The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-10-04


ments ate her breakfast alone, the traces
of tear or SO on her pink cheek then
she dashed them away with a merry,
joyous little laugh.
"Thls will never do, and now that
George has gone for six weeks, to pre-
pare for his return. And pray Heaven
it shall be such a coming as shall de-
light his very soul"
"I'm sure | don't know what to say.
The land knows | need help bad
enough, but it pears 10 me such slen.
der little midget as you couldn't earn
your salt. What did you say your name
| was ?'
"Mary Smith. And indeed if you
will try me for a week, am sure you
will keep me till the seasons over"
Mrs. Clements looked out of the win
dow at the great clouds that were piling
gloomily up; and then the wind gave a
great wailing shrek around the corners
of the house.
"You can cook, ken you? or shake
up feather beds-good big ones, forty
Founders p
A gleeful little laugh came from
Mary's lips.
Indeed | can. l may not cook to
suit you, but can learn"
Mrs. Clements walked out in the
large open fire place in the kitchen
where the Deacon was Smelling corn.
- What dye say, Deacon keep her or
not? | kind o. like her looks, and the
dear knows it 'ud be good lift while
we're KILN, if she couldn't do more'n
set the table or make mush for the
bread"
Take her, of course, Hannah. You
are hard driv' know. Let her stop a
week or so anyhow" .
So Mrs. Clements came slowly back
and sat down again.
"You can't get away tonight, any.
how; there's a snow storm been brew
in these three days, and it's on us now,
sure enough. See them ere flakes, fine
and thick. You may as well take your
things up stairs to the west garrett, and
then come down and help me get sup.
per-"
Then followed directions to the west
garrett, and when she was gone, Mrs.
Clements turned to the Deacon
:" l never saw a girl before I'd trust up
stairs alone. But such as her don't
steal | can tell you that if nothing
else"
Directly she came down in a purple
print dress and white apron her hair
brushed off from her face into a net a
narrow linen collar, fastened with a
sailors hoop Of narrow black ribbon.
1t seemed as if she had life, too /;
handily she fitted in and out of the big
pantry and then down the cellar.
Then after the meal, she gathered
the dishes in neat, silent way, that
was perfect bliss to Mrs. Clements ears.
ashes determined to earn her bread
anyhow and like her turn too"
And the Deacon had "taken a shine"
to Mary Smith.
One by one the days wore on; the
hog killing was over and done long
strings of sausages were hung in fantas.
tic rings, arranged by Mary's deft
fingers sweet hams and shoulders
were piled away in true, housewifely
manner, and now Mary and Mrs.
Clements were sitting in the sunny
diningroom, darning, patching and
mending.
60 don't know what am going to do
without you, Mary. | dread to see you
pack up your clothes"
A blush of pleasure overspread Mary IS
| face.
~ am so glad you have been suited
with my work. Indeed I've tried"
1T amt the work altogether, though
goodness knows, you're the smartest gal
I've seen this many a day. As | say, it
amt the work, it's you, Mary. I've got
to thinking heap of you-me and the
| Deacon"
Mary's voice trembled at the kind.
ness of the old lady's voice, but she
sewed rapidly on.
"Its uncommon lonesome like
since the boy left the farm; but it's
worse yet since he got married. 1t
seems like deserving us altogether"
Have you SOM You never men
toned him."
"No, George has gone his way and
VIC must 60 ours. Yes, he married
one of those crack. headed boarding
school people, who can't tell the dit.
ference between rollingp pin and a
milk-pan
But despite her scorn, Mrs. Clements
dashed off the tears with her brown
fist.
"Is his wife pretty2 l suppose you
love her dearly"
" don't know anything about her,
and never want to know. He's left us
for her, and us old folks will leave him
for her too. Mary, just turn them
cakes around; seems as if they're burn.
ing"
When Mary had turned the cakes,
Mrs. Clements was leaning over the arm
of her chair
Mary, supposin' you stop on with us
another month yet, anyhow. The Dea-
con will make it all right"
" 1t isn't the money care for, Mrs.
Clements. | only wish might stay al.
ways. You don't know how much l
love YOU"
Love us do your Bless your heart.
lfpoor George had only pickle you out,
what comfort it would be to us all
But it can't be helped now"
She sighed YEARLY, then glanced out
OF the window, looked moment and
then threw down her work.
| 90 Rlaco ,,y ao,,l &c .Lo,o o,,r -,