Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-05-02

lounge, and a variety ofsplint-bottomec
chairs with gay patchwork cushions
In the pleasant corner, by the soutf
| window, where there came watts of the
fragrance that is always floating abou
in summertime, and the speckled shade
of boughs and hum of bees and song O
birds, stood Hetty's sewing-machine
1t was bright and polished, and looked
almost alive-as if it could go alone
Aleck went over where it was, and sal
down in the big rocking-chair, and laio
his hand on the case. He touched il
with reverence, as if he would have
liked to get down on his knees and
kiss the very treadle. There was a
kind of poetry about the mechanism
in his eyes, for he knew all the brave
patient work it had performed, and the
thouqht was too much for him.
"Confound it, Hetty ~ he broke forth
as Mrs. Henderson stepped from the
bedroom, &c don't know how Pm going
to stand it to have you work as you do
You understand how it has been with
me ever since we were children together.
1 wouldn't speak until year after poor
Wills DEATH"
Hetty turned and gave him plead
ing look.
Forgive me-" said he, penitent to
the very toes of his big boots. Pm an
awkward, clumsy fellow, Hetty, and
! it's Just like me to tread on a flower
when would give my right hand to
save it. But you know how have al
ways felt since we went to school to-
gether and ate out of thes luncheon
basket, and gathered nuts and wild
cherries for you in summer, and drag
| ged you up hill on my sled in winter.
| There came time, Hetty, when you
told me you could not love me, and
never blamed you for taking Will. He
was worthier, far worthier, than I.
tried hard not to envy him, even when
it was the worst with me, and don't
say but what did enjoy life some. Pm
no hypocrite, Hetty," he went on; hum
bly,, "and wrong word will slip out
sorry for it, Hetty. 1 wish 1 was bet
ter man, and know that you could
make me one. don't make professions,
and never have signed temperance
pledge, because think mans charac-
ter is pledge enough against his MAX
ing beast of himself. The pharisees
call me hard names, for mans repu-
tation is blasted in this community if
he uses check-Iein and occasionally
takes glass of hard cider. If don't
make any pretense to piety, Pm
straighter in my business dealings than
some round here that do"
Hetty did not like this kind of talk
and her face showed it. The soitness
departed, and a look of decision and
character came in its stead.
f" You can't clear your own skirts"
said she with little asperity, by
throwing blame on professors of religion.
If you do see mote in your neighbor's s
eye, that isn't going to pluck the beam
out of your own eye"
Aleck saw he had upset his own dish,
and inwardly groaned. al didn't mean
that, Hetty," he broke out. "I know
I'm miserable sinner. There was a
time when thought / should be lost.
1t was after poor Will was shot in the
battle of the Wilderness, and you were
left to struggle on alone, and 1 saw your
white face before me, and I was almost
crazy. But after year or two, it seemed
to me, 1 might-begin to hope. 1 Thought
home, and keep trouble and want
away, and just live and breathe to make
you happy, until felt sure you could
save me from selfshness and make me
new creature"
Aleck saw little flicker in Hetty's
face, and it induced him to go on in a
more impassioned strain of pleading.
81 sometimes have thought, Hetty,"
said he, "that my love for you is kind
of religious. 1 can't see God, but can
see his goodness shining in your eyes.
There's many a man around here who
expects to get to heaven on the strength
of his wife's prayers. If 1 was hard
pushed to say what there is in me that
| deserves heaven, / should have to con-
| fess there's nothing but my constant
love for the best woman in the world.
If my heart was laid open to your pure
| eyes, you would see how all that is good
and honest in me goes out toward you.
| Oh, Hetty, some folks can steer right
along toward heaven of themselves !;
they are strong and full of faith.
| Other folks must have something to
catch hold of. 1t may be little child s
hand, or woman's heart, but it is a
very real thing; and tell you what it
is, Hetty, do believe you could tow me
right along into glory" =. -
sAleck was not quite gentleman, not
very refined; but the yearning, the
passion, the faith of the man wrought
upon his face and made it noble. Hetty
would have been less than woman had
she remained unmoved. ~.
You do wrong, Aleck," said she
gently, "to put poor, erring, weak
Cl OdloIC III CAO PAoNO vi VIC OAC1SOA.
Be careful that you do not grieve away
the Spirit of God. Your heart is set on
the things of this world, I fear, and it
is your duty to wait more faithfully on
the means of grace"
az will do any thing on earth you
want me to, Hetty," Aleck responded,
with alacrity. "I'n go to meeting
every Sunday if you'll let me sit beside
you, and look over the same hymn.
book. Ding it all, I'll turn missionary
to the cannibals. if you will, and go off
to Injy, or any other place where they
eat human beefsteaks. 1 could go to
Jail with you, Hetty, and think myself
a happy man.
"You make light of serious things
said Hetty, very gravely, taking up the
hem of her apron, and putting it to-
gether in little folds. Then she hap
pened to glance out of the window al
the yellow-wheeled sulky, which was
abominable in her eyes. Alexis sorrel
horse was backing in the fills, impatient
for the appearance of his master. awe
don't think alike, Aleck," she con
tinued, looking down at red stripe in
the carpet; "and 1 fear we shall never
agree on the most important things
know how large and generous you
heart is and Drize its worth hIlt I car