Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-10-03

1
A fortnight after that Marion Gle
ments ate her breakfast alone, the trace
OF tear or so on her pink cheek the
she dashed them away with merry
joyous little laugh.
This will never do, and now tina
George has gone for six weeks, to pre-
pare for his return. And pray Heavel
it shall be such coming as shall de
light his very soul"
"Tm sure 1 don't know what to saw
The land knows l need help bat
enough, but it pears to me such slen
der little midget as you couldn't earn
your salt. What did you say your nam,
was 7''
"Mary Smith. And indeed If vol
will try me for week, AIN sure vol
will keep me till the seasons over"
Mrs. Clements looked out of the win
dow at the great clouds that were pillns
gloomily up; and then the wind gave 3
great wailing shrek around the corners
of the house.
"You can cook, ken you? or shake
up feather beds-gcod big ones, forty
pounders?"
A gleeful little laugh came from
Mary's lips.
g Indeed I can. 1 may not cook to
suit you, but l can learn"
Mrs. Clements walked out in the
large open fireplace 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 snow storm been a 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 sun.
per-"
Then followed directions to the west
garrett, and when she was gone, Mrs.
Clements turned to the Deacon
s. | nevers saw 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
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 a neat, silent way, that
was perfect bliss to Mrs. Clements ears.
"She's determined to earn her bread
anyhow; and like her turn too"
And the Deacon had "taken a shipen
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 a true, housewifely
manner, and now Mary and Mrs.
Clements were sitting in the sunny
dlnlng-room, darning, patching, and
mending.
g don't know what I am going to do
without you, Mary. | dread to see YOU
pack up your Clothes"
A blush of pleasure oyerspread Mary's
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 cal
I've seen this many day. As l 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.
"It's 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 a son? You never men
toned him."
"No, George has gone his way and
we must go ours. Yes, he married
one of those crack-headed boarding
school people, who can't tell the dit
ference between a rolling-pin and
But despite her scorn, Mrs. Clements
dashed off the tears with her brown
list.
sis his wife pretty? I suppose you
owe her dearly"
don't know anything about her,
md never want to know. He's left us
or her, and US old folks will leave him
or 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 |
IF her chair.
"Mary, supposin' you stop on with us |
mother month yet, anyhow. The Dea-
con will make it all right"
+" 1t isn't the money l care for, Mrs.
Clements. l only wish l might stay al |
ways. You don't know how much 1 |
owe YOU"
"Love us dc you? 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"
She sighed YEARLY, then glanced out
Of the win dow, looked moment and |
then threw down her work.
Bless my soul, if there amt our son |