The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-03-25
JACKSON G. H.. OHIO THURSDAY MARCH 25 1869.

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household, seven woe-begone children,
a most melancholy looking husband,
and dying wife, whose eyes burned
like fire in her wasted face. At once
she seized Miss JenniBgs's hand, and
held it fast.
1knew you would come" she whis-
pered-1'I knew you would I am
going to die. You know, we are
strangers here, my poor husband is a
clerk at the bank, you know, and my
poor children are all going to ruin. I
know you will take care Of them when
/ am gone; you are good-I know you
will" er nj
"My goodness" cried Miss Jen-
nings, looking around her in dismay.
But the sick lady did not mind her.
She kept on saying 81 know you will,"
as lit were burden Of a song; and
still uttering those words, she died as
ten struck that night. The fire was
not out when Miss Jennings came
home; the lamp still burned brightly;
the open novel still lay on the table;
the chair seemed to await its
mistress, but Miss Jennings sighed
drearily as she sank into it. Seven
children! however would that nervous
Mr.. Brown, who was out all day, and
did not know soul in the place, how
could be managsl Miss jennings had
not the least intention of accepting the
dead lady's legacy, but still how would
he manage, you know? He managed
tolerably well, thanks to Miss Jen-
nings. You see there was more love
in her heart than she knew of, more
tenderness than the painted glass win
dow could absorb. At first she only
went in to direct Mr.. Browns one SER
want, "until he could get some one ;"
but that some one never coming, for
many excellent reasons, Miss Jennings
gave up that illusion, and said to her
self that she must F'give a look to poor
Mr.. Browns children now aud then -
this, too was another illusion. Miss
Jennings found that children will not
be looked at now and then, but require
constant gazing. And SO she looked
at them so aSsiduously, that the cireu-
lating library Indignantly sent in for
the second volume, and would rather
decline Miss Jennings subscription
than have books kept so long, if you
please. Indeed, there was Miss Jen-
ning's angry rejoineri they were well
come to the second volume, stupid
trash she remembered quite we'll she
was falling asleep over it when poor
Mr. Brown came in, and she had some
thing else to do now-thank Heaven!
So she had, good Miss Jennings; she
had seven children to mind and a
house to take care Of Mr.. Brown, a
poor nervous man, in state of chronic
depression, thanked her much, and
was apt to become overpowered with
gratitude at times, but he did nothing
to relieve her burden. "Poor fellow"
thought Miss Jennings, as she now
and then gave him awishful look, she
is as helpless as baby, you know"
And so he was, so much SO that, spite
Miss Jennings'S vigilance, many mat
ters would, and did, go wrong. The
evils at length became So serious and
SO crying, that Miss Jennings ventur-
cd on remonstrance. Mr.. Brown
groaned and knocked bis head distract
edly against the parlor mantel-piece,
but said that it could not be helped
They must all go to ruin, he and the
children it was very sad, must be SO.
"My goodness" exclaimed Miss Jen-
nings, he was not to say that. But
Mr.. Brown would say that Miss Jen-
nings was very kind, but of course she
could not be in two places at once,-
in her own house and in his; his dear
wife had told him to marry again, by all
means, but the poor dear soul had for
gotten to say who would take a clerk
of fitty-two with moderate salary and
seven children, all under fifteen! And
Mr. Brown closed his eyes in silent des-
peration at his case, and said no more.
Miss Jennings looked around her,
much moved, Spite OF all she had
done and was doing, the parlor looked
very comfortless, and the house, Miss
Jennings knew, was like the parlor.
Winter had long been over the spring
and the summer which had followed it
had waned another winter was begin
ming. She had given up every little
enjoyment Of her lonely life to this
family. She had scolded the servant
she had mended the younger children's
clothes---she had taught the elder ones
they all loved her dearly, and MIR.
Brown was very grateful; but still,
either because his means were INSULT
cient, or because his position was one
of too great difficulty, there was some
dreary truth in his gloomy assertion
that they were all going to ruin. She
gently touched his arm, and looking at
him with tears in her eyes, and little
blush on her faded cheek, she said:
u "Mr. Brown, l am fifty-one. Ihave
a hundred a year, and the house / live
in is my own. / love your children,
and they love me,-will you marry
met" H.. -y
At first he stared and could not be-
lieve his ears, s,--then burst of tears ex-
pressed his joy; and need it be said
that he accepted Miss Jennings's pro-
-nna,l2 Mad Il hn said tnn nrhnt q