Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02

manu-. 4 can't 90 H. What can tell, though
enough.
wexere at Crabb Cot. The leaves were fall
half through and thew sreweS tSs was grn nearly
shoals. But If the leaves were late, the fros,
was early. The weather had come in curiously
cold Three days before the morning I'm ooiny
to speak of, the warm weather Suddenly ch snae5
into biting cold; it had gone on increasing
aad was nov as freezing as January. It's not
often You see lee mingling with the dead Leaves
of Autumn Both the ice and the leavea no va
TO do with the thing that happened; and think
you OFTEN md that If the weather is very un-
remember il by in the future. ~
Crsbb KaSine, - you hare heard, had its be-
ginning beyond that three-cornercd grove of
trees opposite the store-barn. At the corner of
field. about midway between this lively SPOT
and North Crabb, stood small dwelling called
Willow Brook Cottage: but the brook from
which X TOOK It's name was dry now. You could
see the grove and descent to the Ravine from its
back, and the houses Of North Crabb from its
lace; but II had lonely look, for all that--and
perhaps that kept 1t empty. 1t had been unoc-
cupied for more than year when the SQUIRE.
tired OF seeing u so, happened to say in the hear
ing OF James Hill that he would let it for almost
nominal rent. Hill snapped at the words and
said he would be glad TO rent IL: for some cause
or other he did not like the one he was in AMI
had been wanting to leave it. At least. he said
this: but he was OF frightfully stingy turn, and
we al thought the low rent prompted him. Hill
was the working bailif: a steady man, but Sc
we're upon every body.
IL was during this early frost that he was he
ginning TO move in. One morning after break
last, was taking the broad pathway across the
fields TO North CTabb, which led close by Will
low Cottage, and saw Hin wheeling a small
sized truck Up with some of his household goods
in il. he was tall, strong man, and the cold
him TO glowing heat.
GoOd-morning, Master JOHNNY"
Making ready for the fitting, Hin?''
Hill wheeled the truck to the door, and sat
down on one OF its handles while he wiped his
race IL was an honest, cross face; red, hab-
tually. The house had good large garden ON
shut-in shed and some pigstyes at the back. Lots
OF trees overshadoTed the palings: their fallen
leaves making, just now, border to the garden
ahkle-deep inside and out.
A fine labor shall have to get the place
INTO order' cried Hill, pointing to some broke
IalinSs and the over grown branches. Don't
aninA nat wnat the Squire has glt the best bar
:. You'd say that, Hill, if lac gave you house
Hill took the KEY from his pocket. un,oc.ed
door, and We went. This lower room was
Oarded, the kitchen was al the back; above
ere two fair-sized chambers. One OF them
: oked 10 Crabb Rayine; the other was only
GIFTED from sbOye-by a skylight in the roof
You have had fires here, Hill!r
mad EN- IN every room all day yesterday,
r, ana am going TO light EN- again now. NV
VIE said 1t must be; and she waTn't far wrong:
i,r damp house plays the mischief with ones
ones. The fools that women be, TO be sure!-
ndmy wife's the worst Of en-
hat has your wife done?'
% She had q bi9of accident yesterday. Mas
ter JOhbny. A coming out with few things
for this place, she stepped upon some ice, and
ell; il gave her ankle twist, and she had to be
helped home I'm blest IL she's not a-saying
now that it's a ill-Omeni Because she can't get
about and help TO shift the things in here, she
says We sLan't have nothing but h-luck IN the
had heard already of the ankle-twist. HIS
wife was a little shrinking woman, mild o.,
gentle. quite superior to him. She We a widow
when he married her. a Mrs. G-.rth. with one
son. David Miss TimG@..ss, the schooImistress
at North Craso, wa her sister. On the pre-
Nlous morning letter had come from Worces-
ter, saying tSeir mother, Mrs. Timmens, was
taken dangerously i'll, and asking them 10 90
over. Miss Timmens went; HiIf refused his
wife going: how could he get along at moving
time without her? he demanded. She cried aud
inPlOred, but Hill was harder than flint. She
had to remain az home, and set about her prep
arstions for removal In starting out with the
inst lot Of mOyables-s few things carried in her
aTms-the accident occurred. So that. for the
helping to move, she was useless; and the neigh
bors, ever ready to take part in matrimonial
grievance, said IL served Hill right. Any way
IL did not improve his temper.
When do you get in here, Hill?''
Tomorrow, Master Johnny, please the pigs
But tor the wite's awk'ardness we "a ha' been In
to-day. As TO any help Davy could give, it's
worth no more nor rats; he haven't got much
more strength in him nor one, neither. Drat
the bow"
Leaving Hill to his task, went on; and in
passing MIS- HIS hI dwelling thought I'D give
stood by itself, just as this other one did, but.
was less lonely. Days voice called out, +" Come
in
He WAS the handlest little fellow possible for
any kind Of housework-Or for sewing, either;
but not half strong enough or rough enough for
boy. His soft, brown eyes had shrinking
tenderness in them, his face looked delicate az
girls, and his light hair hung in curls. But
he was little bit deformed in the back-some
called II only stOop Of the shoulders-and,
though fourteen, nigh have been taken for
ten The boys love for his mother was some
thing good They had lived at Worcester, she
having a small income, where he had been we'll
brought up. When she married Hin-all her
friends we're against u-of course they had to
come TO North Crabb; but Davy was not happy.
timid lad always, he could not overcome his
FIRST fear OF Hill. Not that the man was unkind,
only rough and resolute.
Dayy was washing mp the breakfast things;
his mother sat by, sorting out the contents Of a
chest a neat little woman in green stuff gown,
with the same sweet eyes As David's, and the
shrinking look In them. She left OF when /
"Itsa pity II happened Just now, Mrs. Hill.'
:" I'D have given great deal fer IL not TO, SIR.
hut Il just seems TO me like q bad omen. had
got few articles IN my arms, the nrst tribes
we'd begun 70 move, and down fen at going
out at this door. To me II seems nothing but a
warning that We ought not 70 move in TO Willow
Cottage"
David had halted with his tea-cups. his brown
eyes nxed approviDgfy en- his mother. That IL
was not for the first time be had listened 10 the
superstition, and that he was eyery whit As bal
- she, might De p anly seen.
al have never liked the thought or ehaf new
place from the inst, Master Johnny. It's as il
something held me back from it, HILL he keeps
saying that It's convenient dwelling and
dirt-chesp; and 30 IL IL; but don't like the mo-
ton Of It. No more does Darid!' a
."oh, dare say you'll like it when yon get in
Mr. Hill; and David, too"
20 It's 20 be hoped 80. SIR"
The day went ON; and it's after-erents \ can
only speak Of from hearsay. Hin moved IN q
good portion of his goods, David carrying some
OF the light things. Luke Macintosh was asked
to 60 and deep In the house that night a. safe
guard against thieves, bat he fatly refused, un-
less somebody slept there with him. Hill ridi-
cuied him for his eowardiee, and finally agreed
that David should bear him company.
He made the bargain without his wife She
had other views for David. Her intention vas
TO send the lad over 70 Worcester by the seven
O'Clock evening tTaSn; not % much because his
bed and bedding had been carried OF aud there
Was nothing to sleep on, but that his dying
grandmother had expressed q wish 70 see him.
To hear then that David was not to 90 did not
please Mrs Hill.
IL was DAVID himself who carried In the news.
She had the tea waiting on the table when they