Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-06-27


she had to spare to get the claim re-estab-
lshed. The old farmhouse where she
lived had only few rather unproductive
acres attached to it, and was heavily |
mortgaged, Hetty had depended upon
the pension to keep down the interest;
and now there was bleak, homeless
prospect staring her and her little brood
in the face. But all the time she knew
she should be wonderfully helped through |
her troubles. The thought Of Aleck Gay
great, generous-hearted fellow who
had loved her faithfully long years. came
like warm, sweet suffusion, and burned
upon her cheek in hidden blush. lletty
suspected this feeling was temptation in
disguise, for she knew the devil has avery
ungentlemanly way of taking advantage
of woman's weak back and tired feet.
Near Hetty's house was an ugly, steep
hill, with more pitches and shelving banks
than any other in half days journey.
That same afternoon, which was lowering
and overcast, an old man in tow frock
was guiding q pair of oxen down Long
Hill. When about halfway to the bottom
his streaming old eyes took note OF some
thing ahead which looked like the detach-
ed wheels and body of yellow sulky.
His slow senses had scarcely made this
observation when he came upon man,
hatless, and with torn coat, lying among
some loose stones little under the bank.
"Why, du tell, if it amt Aleck Gay !"
cts me, sure enough" groaned Aleck.
"That beast of mine ran away and smash
ed the sulky to shivers. 1 hope he has
broken his COMPOUNDED neck. My ankle is
sprained and l have hurt my arm, and
there are some scratches on my face, but
| hope my bones are all right. Come,
daddy, give me lift as far as widow Hen
derson's, and on your way home you may
stop at the doctors.
Hetty had just put down little Jane,
after bad coughing fit, when there came
confused and ominous sound from the
front porch, She ran to the door, and
throwing it open, called out, in tone Of
despair, "What has happened now"
ats me, Hetty," Aleck answered, as he
was being helped in. 81 met with an
accident near here, and am pretty well
knocked to pieces, and thought, seeing
how it is, you would not refuse to take me
in"
Hetty reeled back against the side Of
the passage-way without speaking, and
turned very pale. Aleck saw the look,
and it made his heart leap up in his
throat, although he was suffering consid-
cradle pain. Soon the patient was sitting
bolstered up in rocking chair, wrapped
in blanket, with his hurt foot on a
cushion, and pillows about him. Arnica,
camphor, lint, and bandNges were quickly
brought Hetty washed the blood from
his forehead with q very tender touch.
"Aleck," inquired she, sympatheticalIy,
4" don't you think it would do you good to
have a plaster on these cutsl"
"No," said Aleck, giving a prodigious
groan, sit amt worth while. Only if you
would stand there and hold your hand on
my head few minutes, it would draw
better than any plaster in the world"
"You need something warming to take
inwlrdly, Aleck. | am afraid you will
get exhausted and faint away"
No"-and he gave another profound
sigh-"but if you'll sit down there, where
/ can look at you handy, it will do me
more good than Doctors stuff"
Hetty sat down accordingly, and as the
pity grew in her face, hope rose in the
breast of Aleck.
"Do you think your leg is broken
Aleck, am so sorry for your sufferings
The pain must be intense"
at is pretty bad" answered Aleck
evasively, "and I can't tell just what ha
happened until the doctor comes. I've {
notion it's mostly internal. There il
} something wrong here" and he put hi
hand conspicuously over his heart 6
don't know but Pm going to pieces. Ont
thing is certain never shall ride in tina
yellow sulky again. 1t may be all da.
with me - and then came another dread
, full groan. Hetty'-after a little paus
-" don't you think you could reconcile i
with your sense of duty to take pity OIL
| me? You accept misfortunes so beauti
, fully, IIetty: now 1 have become-a-
, kind of misfortune, couldn't you accep
J mel"
eff can do you good" said IIetty, il
weak voice. at would seem almos
providentially pointed out. Who know
but this may prove Il means of savint
grace?"
cit wil2" cried Aleck, in ecstasy. II
quite forgot to groan, and with his SCUM,
arm he clasped her waist. " lIetty, Go
! helping me, this shall prove the best thin
, that ever happened to YOU