The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-02-22
Nov, Father"

Now, father they were only two
little words, but they We're set in soft
pleading tones, which have more weight
than score of arguments.
II know just wha: you mean. Esther v
exclaimed Jason Strong, as he slipped
his arm into his workman's 'overalls" that
spring morning, set in low, dull clouds :;
'but there's mouse wasting words between
US. 1t would be folly and madness for
US to think of adopting Widow Blake's
child, when its Just AS much as we can do
by screwin' and turnin' to put bread into
the mouths OF the three we've got at
home
No man has better will than mine :;
but when I'm laid up half the winter with
the rheumatic, and can't earn but seventy
cents a day on the best Jobs. its high time
to put down any notions about taking
other folks children, when the chances
are, our own'll have to scatter atore long "
lie was a large heavylimhed, stalwart
man she was a small, shrinking. gentle
faced and voiced woman. and now her
tones cnme up like minor KEY, after the
gruf, positive voice which half concealed
As honest and true heart as ever beat in
mans bosom
II know, Jason. its all true you've q
hard row to hoe, and it seems as YOU say.
a mighty tug to make two ends meet. and
take care of the children God has given
us, but don't believe He'll forget if we
remember the widow and the fatherless
in their atlliction; and what if it was little
Sis now ?'
Here Mr.. Strong raised the kew and
went energetically to winding up the
clock.
"l lou know" continued the little wo-
man. setting Il couple of chairs opposite
each other. and girtlling their backs with
a sken of blue wooden yarn. THAT the
doctor SAYS Mrs Blake eat stand it
more'n this week out and | tell vou,
Jason. it fairly broke me down when |
went in there last night, and little Min
MES golden head was shinin and a bob
bin around among the chairs whele she
was playin' Singin' school. till | could
think OF nothing but the buttercupI a
twinkling every May amongst the clover
and Mrs. Blake's ewes followed her with
longin' pityin' anxious looks. and then
turned upon me"
80, Mrs. Strong, whatll become Of
her 2' she said
"God'll take care Of her, Mrs. Blake -
"But sometimes | forget this. and then
il seems as if couldn't die in peace aud
leave her here, without a friend in the
wide world to look out for her and her
father sleepin' away off under the deep
waters, and her mother lying in little
corner of the village churchyard"
"Come, wife. come here interrupted
Strong, in quick, sharp voice. and he
| took out his pocket handkerchief and blew
his nose with a good deal of emphasis.
His wife did not observe it; she was in
tent uSt at that moment on shaping her
ball of yarn with her thumb and fore
finger
"Well, Jason, I haven't much more tc
say. for Mrs. Blake broke right down
here; and couldn't find a word to com
fort her, for something away down in my
heart kept a whispering: Suppose now
it was your little Wealthy -"
''lt would be dreadful though, wife,
that's a fact !" exclaimed the carpenter.
and he put one foot uneasily before the
other.
"And then, suppose Mrs. Blake stood
in our case ?"
20, mother, see now Jest what you're
comm to-" interrupted Mr.. Strong in g
II amt coming to any thing but this,
father, that we've got all Gods promises
on our side, and don't believe he's goin
to let US break down COS we took that
poor little motherless thing under our
root when she'd have to be put in the
poor-house. or among strangers that
would abuse her. tell you" and here
the tears flashed right out into the little
ans ~, f.
gathered new strength and fervor, "every
mouthfnl that eat would choke me, and
my pillow, when lay down on it at night
would be full Of thorns to me, thinking OF
that poor lamb among cold hearted, cruel
strangers"
Mr.. Strong muttered something which
sounded very much like ''woman's non
sense" but somehow the words didn't
get fairly out of his throat
Mrs. Strong went up to her husband,
and laid her hand on his arm, and the
pale face shown with something that was
finer than the lost beauty of its grhood
as she said, ''Now, father, there's no use
trying, you know you'll never let that
child suffer so long as you're got root
TO cover you or q crust to eat'
'Well, wife, take your own way
never was good at argnin' with women -
and the man turned abruptly, and went
out OF the house, ashamed to own that his
warm, true heart indorsed every word
his wife had spoken.
In minute, however, the kitchen door
opened again:
"Wife, say"
"Well, father"
You'd better go right over and tell
Mrs. Blake you're concluded to take the
child. It'll set her mind at rest like, and
Jest now she needs it enough"
'There, didn't see ?" murmured Mrs.
Strong to herself after the door closed :;
cts well l know how to get on the right
side of fathers heart"
"There now, Johnnie. don't Minnie
look pretty?" and Wealthy Strong turn
ed round the dainty little creature whose
golden head she had crowned with taste
ful wreath of white and pine wood bios
SONS.
Eyes, she does, that's TACT" answered
the very practical boy, as he slowly drew
in his tishing-line.
1t was a bright, still afternoon in the
early summer, and John Strong had
brought the two little girls over to the
pond, and while he hauled in with shouts
of triumph his prizes of pckerel and bass,
Wealthy had twined wreath of blossoms,
which she and Minnie had gathered in the
woods a little way off, and wound them
in the child's tresses.
The brother and sister were healthy,
robust look children, with the round limbs
and sun-browned faces which tell their