The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-12-11
B1DDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY


hard labor during the month, as II I didnN
have enough Of hard labor out of Il. Nv
wife was sick and disabled at the time, nv
three little children be helpless: Il wasn'
thanks to the magistrates, gentlemen, OF
to Major Parrlfer that they did not nj
starve.'
'will you be quiet, ReedY'
If / deserved one month Of prison.
persisted Reed. fully bent on saying what
he had to say, Major Parrifer must de
serve two-f0r his offense Is larger thar
mine. The laws the same for both Of us
/ suppose. He
Reed, II you say another word vii
order you ut once from the room,' inter
rupted Mr.. Brandon, his thin voice sharI
anu determined. How dare you persis
In addressing the bench, when told to b
quletY
Reed fell back and said no more. HI
knew that Mr.. Brandon had q habit o
carrying out his own authority, In spite o.
his nervous health and querulous way o
speaking. The Justices spoke q few word,
together, and then said they found the Of
fence proved, and inflicted a fine on Major
Parrifer.
He dashed the money down on the tn.
bic. In too great rage to do It politely,
and went out to his carriage. There was
no other case on, that day, and the justices
got up and mixed with the crowd. Mr..
Brandon, who felt chill In the hottest sum.
mer's day, and was afraid Of showers,
buttoned ON light overcoat.
Then there's two laws, sir? said Reed
to him, quite clvilly, but In q voice that
everybody might hear. when the law
was made against tSabbath-breaking, those
who made II passed one for the rich and
another for the poOrY
Nonsense, Reed
'yvonsense. sir? don't see II. Twas put
In prison. Major Parrifer has only got to
pay bit Of money. which Is Of no more
account to him than dirt, and that he can't
feel the loss Of. And my offence-if 1t
was an offcnce-was less than his
Two wrongs don't make right said
Mr.. Brandon, dropping his voice to q low
Key. You ought not to have been put In
prison, Reed. Had I been ON the bench
1t should not have been done.'
But II was done, sir, and my life get q
blight on 1t. It's on me yet-wlll never
be lifted off me-
Mr.. Brandon smiled one Of his quiet
smiles, and spoke In whisper. He has
got 1t, too, Reed, unless I mistake. He'll
carry that fine about him always. John
ny, are you there?' Don't 20 and repeat
what you've heard me say
Mr.. Brandon was right. 10 have been
summonsed before the bench, where he
had pompously sat to summons others.
and for working on Sunday above all
things.-to have been found guilty and
fined, was rs the bltterest potion to Major
Parrifcr. The Bench would never be to
him the seat 1t had been. The remem-
brance of the day when he was before It,
would, rs Mr.. Brandon expressed 1t, be
carried about with him always.
They projected visit to the seaside at
once. Mrs. Parrlfer, with three Of the
Misses Parrifcr, came dashlng up to peo-
pies houses In the carriage, finer and
louder and grander than ever. She said
that she had not been well. and had been
ordered to Aberystwith. The next day
they and the major were of, and heaps Of
cards were sent round with up. p. c." In
their corner. think Mr.. Brandon must
have laughed when he got his.
The winter holidays came round again (;
we went home for Christmas, as usual, and
found George Reed down with some sort
ofillness. There's an old saying, when
the minds Ill at ease, tho body's dell
cate.' but Mr.. Duffham always maintained
that though that might apply to a short
period of time, In the long run mind and
body sympathized together. George Reed
had been n very healthy man, and rs free
from care rs most people; this last year
care and trouble and modification had
lain OH his mind, and at the beginning Of
winter his health broke down. 1t was
quite triumph (n the matter Of opinion)
for old Duifham.
The illness began with q cough and q
low fever, neither Of which can laborers
afford time to lie by for. 1t went on to
greater fever and inflammation inside him,
on the chest or lungs, or both. There was
no choice then, and Reed took to his bed.
For the most part, when poor people got
Ill, they had to get well again, without
much notice being taken Of them; but
events had drawn attention to Reed, max
Ing him into conspicuous character; his
illness was talked Of, and so he got help.
Ever since the prison affair had felt sor-
ry for Reed, aud so had Mrs. Todhetley.
Il have had some nice strong broth
made for Reed, Johnny she said to me
one day In January; it's as good and
nourishlng rs beef-tea. II you want a
walk you might take 1t to him.
Tod had gone out with the Squire, I felt
dull, as generally did without him, and
put on my coat and hat. Mrs. Todhetley
had the broth put into bottle, and brought
Il to me wrapped In paper.
I'D send him drop Of wine as well,
Johnny IL you'd take care not to break the
bottles, carrying two.'
No fear. put the ono bottle to lodge
In my breast-pOcket, and took the ether In
my hand. 1t was n cold afternoon. the
sky nearly Of q steel-blue. the sun bright
the ground hard. Major Parrifer and two
Of his daughters, coming home from q
ride. were canterlng into the gates rs
passed, their groom behind. l lifted my
hat to the girls, but they only tossed their
heads.
Reed was getting over the worst then,
and found him sitting by the kitchen
fire, wrapped In bed rug. Mrs. Reed
took the bottles from me In the back'us-
rs they call the back place where washing
and the like was d0ne-for Reed was SEN
sltiye and did not like for things to be sent
to him.
please God. I shall be Mt work again
next week. said Reed. with q groan; and
saw he knew had brought something.
He had been saying that all along; four
VI lNS WCNhS ho"s tut uOWu Opp0ouC
to him and took up the boy, Georgy; the
little shaver had come round to me, hold
Ing by the chairs.
Its going to be hard frost, Reed
is II, siry Out-o'-door weather don't
seem to be o. much odds to me now.'
And n fall o. some sort Is not far of. as
my wrist tells me- put In Mrs.. Reed.
Years ago she had broken her wrist, and
felt II always on change Of weather. May
be some SHOWS coming
gave Gcorgy q biscuit; the two little
girls who had been standing still against
the press, began to como slowly forward.
I had dipped my hand into the blsc ult-bas
ket at home before coming away, and the
children guessed II. They put out hand
each without being told, and I dropped q
biscuit Into them.
1t had taken neither time nor noise, and
vet there was some one standing inside the
door when looked up again, who must
have come In stealthily; some one In Q
dark dress, and black and white plaid
shawl. Mrs. Reed looked and the chill.
drcn looked; aud then Reed turned his
head to look.
l think was the first to know her; she
had black veil before her face. and the
room was not light. Reeds illness had
left him thin, causing his eyes to appear
very large-they assumed q sort OF fright