Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-11-30
UPPER sANDUsKY, OHIO, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 80 1871.

lie ; the youthful dreams anu nOpeS, the
changes and disappointments, the love
turned into wrangling. She even thought
of Josiah with pity. Fer the first time
she put herself in his place" and real
lied how almost impossible it was for one
of his weak nature to resist, uRaided, the
temptation which would cost stronger
will no effort.
I'm afraid I've been little too sharp
with JOSIAH" thought she. ''Tve sorter
took it for granted | was a saint and he
was a sinner, and scolded him right along
down-hill A nice saint am As proud
and hign-strung as Lucifer himself Oh,
dear p sighed Nabby, "a pretty mess Eve
made of living If we could only go back
and begin over again, seems to me things
would go better"
Just then there was a faint noise, like
the clicking of door-latch. Nabby start
ed and looked round 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 apother'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
peered out into the darkness There
stood Josiah-wet, sheepish, sorry. Once
he started to go in, but his courage fail
ing, he fingered in dubious hesitation on
the doorstep.
"Why don't you come in, Josiah:"
said Nabby.
Il didn't know you'd want me, Nabby, J"
replied Josiah, with all the meekness be-
coming a returning prOdlgal.
''Want you? Of course l do, said
Nabby. heartily. "Come right along in.
I'm goin' to have have griddle-cakes for
supper, and you must tend them while
set the table" Griddle-cakes were one OF
Josiah's weaknesses, and Nabby knew 1t.
Josiah came in. If he ever gets into
heaven, probably his sensations will not
be one whit more delightful than they
were now, as from the bleakness and
gloom of the night, the forlornness OF his
wretched wanderings, he came into the
cozy brightness of the kitchen, and felt
that he was home once more. How good
the tea smelled! The fire roared and
snapped the tea-kettle boiled and bub-
bled and bobbed its lid up and down,
and from the griddle the savory
odor of the cakes ascended like homely
incense. Josiah's face, shining with
mingled heat and happiness as he turned
the griddle-cakes, was something worth
seeing.
Nabby stepped briskly around getting
supper ready. 1t seemed SO pleasant to
set the table for two again, to have some
one to praise and appreciate her cooking.
The November wind might howl its worst
now. Its hold on Nabby was gone. In
place of all the bitter sadness that had
hung heavily around her heart was a
warm feeling of happiness, of comfort and
hope.
All the explanation they had was this ::
Josiah drew forth from under his shabby
coat, an exceedingly awkward and knobby
bundle.
''rve bought somethin' foryou, Nabby, !"
said he.
The something, undone, proved to be
a very handsome britannia teapot. The
teapot must have known it was a peace
offering, with such preternatural bright
ness did it shine and glsten Something
in Nabbv's ewes shone and glstened, too,
although she winked hard and scorned
the weakness of a pocket-handkerchief.
"Thank you, JOSIAH" she said, ''it's
a regular beauty, and shall set lots by
it."
Which, so long as they understood each
other, was, perhaps, as well as if Josiah
had made long-worded speech of repent
ance and reformation, and Nabby another
of forgiveness.
Iwish l could say that Nabby never
scolded Josiah again. But | can't How
ever, she ''drew it mild" and there was a
general understanding between them that
this was only sort of exercise made nee
essary by habit-a barking by no means
involving biting. And Josiah was so ac-
customed to it that he would have missed
it, and not felt natural without being
wound up and set going for the day by
Nabby.
One day, later in the winter, Nabby was
washing for Mrs. Hosley.
$50 you have taken Josiah back again,
after all?" said Mrs. Hosley.
s'Well. yes, have" said Nabby, giving
last twist to the sheet she was wringing
out. 'sJosiah maynt be very much to
brag of; but then, you see, he's my own,
and all I've got We're gittin' to be old
folks, Josiah and me- and we may as well
put up with each other the little while
we've got to stay here"
"How has he been doing since he came
back?"
"First rate. He's walked as straight's
string ever since. He's good provider,
now he's quit drinkin' and master hand
for fixin' up things around the house, and
maxim it comfortable. l tell you what
tits, Miss Hosley, we've got to make low
ances for folks in this world. We cant
have 'em always jest to our mind. We've
got to take 'em jest as they are, and make
the best ont"
g I'm glad to see you so much happier
and better contented, Nabby."
"Well, I used to fret and complain 6
good deal because things hadn't turned out
as l expected 'em to do; but lately I've
thought good deal about it all, and I've
made up my mind that there's considerable
comfort for every one in this world, aftel
all Wemayn't get jest what we want, bu
we git somethin'"
In which piece of philosophy 1 believ'
Nabby was about right