Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-10-07

rather been taken to my grave, and so l
made no secret of my hate OF her, but
Gas thought them she was sly one,
and kept her feelings 20 herself. The
doctor came, and was we'll nursed and
grew better. Not skind word had | said
TO them, and I'd forbidden Hannah TO
come to the house. unless to my death
! bed.
AS soon as | was well Mr.. Chester
would have me back, and said I'd 60 a
dozen time. day. meant it, too, but
before the time came great hosshead
had rolled down hatchway upon Dan,
aud there he lay between life and death,
with this wife Of his bending over him
like a crushed lilly Oh, she was pretty
! like doll-llcsh and blood was never so
liko wax. Don't think liked her better
for that.
So. now, all my anger was gone toward
Dan, and | must nurse him instead of GO
ing out to Mr. Chester's again; and my
money was gone, and there was very
little in Dams purse. She knew nothing
of economy, that actress wife OF his, and
what we could do but 90 together to the
poorhousc / couldn't tell | was fit for
no hard work yet.
She came TO me one day, with her bon
net on, and says She:
"Will you watch Dan awhile? am 60
ing out"
go where you like" says |, III care
for my son; always have"
She gave me look, but never word.
and went.
After that | saw her studying hard on
bits Of paper, like girl at her lesson,
and shc went out almost every day. !
used to hate her for it, and wouldn't keep
cup of tea warm Tor her, even.
guessed she was going back 10 her old
ways, and one night she told me so.
please leave The door unlatched," she
said, I'm going to play tonight, and
don, tell Dan. mother"
She never called me mother before
looked at her.
as this a time to play" says ], "your
husband at deaths door"
"No." said She and broke down like n
child. "No, but I've doue it before when
I've suffered as much and he must have
medicines and food, and there's the
rent
"You mean to work for that?n says |.
"What else?" asked she, and she went.
Ii was like seeing one go into pit of
fire for somehow began to think there
was bit OF good in her.
At midnight she camo home, and / had
a cup OF coffee for her
II was weak of me 10 pity her.
No doubt she enjoyed herself, and | did
And she thanked me, too, and took my
place with Dan until daylight came. He
thought she'd been asleep, and she never
told him.
From that night il began-my liking
Of her, mean. saw her at her study.
Hard at work over words longer than
those in The catechSm. saw her shaving
over dresses which she altered to save
expense. saw her 60 out to rehersal,"
she called il, rain or shine, | saw her
come home from the play, looking like
ghost when she had washed the rouge
away l heard her praying for Dan better
prayers than could have made myself.
knew, actress or not, that she was work
ing herself to death, and grew tender OF
her. Tender as if she'd been girl CT
my own.
At last, when my poor boy was well
enough to sit up, though it would be
weeks before he could walk yet, if he
ever did, and knew what she had done;
and, oh, it was wonderful. The rent paid
and the doctor, and none of us starved,
all by her work, for work it was I'd come
to know, instead Of an idle life, that
acting.
Would You believe, used 10 go after
her !, baptist from the time Ielt con-
cerned, and then wasn't sixteen, TO that
day when | was sixty, | going to aplay-
house TO fetch home an actress. 1t was
like going to place I'll give no name TO
lest | should be taken for one that used
bad language, but the girl took under
my arm was, as poor Dan had said long
ago, as like an angel as could be.
Whom il rained took my umbrella,
and one day an honest man, carpenter
l think, seeing me early and in damp
place, said;
That's not good for your rheumatic,
old lady"
Come" said he. "I'll show you where
you can see the play while you wait"
81 sec 4 play" screamed. "Why,
I'd think myself too wicked TO live"
He laughed.
Your daughter iu-law acts" says he.
Not my fault" said l, old feelings
creeping back.
"Wcll," said he, "now you see her
there is no great harm--as we'll wait IN
as outside"
perhaps" said l, and somehow he
got me in, and l saw the end of the play
for the matter of that they had on bonnets,
the ladies in tho boxes, and acted re-