The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-08

OF Nnc POOR lcitoW NiAn"uN nv ~ NuN
same time, she sometimes tluds Il little
hard.
Nahby was ambitious aud proud-Spiritcd,
willing 90 work hard, ta save. 60 de- her
part-anNioas 60 get on in the world aud
stand we'll among the ntiehhoIs The
fact. gradually realized, that In her hus-
band she had no help, no support, oaly
drag and burden, and finally disgrace.
had been a disappointment emblttering her
whole nature. To have a husband that no
one respected, that even the boys around
town called "Si Gould, was dreadiul 20
( Nabby. PeThNys il was hardly strange
that she grew hard and bitter.
Meanwhile NSbby had succeeded in
starting the fire, and having changed her
dress, sat down 20 dry her feet until the
ea-kettle boiled. But even the ruddy
light and warmth with which the kitchen
now glowed could not fend off the dreari-
ness Of the night. The rain "tapped with
ghOstly tinger,tip upon the window pane,
and the wind howled and walled around
the house like the spirits Of the lost plead
nlg 20 be once more taken back into human
life and warmth. Such a wind stirs ia
even the happiest heart vague sense Of
loss, Of change, Of all that goes TO make up
the unsatiSiactorineSs OF life. Dead soT-
rows creep forth from their graves on such
nights, and stalk up and down the echOiug
chambers Of the heart. N
/ Nabby could not help wondering where
josiah was tonight IL was SO lonely
sitting there with no one 10 speak TO. lis-
teRing to the moaning wind. the creakiRg
u L a a a NamEHf q f.
And Thanksgivin' a-eomin',n y thought
Nabby. a pretty ThAnksgiyin' shall
have ~
The wind walled and walled, aud Nabby
thought and thought. The very fact Of
having s'freed her mind, = 20 the squire bad
relieved her long peat-up indignation, and
now she felt more sad than angry Up
before her seemed 90 rise a picture Of her
life: the youthful dreams and hopes, the
changes and disappOintments, the love
turned into wrangling She even thought
Of josiah with pity. For the first time
she "put herself in his place, and realized
how almost impossible il was Cor one oi
his weak nature 90 resist, unaiaed, the
temptation which will cost a stronger win
an effort.
alm afraid I've ben a little too sharp
with josiah" thought she I've Sorter
took Il for granted was saint and he n
sinner, and sseolded him right along down
hill. A nice saint ] am As proud and
high-ssrong as Lueiier himseltl oh dearm
sighed Nabby: "a pretty mess I've made
OF living If we could only go back and
begin over again, seems 20 me things would
60 better"
Jus; then there was faint noise, like
the clicking Of the door-lat.h. Nabby
started and looked round. All was still
alain-nn one visible, Yet Nabby could
not rid herself Of the impression that snme
one was near her. that odd sense re have
of anotheF's individuality near us though
not present.
There's some one hangin' round here,
| KNOW said she TO herself
Nahby was one who always met things
half way. Accordingly, she walked TO the
outside door, and, opening IL quickly
pcercd out INTO the darkness. There stood
Josph-wet, sheepish. sorry OHce be
had started TO go in, but his courage fail.
ing, be fingered in dubious hesitation on
toe doorstep. .-
"why don't you come in. Josiah r. said
Nabby.
81 don't knows you'd want me, Nabby,r
replied Josiah, with all the meekncss be-
coming returning prodigal.
Want you or course I do,h said
NabbY, heartily. Come right along in.
I'm goln' 10 have griddle-cskes for supper,
and YOU must tend 'cm while set The
table, Griddle-cakes were one Of Josiah's
lavorite weaknesses, and NabbS kuyN il.
Josiah came in. If he evpr gets into
heaven, probably his sensations viii not be
one whit more delightful than they were
now, as from the blcallness and gloom Of
the night, the forlornneSs OF his wretched
wanderings, he came into the cory bright
ness Of the kitchen, and felt that he was
tome once more. How good the tea
smelled The fire roared aud snapped,
the tea-kettle boiled and bubbled and
dubbed its lid up and down, and from tie
griddle the sayOry odOr Of the cakes as.
cended like homely incense. JosAh's
face, shining with mingled heat and happi-
ness as be turned the griddle-cakes, was
something worth seeing.
Nabby stepped briSkly around getting
supper ready. IL seemed 70 pleasant TO
set the table for two again, 10 b we some
one 10 praise and appreciate her cooking
The November wind might howl its worst
now. It's hold on Nabby was gone. In
place of all the bitter sadness that had
hung heavily around her heart was warn
feeling Of happiness, Of comfort and hope.
All the explanation they had wished
was this Josiah drew forth from under
his shabby coat an exceedingly awkward
and knobby bundle.
"l'Ve bought something for you, Nabby,"
said he.
The something" undone, proved to be
very handsome britannia teapot. That
teapot must have known il was peace
offering. with such preternaturzl bright
ness did IL shine and glisten. Something
in Nabby's eyes shone and glistened too,
although she winked hard, and scorned
the weakness Of q pocket-handkercbief.
"Thank you, Josiah she said: g. its n
regular beauty, and shall set lots by IT,"
Which. so long as they understood each
other, was, perhaps, as well as il Josiah
had made long-worded speech OF repent
ance and reformation, and Nabby another
Of forgiveness.
wish / could say that Nabby never
scolded Josiah again. But | can't. How
ever, she "drew II mild" mi there was
general understanding between them that
this was only sort Of exercise made
necessary by habit-a barking by no means
involving biting. And Josiah was so nc
cnstomed 10 il that he would have missed
il, aud not felt natural without being wound
up and set going for the day by Nabby.
One day, later in the winter, Nabby was
washing for Mrs. Hosley.
$50 you've taken Josiah back again,
after all 2" said Mrs. Hosley.~
"WelI, yes, I have" said Nabby, giving
a last twist 10 the sheet she was wringing
out. " Josiah mayn't be very much TO
brag Of; but then, you see. he's my own,
and all I've got. We're gittin' TO be old
folks. Jc,iah and me, and we may as well
put up with each other the little while
we've got 10 stay here"
How has Ne been doing since he came
back ~
-"First-rate. He's walked ne straight's
a string ever seDce. He's good proyider,
now's he quit drinkin', and master hand
for iixin' up things around the house, and
maxim il comfortable. / tell you what
tits, Miss Hosley, we've got to n axe low
ances for folks in this world. We can't
have 'em always Jest TO our mind. We've
got to take 'em jest as they are, aud make
the best ont"
. Pm glad to see you so much happier
and better contented, Nabby."