Mower County transcript., 1871-12-14

WITH MALICE II
I'm, MOWER COUNTY
an died I tell ye I was real glat
there wa'n'tno more children than Joe
for had enough to do to take keer O
him and me -"
"You had q nice little farm?"
"Well, yes; twas fair medder land
and a tol'able good wood lot; but ABB
Sykes, he took it on shares, and Inevel
gin him credit for doin' the fair thing
and when Joe got kinder sick O stayin
to home, md run off to Californy long
O. your Eli, l was left lone widdel
with nobody to stick up for my rights,
md that old Squire Spence, he under
took for to build new fence to his
hill pastur', md went and sot it two
foot furder on to my lot than he'd orter
he stuck tot that twas his old line,
md knew better, SO we had suit
and had ter sell the biggest part Of
the medder land to pay fort,
nd lost the hull case beside
then my barn got afire md
burned the house down, and cos I'd got
it insured for morn twas worth, folks
said sot it afire myself, md had an
other suit with that pesky insurance
company, and that I beat. but it took
all the money about to pay those darned
mean lawyers. So calkerlated to run
what was left of the farm myself, and ]
had shanty put up, but want used
to such work, and fust had spell OF
fever, md then rheumatic set in nd fust
knew my farm was sold and the money
used up, and me and my clothes fetched
to the poor-house! I don't know what
Methodist folks think ont. [ guess
there amt nothin' to Methodys more'n
bein' called brother'n sister to every.
body"
"Bress de Lord" whispered Jake
again, with great fervor.
"But was brought up in IA Presby.
terian meetin', md I don't expect to be
extry thankful for what I ha'n't got
nor ha'n't had"
Sister Lockwood's quiet face with.
drew as it were into soft shadow o1
dismay and perplexity, but presently il
frightened.
''After all, Mis- Salisbury, mebbe
Joe'n come home a rich man yet nd
take keer on ye."
"Hoh! I guess hell hev to steI
round pretty spry eff he's agoin to find
me; I amt SO dredful young. But
know one thing-I guess the Lord'l]
pay me up for all my troubles here,
when I get up there; or there amt nc
sech thing es justice agoin', md I b'lieve
there is"
"she's KEEP accounts guess! NUT.
tered Jake.
Sister Lockwood folded up her knit.
ting and went upstairs to bed, and
Granny Salisbury curled herself up
with many a growl in her lair. Peace
brooded in the little garret chamber,
but fed with frighted wings from the
down stair bedroom allotted to the
rheumatic and grumbling old woman.
Next day snow filled all the chilling all
with it's dizzy, fairy whirls of flakes,
singing against the dull panes, whirl-
ing around the well-c1lrb, deep-drifting
over the great wood-pile, but within
doors Vernon poor house glowed with
unwonted warmth and comfort. A fire
burned cheerily i'll the paupers' room,
and two or three of the old women were
detailed on special service in the kit
chen, pairing apples, picking over Gran.
berries, scraping turnips, and clearing
or heating the big brick oven. Gran.
ny Salisbury hobbled round, cross but
useful, certain amount of jerk in
spired her hands as we'll as her tongue,
but Sister Lockwood crept about more
feebly than ever, and when Doctor
Sparkle came in after dinner he found
her asleep in her chair, most unusual
thing for her. She woke, however, as
he stood looking at her with his hand
some kind eyes, and seemed scarce to
recollect herself or her surroundings
for a moment.
"Aren't you we'll, Mrs. Lockwood e.
asked he. Just then Ruth stepped in,
and laid her hand on his arm. Sister
Lockwood smiled.
"Why, yes, I guess I be; I've been
asleep, ha'n't I? The snow and the
fire kinder drowsed me, do b'lieve. >
"Dont you want n cup of tea,
aunty2"
"No, Ruthy, dear; it's better'n tea
to see you a-lookin' so bright. To-
morrer's Thanksgivin', amt 1t?'
Eyes" said the doctor, keen smile
lighting all his grave, dark face, as he
drew Ruth a little closer. especially
! Thanksgiving Day for me-"
"Youll be real good to her, doctor,
won't yea"
"I1l try.s
"Folks has deal to be thankful for
in this world, and dreadful deal more
after it's come End gone. Ye know
what the hymn says
"Well praise Him for mercies past,
And thank Him for all that's to come!"
declare fort, I've forgot the rest
ont; twas somethin' bout gettin' safe
! home"
A loud call from the kitchen for
Ruth put an end to this brief talk, and
the doctor went up stairs to see sick
child; first advising Sister Lockwood
not to try and rise for er breakfast in
the morning, as she Was weak, and the
day would be both busy and exciting.
| So Thanksgiving Day came, splendid
with the chill splendor of snow and
sun. A keen wind had packed every
frozen fake into it's place, and merry
bells flashed by in gay defiance on ev
cry shape of sleigh or sled. Ruth
| looked into Mrs. Lockwood's room,
but she was fast asleep; SO she carried
back her cup of tea and set it by the
fire.
Scarce was breakfast over when &
sleigh, full of furs, with pair of dane
ing horses, stopped at the door, and &
tall, bearded man asked for Mrs. Sails.
bury.
>"You ant Joe?" was her brief and
incredulous welcome.
"Iguess SOP For an instant nature
or memory prevailed, and Granny Sails
bury bestowed on her prodlgal son 6
hug that would have done credit to 6
bear. Then she recalled herself.
"Well, ye've got here fn'lly, hev ye|
I reckoned ye was dead quite a while
ago."
"But amt, and I've got prett,
considerable heap O dollars; SO
thought I'd look ye up, and fix ye of
comfortable, mother"
; elm! you've done lot o. thinkin
bout me, I guess! He'd time enough
anyhow-twenty odd year'!"
"Well, we'll, mother let by-gone:
be by-gones. Come along now"
"Not till I've ben nd reused III
Mis- Lockwood. I must tell her
Say, is Eli dead?"