Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-08-12

, plenty Of spring to her, and l dc
think she takes an uncommon sight
: Of notice for her age" Grandma.
J beaming all over, held out the little
one towards her son.
, " No, no, mother, / amt NO
hand to tend babies" replied Ma
than, fighting shy. He could not
trust himself, if those chubby hands
got to patting his face and twining
themselves in among his heart
strings.
II always thought you took
naturally to children" said Grand
ma, looking over her specs, little
damped.
II amt in such a twitter about
them as some folks are," he replied
rather Grossly. They're trouble
some little imps any way you can
fix it, Patience, it seems to me
you are awfully behindhand with
your breakfast, Get away from
under foot, you blasted" He
almost kicked old Dinah over while
! he spoke.
At breakfast everybody looked
glum-quite contrary to the Gus.
: .l.iQ1.mll-,M ltQm which brought each face to the
table Wreathed with smiles. No
body seemed to be quite at ease,
except the baby; and she, it is safe
to say, was twice as happy as a
basket Of chips, when Patience sat
her down upon the carpet and gave
her for playthings some spools
strung upon a cord, and the biscuit
cutter.
Nathan sayagely hoped she would
commit some objectionable offence,
and make herself a nuisance: but
the little creatures good nature
was imperturbable. There she sat,
blubbering, sputtering in a jolly
way to herself, rattling the string
of empty spools, and stretching
out her legs on the carpet.
Grandma's high spirits were not
quite proof against the cloud that
hung over Nathan like a thunder
squall, and dissolved to tender
April showers il Patience's face
When Nathan was mentally dis
turbed, or had a tough trade" to
think over, he generally Whitfield a.
good deal into the kitchen wood
box. There he was, with head
down, letting out some tall links
on an ash splinter, when Patience
came, and laying her hand gently
on his arm, said, with as much
composurc as she could command ::
Nathan have you decided what's
to be done with the child ?"
"Tain'tno use to get into Stew"
replied he, with a good deal of i'm
patience. You can keep her, on
a pinch, for day or two, can't ye 2"
Yes; only every hour she is
with me will make it the harder to
put her away
"Wall, them" said Nathan, not
noticing the end of her remark,
wait till git ready to 20 to Tut
ties, after grass seed. Tuttle's is
on the way to the poor-house, and
it will save me a journey apurpose.
| swow!" he added, as an excuse
for his hardness, II won't be i'm
posed upon, nohow"
Patience turned away, with trem-
bling face, and went vigorously to
work on some little frocks and 9TH ]
er garments, to supply the baby's {
most pressing needs, for it was
destitute Of a single change ofcloth-
ing. She was glad of any occupa-
ton for her fingers, to deaden the
dull ache in her heart; for hour by ,
hour the child crept closer, and {
made warmer nest in her affec
tious.
The days of a week slipped by. s
One bright, pleasant morning, :
when the lilac buds were beginning 8
o pout a little, Nathan harnessed q
I'D Maje to the one-horse wagon, r
lrove round to the door, got out t
ilowly, hitched the horse, and came
n with a set hard look upon his n
ace. c
I'm going to Tuttle's, Patience. !
fou'd better git yours and the q
hild's traps on, and go along as ?
ar as the poorhouse. 'Tain't no q
Ise spinning out things much long &
r; and I'll be bl6wed before I'll C
nut up with imposition"
Patience broke right down, and 1
obbed hard into her apron
irandma, after telling Nathan the q
anne as that she considered him .
eartless brute, flying in the face
f Providence, got up and hobbled {!
ut Of the room. The laby, sitting I
n the carpet, knit her pretty brows, :
nd looked up to see what the rum II
us was, and if she might be ex- !.
ected to cry. But Patience never u
reamt Of resisting Nathans will
he arose to go and dress the child. o.
here sat her husband, coolly tilted .!
ack OH a chair, a whip in his hand, u
nd a soft hat pulled doggedly over cl
is eyes. He tried to whistle but
own deep in his heart, there arose I
strong suspicion that he was an D'
nmitigated scamp, and deserved a
orse- whipping. w
You must hold the child, while q
} and get ready" said Patience, II
,ming back, with her eyes very ef
d and baby respondent in a pink ", "
Ilico frock, her rosy cheeks shin or
g with soap and water, and her bc
Oist light hair quirked into all XII
'rts Of cunning rings.
HCanit she cit ON the floor z" ask