Mower County transcript., 1871-12-14
his pa died, and what with bein' dread

he got laid up spell IN the Sailor
Home to Liverpool, havin' had ship
fever on the voyage, md there got re
ligion. I declare fort when I hearc
he'd fell overheard md got drownded
the first thing I thought on was hi
last letter tellin' about his experience
nd his gettin' converted; it seemed as
though I couldn't be thankful enough
for that, even in the very middle of my
distress about losin' on him."
Swell, you do beat all, Mis- Lock
wood I Is'pose ta'n't no use to SPEAK
O. Ruth md Rachel going into a decline
jest as they'd got good eddication
nd was goln' to keep school; or Eli't
a-goin' to Californy long O. my Joe
and never been heerd of sence 1"
go Mis- Salisbury - and here the
patient, faithful woman's voice choked
and her face flushed for the first time
"I don't deny that it seemed as though
I couldn't give up Ruth and Rachel nc
how; for a spell I was real rebellious
You see I'd kinder looked forrard tc
their bein' comfort md help to me-
md was pretty mis'able in my health
along then, I couldn't work real smart
moreover was real proud of them two
they was oredful pretty -lookin' girls
don't you remember 'em, Mis- Sails.
bury ?"
'iSakes alive! I guess I do! jest a.
we'll as can be; they allus looked like
two posies, nd you couldn't tell ont
from t'other nor t'other from one; pinl
cheeks nd fair complicated. But then
dredful bright eyes, nd red lips, nc
slim fggers ant never real healthy
Don't you know, used to alters tel
ye they'd go off young2"
eyes, yes, you did, but I COULDN'T
think SO; fact is, didn't want to, nd
when see 'em fadin' before my eyes
why, didn't really take it in till they
slipped away. Twas hard to see 'en
lyin' there in bed, hold OF hands, &
lookin' right into each others eyes tc
the last minnit; then il>1 ,.i.r, she looked
up at me nd jest smiled: she was past
speakin', md kinder showed over
towards Rachel, md drawed her hand
up to kiss it, an went to sleep; and
Rachel smiled, too, at us both 'twasn't
an hour after that she died, jest like q
baby, never known that Ruthy'd gone
first"
By this time, quiet tears, gentle as
the dew that falls from a summer hea.
ven, and more sweet than sorrowful,
were slipping softly down the poor wo.
mans withered cheeks, glittering on
the red mitten and the blue gown be.
low, but she did not even wipe them
away, going on in the same stilled
voice:
"Twas dreadful affliction, I don't
deny it, but it would have been worse il
one on 'em had gone and left the othe,
behind they was more to each other
than most twins be; seemed as though
they breathed the same breath and fell
the same feelins' from the time they
was born, And they never was real
rugged; mebbe eff they had lived and
had to get their own livin' twould
have killed 'em by inches, as folks say;
but now they died to home, and had
mother to take care of 'em, and was
comfortable to the last. I'm so thank
full for that"
Even Granny Salisbury paused q
moment, as Satan spared Job for day
or so, but there was more to come.
"How about Eli, then -
"My Lord!" whispered a decrepit
old negro curled up against the other
jamb Of the fireplace, ''that ole missis
powerful cantankerous, a'in't she2 2 He!
he! he! Debble hese'f can't stop he1
mouf; she's filed de hopper and start.
ed de wheel!"
Uncle Sol Gates. who received the
whisper, NODDED and grinned; if he was
half-witted, instinct warned him against
Granny Salisbury.
"Well, Mis- Salisbury, I'm thankful
to have one left. Who knows but Eli
as'll come back yet. I'd like to see
nv 10 child before 1 die, but yet ]
shall be pleased if he don't come, fo1
mebbe 'twould rile him to find me in
the poor house, though it's a good
home for me; and OWN to Mis- Sper-
ry's first husband bein' cousin to my
husband, nd her Ruth bein' called,
like my Ruth, arter their grandmother,
why it amt exactly's though I was
| with strange folks, you see.'
"I should think you'd jest as lives
they warn't no kin to ye; eft hadn't q
been for them you might ha' had them
fifteen thousand dollars Grandsire
Spencer left to Ruth Crane. Your hus
band was Jest as near kin to him as
her father, and eff you ha' had that
property, you'd ha' been comfortable
for the rest O. your days, and had lots
of folks bowln' and a curtseyin' round
you like flies after a honey pot. Land
don't know2 Moneys what lies the
wheels"
Sister Lockwood laid down the red
mitten in her lap she was very earnest
in any other soul her earnestness would
have been indignation.
"Now, Mis- Salisbury, what could
I ha' done with that? md ha'n't It sci
up little Ruthy for life9 Look a
For the little parlor- door, as if con
scious that the right moment had come
swung open, being only half latched
and showed pretty Ruth Crane standing
in front of the bright fire, with hand
some young mans arm round her waist
and her fair head lying on his shoulder
in perfect content.
"Go shut the parlor-door real soft
", Sairy," said Mrs. Lockwood, nod
ding to a little curly headed Irish girl
who leaned against the settle, starin!
TT Luc llIc. LIS, NA1S lo<tA1Suuly, AO'
long do you think DR.. Sparkle woul(
ha' had to wait afore he could Civ
Ruthy home, and afford to take care
on her, workin' day and night5 AM
now a'in't day after to morrer more of
Thanksgivin' Day to them than eve
, twas before? A wedding day beside
Goodness if Grandsire Spencer ha'
ha' left that money to me, I should hi
, t':n' it to them, at least part ont; E1
, could have had t'other part and then
s'pose, they wouldn't haye took it
, No! am thankful about that, I tel
! ye!"
l "Well," growled Granny Salisbury
"You do beat all You ha'n't got n
. sperret, nor no ambition. Ketoh III
l bein' so tickled about nothin! I've ha
enough troubles to kill one woman, on
r I don't pretend I ha'n't. l guess {
r you'd he'd drunken husband to spen
q list as fast as you spared, nd bring y
y to poverty, you'd ha' crawlea some h
0 this time"
:, "She driv him to it! She driv hi
}, to it! Now she's blamin' on him
r muttered Uncle Sol, shaking his heat
e but nobody heard him except Jake Il
9 negro;
IS he got over it, didn't he?" said Mr.
n Lockwood.
eyes, he'd got over it, ye'd bette
+ believe broke his leg, and got kerrie
to Canton Hospital couldn't drink n
e 40 he didn't: md then lest az miel