The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-01

ing what good supply of kindlings
Josiah always kept on hand for her,
and how much more comfortable it was
in the old times coming home to II
house bright with light and warmth
and Josiah's welcome.
For Josiah cherished the most pro-
found admiration for Nabby-an adj
miralion not unmingled with awe. He
thought her most wonderful woman.
She was just as beautiful to him now as
in the old counting days, before the
brightness and quickness of the black
eyes had degenerated into sharpness,
before the smiling mouth had acquired
its hard, firmly set expression, before
there were any wrinkles in the smooth
forehead. People thought Nabby had
done well in marrying Josiah Could
a pleasant, good-natured young fellow
that every one liked; a young me-
chanic, not very rich yet, it was true !;
but, with good trade and such a wife
as Nabby, there seemed nothing to pre-
vent his figuring as one of our first
| citizens"
Anybody can be somebody in this
country if they are only determined.
But that was exactly the difficulty with
Josiah. He never was determined about
anything. He fell into the habit of
drinking because he lacked sufficient
strength of will to avoid it. Then
Nabbys sharp words, and his own mis-
cradle sense of meanness and self-con-
tempt, of utter encouragement and
despair, droye him lower and lower, and
he sank down supinely into the Slough
of Despond without effort or hope.
By beautiful dispensation of Provi-
dence, whenever a poor, shiftless, good
for-nothing man is sent into our world,
some active, go-ahead little woman is
Invariably fastened to him to tow him
along through, and keep his head abov
water. It's for the best, of course.
What would become of the poor fellow
without her? At the same time, she
sometimes finds it Il little hard.
Nabby was ambitious and proud
spirited, willing to work hard, to save,
to do her part-anXious to get on in the
world and stand well among the neigh
bors. The fact, gradually realized, that
in her husband she had no help, no
support, only a drag and burden, and
finally disgrace, had been a disap-
|
turt. TO have a husband that no one
respected, that even the boys around
town called Isl Could" was dreadful
to Nabby. Perhaps it was hardly
strange that she grew hard and bitter.
Meantime Nabby had succeeded in
starting the fire, and having changed
her dress, sat down to dry her feet until
the kettle boiled But even the rudy
light and warmth with which the
kitchen now glowed could not fend off
the dreariness 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 pleading to be once
more taken back into human life and
warmth. Such wind stirs in even the
happiest heart vague sense of loss, Of
change, of all that goes to make up the
unsatisfactoriness Of life. Dead sorrows
creep forth from their graves on such
nights, and stalk up and down the
echoing chambers Of the heart
Nabby could not help wondering
where Josiah was tonight. 1t was so
lonely sitting there with no one to
speak to, listening to the moaning wind,
the creaking Of the blinds, and loud
ticking of the clock.
"And Thanksgivn' a.comin'," thought
Nabby. " a pretty Thanksgiving shall
have.
The wind walled and walled, and
Nabby thought and thought. The very
fact Of having freed her mind to the
squire had relieved hel long pent-up
indignation, and now she felt more sad
than angry. Up before her seemed to
rise picture of her life; the youthful
dreams and hopes, the changes and dis.
appointments, 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 it was for one of his
weak nature to resist, unaided the
temptation which cost stronger will
no effort.
" m afraid I've ben a little too sharp
with JOSIAH thought she. 4" I've sorter
took it for granted was saint and he
a sinner, and scolded him right along
down hill. a nice saint ! am AS proud
and higb-strung as Lucifer himself? Oh
dearr' sighed Nabby; "a pretty mess
I've made of living! If we could only
go back and begin over again, seems to
to me things would 60 better"
Just then there was Il faint noise, like
the clicking OF the door-latch. Nabby
started and looked around. All was still
again-no one visible. Yet Nabby
could not rid herself Of the impression
that some one was near her, that odd
sense we have of another's individuality
! near us though not present
There's some one hangin' round
here, / know" said she to herself.
Nabby was one who always met
things halfway. Accordingly, she
walked to the outside door, and, opening
it quickly, peered out into the darkness.
There stood Josiah-wet, sheepish, sor-
ry. Once he had started to go in, but
his courage failing, he fingered in dubi-
Gus hesitation on the doorstep.
Why don't you come in, Josiah ?"
said Nabby.
81 didn't knows you'd want me.