Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-01-04

so very long"
Marion was eating her egg while she
spoke across the cozy little tete-a-tete
breakfast table.
"Spoken like my true little Marion !;
and when come back I'll bring you
present. What shall it be ?'
Your mother and father from the
farm. 1t shall be that hope that will
bear me company while you are gone"
4 fortnight after that Marion Glenn
ents ate her breakfast alone. the traces
of tear or SO on her pink cheeks !;
then she dashed them away, with q
merry joyous laugh.
This will never do, and now that
George has gone for six weeks, to pre-
pare for his return. And pray Heaven
it may be such coming home as shall
delight his very soul"
"I'm sure / don't know what to
say. The land knows need help bad
enough but it pears to me such a
slender little midget as you couldn't
airn your salt. What dye say your
name was ?"
Mary Smith. And indeed, if you
will try me for only a week, Pm sure
you will keep me till the season is
over"
Mrs. Clements looked out of the win
dow at the gray clouds that were piling
gloomily up; and then the wind gave
great wailing shrek around the corners
of the house.
"You can't cook, ken you or shake
up feather bed-good big ones, forty
Founders ?'
A gleeful little laugh came from Mary's
lips.
"Indeed 1 can. 1 may not cook to
Won b11t 7 oan 1aarT ~
Mrs. Clements walked to the huge
open fireplace in the kitchen, where the
Deacon was shelling corn.
"What dye say, Deacon? Keep her,
or not? kind O. like her looks, and
the dear knows it 'ud be a good lift while
we're killin', if she couldn't do more'n
set the table or make the mush for the
bread"
"Take her, of course, Hammer. You
are hard driven, know. Let her stop
woe elk 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 brewln'
these three days, and it's onto us now,
sure enough. See them ERE flakes, fine
and thick. That's sure sign it'll last
good while. You may as well take your
things up stairs in 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:
al never sass girl afore I'd trust up
my stairs alone. But such as her don't
steal; 1 ken tell you that if nothing
else"
Directly she came down in her neat
purple print dress and big white apron !;
her hair brushed off her face into a net /;
narrow linen collar, fastened with a
sailors loop of narrow black ribbon.
It seemed as if she had lived there all
her life, SO handily she fitted in and
out the big pantry, into the buttery,
| and then down the cellar.
Then, after the meal, she gathered
the dishes in neat, silent way, that
was perfect bliss to Mrs. Clements eyes.
"She's determined to earn her bread
anyhow and like her turn, too"
And the Deacon knew his wife had
taken shine'' to Mary Smith.
One by one the days wore on; the
" hog-killin' was over and done long
strings of sausages hung in fantastic
rings, arranged by Mary's deft fingers,
sweet hams and shoulders were piled
away in true housewifely order; and
now Mary and Mrs. Clements were sit
ting in the great sunny dining-room
darning, patching and mending.
/ don't know whatever I'm goin' to
do without you, Mary. I dread to see
you pack up your Clothes"
| A blush of pleasure spread over the
| girls face.
"I am SO glad you have have been
suited with my work. Indeed, have
tried"
at amt the work altogether, though
goodness knows you're the snlartest gal
I've seen this many a day. AS I said, it
amt the work-it's you, Mary. I've got
to thinking sight of you-me and the
deacon"
Mary's lip trembled at the kindness
in the old lady's voice, but she sewed
rapidly on.
s'TSs been uncommon lonesome-like
since the boy left the farm; but it's
worse since he got married. 1t seems
like deserting us altogether
"Have you a son? You never men
toned him."
"No; George has got his way. and
we must go ours. Yes; he married one
O. those cracked headed boarding school
people who can't tell the difference be-
tween a rolling-pin and a milk-pan."
But despite her scorn Mrs. Clements
dashed off some tears with her brown
fist.
"Is his wife pretty? 1 suppose yor
love her dearly"
"I don't know nothin' about her, anC
don't want to know. He's left us fol
her, and us old folks'll leave him for he
too. Mary, just turn them cakes around
seems they're burning"
When Mary returned Mrs. Clement
was leaning on the back of her chair.
Mary, supposin' you stop with u
another month yet, anyhow The Dea
con III make it all right"
{" 1t isn't the money 1 care for, Mrs
Clement. 1 only wish might stay al
; ways. You don't know how much
love you.'
: Glove us, do your Bless your heart
If poor George had only picked you Out
| what comfort it would be to us all
but it can't be helped now."
7 She sighed YEARLY, then glanced ou
of the window, looked a moment, the
e threw down her work.
"Bless my soul, if there amt ou
George comm up the lanel Deacon
i Deacon, George is coming ~
And all her mother love rushing t
e her heart, she hurried out to meet him