The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-13
HER TWO HANDS.

Old Caspar came home about sunset.
dis pick WAS on his shoulder: so was
his old wool hat, for he thrust it far
back from MS wrinkled front. Caspar
had a bend, as if he had been half per
suaded these many years to 90 on hands
and knees again, so heavily time sat on
his back, and so close to the earth did
MS daily labor draw him.
lie was a good.natured, trotting old
Fellow, working his mouth eagerly, and
straining his bleared eyes, as he ap.
preached the towns draggled skirts, for
very thinking of his folks-his old wo.
man and his little gal.
There were rows of dismal frame
huts all around, built by railroad com
panies for the purpose of penning as
many OF their employees families at
time as possible. They reposed, grimy
and barn like, squat on that sandy
foundation which Scripture condemns,
swarming with legions of tallow. headed
children. Women, sharp at the elbows,
and sharper at the face, were raising
clouds OF pork smoke from their re.
spective kitchen affairs. In fact the
whole neighborhood reeked with the
smell OF grease, and the evening was so
warm a Laplander might have resented
1t. But Caspar's nose was not delicate.
He trotted over the cinder sidewalk.
nodding this way and that. glad there
was such fine air, and that his old
bones were so near home.
Thar's the little gal, as usual" he
ohuckled, as he turned a corner and
found MaGgie on her look out ct the
gate. She was q comforting sight 10 see
IN that neighborhood, so tidy and fair,
IN calico and braids, and the pink flesh
color OF youth. You wondered why
she hadn't been set further up town,
and draped in something costly; why
ner dett fingers had never learned there
were ten keys TO unlock a soul which
slumbers in rosewood, and which rises
nj a touch, like some blessed genii. to
comfort all ills and fill all thoughts
you wondered why some high-bred
hther was not coming home to her now.
But then this old man would have found
Il SO hard to do without her. Then,
100, Madge might never in her life have
struck the royal heart which was now in
her hands, in which she held her bank
against all the future, and the interest
OF which was the only income she
wanted.
" There you are, grandpa cried
Eadge.
Yes, and there you are, Madgie.
And here we both are, Madgie ~ enter.
ing the open gate, and casting down his
pick.
He put his hands on each side of her
brad, and gave her sounding smack
% the cheek.
"Supper's ready"
" Yes, yes, just wait till git little
n ths smut off my hands and neck.
It's been powerful hot, dusty day."
Caspar trotted through the little barn
Allotted to him, hailed his old wife, who
Bat ready to pour his tea, and after
blowing and plunging through a deal of
water, returned TO his family with shin
ing countenance and handful of
Enions.
al jist pulled these up for a relish.
They're cooling, ingens is. You tended
Mat ingen.bed, didn't you, Madgie ~
"Grandma and l."
And we wanted some of them in.
gems for market" said the old wife,
syeing the sacrifice severely. Z" We
amt got no ground to throw away raisin'
lnxurles for ourselves"
"Well, well, mother, pleaded Caspar,
dipping his fragrant sphere in salt, "
aon't calk'late to pull 'em all. ! jist
shnted somethin' refreshin' after hard