
seated herself in the low doorway,
her weary eyes wandering over the
room within.
A rag carpet decorated the floor.
White curtains we're drawn stfhy
back from the windows, and high,
straight backed chairs, were arrsng,
cd with military precision around the
room. Two large arm chairs, that
seemed to be acting as field officers
wore their badge of rank in patch
work cushions formed after an undis
coverable pattern, and comprising al
many colors as the rainbow. A pic
ture hung on each side of the chin
ney, one was Henry with very pinl
cheeks, very curly hair-of a beanti
full tea color-and avery blue coat
opposite hung Melinda who mus
certainly have been a first cousin o
Henry's from the strong family re
semblance, the only striking differ
ence being the substitution of q rec
dress for a blue coat. Martha Nix
SON had seen the room and all it con
tanned, many q, time, and it was les
at the visible objects than at some
thing beyond them, that she was look
ing now-trying TO solve problem
that forced itself upon her unwilling
brain.
Meanwhile there. had been sount
Iof moving to and fro overhead, ant
presently when little Nellie, hret
of silence, broke it by her clear child
lish voice, there came q sound OF quici
lsteps, and Mrs. Stones round form
presented itself at the head OF th'
stairs, and her sharp back eyes peer
ed down,