Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-02-12

because she took so much interest il
her work, that she rather fingered owe
it. 1t was wonderful to see how sh
would turn q refractory bit of good
this way and that, until, at IastS
| would fit in exactly where 1t was need
! ed wonderful to see her stitch, stitch
in such a steady, resolute way, and al
the time with that placid expression OF
her face, her Wrinkled little mOutl
| pursed up, and her gray eyebrow
arching mildly over her spectacles.
About eleven o'clock in the forenoon
without looking up from her work, sht
said, "MEFs. D. would it be asking
! too much if wanted q cup of tea a
Iunch-time 1t keeps me awake fo
! the afternoOny and can do better jus
| tice to the work"
Awake for the afternoonI Poor ole
soul!
'sCertainIyi not at all 20 I exclaimed
/ I exclaimed, in a startled way. awe
always have tea at luncheon; but
whether or net, you should have it anC
welcome. Why not lie down awhile
| though? Please do. Rest yourself
now, on that lounge"
"Oh no, no indeed thank you =
and she IauRhed-s quiet, sober little
laugh, with a tear In il. 1.-THE tea1l
keep me up now, ma'am," she added
cheerily ''if y1u'u please get ready to
try on, I'll be through in minute"
She staid with me for three days
working steadily and slowly all the
time, kept awsee by the tea, and reso-
IuteIy resisting my entreaties that she
should take an occasional nap. One pc
cuIiarfty puzz me. On several occa-
sions, when, aft6r brief absence, I en-
tered the room saw her quietly slip
something into her little covered bas-
ket, which sat on the floor beside her,
and resume her work as approached.
Otherwise she worked as steadily as
though she were moved by machinery.
But if Ann and Kitty awoke apollo
getic emotions within me, how much
more this patient, silver-hdired old la
dy. I could scarcely bear to see her
working for me, and it was only by
planning various triling benefits for
her that I could in any way reconcile
myself to it. Sns was so old, poor soul,
and yet she 50 firmly thrust away the
infirmities of age, as if constantly say
ing to herself. . That's right-bRck,
keep straight; eyes, keep strong; fin
gers, keep nimble, for have this dress
to make"
Ahi if trouble were to come upon her,
thougt, a real, heart-rending sorrow,
she could not be like this. For it so
happened that had one great trial to
bear and knew what important allies
were youth and strength. But did not
understand her yet.
how it came Rbout-she told me the
story of her life, ,Or rather it seemed to
slip from her as the work slipped thrO'
her fingers-and what a life it was
Trial upon trial, sorroW- upon sorrow
prosperity at firstJ then misfortune and
poverty, then Twelve years of married
life, and three or four little graves
down, a helpless invalid; then widow
hood, with four children to support and
educate next, one of the children
hopeless crippIe-labor, ceaseless labor;
then sorrow and trouble in a married
daughters misfortune; then her two
daughters widowed and IN delicate
health, with several young children,
all upon her hands, she their only ark
and refugei Her youngest, an only son,
she had braYely educated through it all.
He had finally Joined the Union army,
without word of opposition from her.
At that very moment he might be lying
wounded on the battlefield, or his
less grave, for she had not heard from
him for months. And there had I
been consulting with her about my
sleeves
"And you support them all-children
and grandchildren 2" I asked, making
believe to search for a spool of cotton,
for felt too h6gety to sew.
Yes, dearys mostly" (she had given
me this nauaa on The second day., 'An-
nie's laid up with her side most of the
time; and what With grievingT and ta-
king ehaFgs Of tie little ones while
much, though she's a fur-mal1er by
trade. Now, ma'am, I'm ready for this
shoulder again"
(HOw blitheIy she spoke! I had been
rather low spirited of late-I with my
one iIlumined sorrow, she with her load
Az q a
shoulder was arranged went into the
entry to speak with Kitty concerning
dinner. When I re-opened the door I
saw that mysterious movement again.
My dressmaker was slipping something
into her basket.
"OhI" she said with slight jump,
'' what a little thing starts me l was
Just reading my little song"
Your little song?"
81 Yes; it's a bit of writing I've had
five or six years, the greatest comfort of
my life almost" and she lowered her
voice, " like my bible. 1t kept me up
when do believe nothing else would."
while picking out the basting-threads,
that 1 hardly knew how to reply. But
at last said, stupidity enough:
Don't you ever get sick, Mrs.
"No, not often leastwise, not enough
to make me lose my day. Thank you,
deary, I'lI go on with that sleeve, if
you haint finished it, and you can take
up the cording."
"It's wonderful" 1 said, tacitly fol-
lowing her direction, really wonder
full, to think of your supporting all of
your family so. and on two dollars
da9y:." IL, ,,o,,dor >, -. .u,s
quietly, "how do 1t but God helps US,
and then you know I have my little
song. I'll take them black hooks,
We sat quietly working for few mo-
ments.- At last l said, softly and rever-
"Mrs. Bond, will you teach me your
little song?
She looked up with a surprised, What,
deary ?"
''That little song you were speaking
of. 1t would do n1e good, too, am sure.
Will you teach it to me ?"
" You, child! You don't need it
young, bright, and happy. It's only Tor
tired old bodies like me-"
"Ah but perhaps I do" persisted !;
- life is very vexing to me some-
times!"
She bent down, and, lifting her lit
tie basket, slowly raised the lid, then
took out folded sheet of paper, worn
and dingy. She opened it tenderly as
she handed it to me.
This is my little song, deary. 1
know all it says, but it always helps
me to read it, especially when things
come into my mind that oughtn't to-"
1 had ex pected to find one of those
sweet old hymns telling of comfort and
joy to come, as a reward for sorrow suf-
fered here. But the verses I saw sur
prised me.
Where did you find this poem "
asked.
"I didn't find it. The Lord sent it to
me sort of mysterious. A young girl
read it out once in a room where was
sewing, and when I had a chance, 1
asked her to write it down for me. I
don't take to such things, centrally,
but this song is kind o. by itself"
And so it was. For the poem was Ade-
laide Proctor's zone by One"
have a whole book of verses writ
ten by the same LADY," I said, still look.
ing at the paper; Z" shall bring it and
read you few of them 2"
mo, deary, I thank you kindly but
most like I wouldn't understand 'em.
This little songlI last me out we'll
enough. AS you're looking at it, deary,
would you mind saying it for me out
loud -
For the FIRST time during our CONVEX
aaffora oh 1ofd dovvu hnr ond