The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-03-29
Selrft Storp,
HARD TIMES.
BY AUGUSTA LARSED.

Mrs. Fairman was q proud woman,
if size did enjny misery and she had
10 Intention oi letting Miss HenSlow
know that the Iamiiy lived ON oauailis
hread.
Ubed had been kicked in the chest
by Black Bill. who was trying to run
with the cart, and now he lay on the
Led in the family bedroom. and Sa!Ome
WIS with HIM Mrs. Falrman had
tnld the men .olks, more than q hun
dred times, that they ought TO sell
Black Bill; but she wasn't anybody to-
be considered, and nU heel WAS paid
to what che said. There was one con
ISOLATION though; things Lad turned
out exactly rs Size predicted they
would, and that was the very worst
possible.
Now, as she stepped away from the
stove where she had been carefully
covering up the little gray l. aves with
crash towel, she glanced .ut of the
window at the spring pastures that
were p risl.ing for the want OF rain,
aud where the cattle could scarcely
nibble mouthtul; and beyond to the
hard looking pl"wet field. thst show
I'd only the iaintest simmer OF the
hlue-grecn oa,s The wells were Civ
ing out, and sp.i,gs that had never
before been known to Iail.
Mrs, Fairman's face had a cut-water
outline. Ii WAS rheumy and pihched
at the nostrils, and tucked down at the
corners of her mouth Now, as she
looked at the cold, bleak, brown fields
taken in connection with the canaiIle
luaves behind tie stove, it seemed
plain TO her mind that there was a
Judgment upon them; and IN some
W at vague way she connected that
judgment with Obed, "who never had
been under convict ion since she mar.
ried him. and who had seldom step
ped his foot into the met ting-house ut
the Corners. She had read in the
newspaper that the drouth extended
owe the whole OF New England, aud
large portion of the Western States;
but it did not occur to her that Provi-
dence was going considerably out Of
Its way to punish Obed for his obstina-
cy and spiritual biii dness,
A man mad ridden early in the
morning over from Salisbury with
Whitcombe's bill, and had threatened
to levy ON some of the farm imple-
ments, and order sheriff. sale unless
it was paid i'll ten days. Mrs. Fair
man knew that ODD was draiief
money, and the prospect uf bling sold
| out OF houR, and hOtne-a hing
she had so often predicted would hap
pen -,eeme.l disrnally near.
Miss Henslow lived across the road
IN little house hat appeared % be
always in the sulks Now she left her
goose heating, and took section of
Deacon Broderip's coat over her arm,
with her big taller's shaars at her side,
and went, STOPPING, across the way -
She had crooked back, and hooked
nose, with lar, mouth that hi,
itself in the big cavity of her 'ace. and
which some way, gave one the ex-
prassion of a gigantic owl. She ap
peared to have three story throat,
and to speak out OF the basement door.
Sne stepped over one of Salome' flow
er bells, where the sturlions could not
push their heads through the caked
soil, and gave a sharp peck on the
window-pane with her steel thimhle.
81 got the fdgets setting alone"
she began. as Mrs Fairman admitted
her. and she settled down, and let her
poke bonnet tall back. showing a ring
of snufy brown hair each side her
face done up with big pin. You
see l dreamed of rats last night. and
it's always bad sign. the last time
it happened was just before Aunt
Debby Strong died. Seth Barnaby
and his cousin went up to watch the
last hight and they said Miss Pratt,
WHO'D bee. hire.l to stay there, set tho
scantiest supper ever was. Did you
hear about Hiram Walkers wiie?-
She was Aunt Debby's niece, and is
coming into the property; and just as
soon as she got back from the grave.
she went to counting over the things,
and what do you think! There was
six Of the old lady's best linen sheets
cone 80 '-