Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-02-08

1
the smiling mouth had acquired its
hard, firmly set expression, before there
were any wrinkles in the smooth fore
head. People thought Nabby had done
well in marrying Josiah Gould-a pleas
ant, good-natured young fellow that
every one liked; ay6ung mechanic, not
very rich yet, it is true; but, with
good trade and such wife as Nabby,
there seemed nothing to prevent his
figuring as "one of our first citizens"
Any body can be somebody in this
country if they are only determined.
But this was exactly the difficulty with
Josiah. He never was determined
about anything. He fell into the habit
of drinking because he lacked sufficient
strength of will to avoid it. Then Nab
by's sharp words, and his own miserable
sense Of meanness and self-contempt,
of utter Encouragement and despair,
drove him lower and lower, and he
sank down supinely into Slough of
Despond without effort or hope.
By beautiful dispensation of Provi-
dence, whenever a poor, shiftless, good
for-nothing man is sent into our world,
some active, go-ahead little woman is
invariably fastened to him to tow him
along through, and keep his head above
water. It's for the best, of course.
What would become of the poor fellow
without her? At the same time, she
sometimes finds it a little hard.
Nabby was ambitious and proud-spir-
tied, willing to work hard, to save, to
do her part-anXiOus to get on in the
world and stand well among the neigh
bors. The fact, gradually realized, that
in her husband she had no help, no sup
port, only drag and burden, and final
ly disgrace, had been disappOint-
ment embittering her whole nature.
To have husband that no one respec-
ted, that even the boys around town
called 81 Gould, was dreadful to Nabby.
Perhaps it was hardly strange that she
grew hard and bitter. .-...
Meantime Nabby had succeeded in
starting the fire, and having changed
her dress, sat down to dry her feet until
the tea kettle boiled. But even the
ruddy light and warmth with which the
kitchen now glowed could not fend off
the dreariness of the night. The rain
tapped with ghostly tinger-tip upon
the window-pane,' and the wind howled
and walled around the house like the
spirits of the lost pleading to be once
more taken back into human life and
warmth. Such wind stirs in even
the happiest heart vague sense of loss,
of change, of all that goes to make up
the unsatisfactoriness of life. Dead
sorrows creep forth from their graves
on such nights, and stalk up and
down the echoing chambers of the
heart.
Nabby could not-help wondering
where Josiah was to night. 1t was so
lonely sitting there with no one to speak
to, listening TO the moaning wind, the
creaking of the blinds, the loud ticking
of the clock.
'And Thanksgivin' a-comin', thought
Nabby. "A pretty Thanksgivin' / shall
have
The wind walled and walled, and
Nabby thought and thought. The very
fact of having freed her mind to the
squire had relieved her long pent up
Indignation, and now she felt more sad
than angry. Up before her seemed to
rise picture of her life; the youthful
dreams and hopes, the changes and dis
appointments, the love turned into
wrangling. She even thought of Jo-
siah with pity. For the first time she
put herself in his place. and realized
how almost impossible it was for one
of his weak nature to resist, unaided,
the temptation which would cost a
stronger will no effort.
I'm afraid I've been little too sharp
with JOSIAH thought she. I've sorter
took it for granted l was saint and he
sinner, and scolded him right along
down hill. A nice saint i am! As proud
and high strung as Lucifer himself!
Oh dear!' sighed Nabby "a pretty mess
I've made of living! If We could only
go back and begin over again, seems to
me things would go better
Just then there was faint noise like
the Sticking of the door-latch. Nabby
started and looked round. All was
still again--no one visible. Yet Nabby
could not rid herself of the impression
that some one was near her, that odd
sense we have of another's individuali-
ty near us though not present.
There's some one hangin' round here,
I know said she to herself.
Nabby was one who always met
things halfway. Accordingly, she
walked to the outside door, and opening
it quickly peered out into the darkness.
There stood Josiah-wet, sheepest, sor-
ry. Once he had started to go in, but his
courage failing, he fingered obviously
hesitating on the door step.
why don't you come in, Josiah"
said Nabby.
Il didn't know you d want me, Nab
BY replied Josiah, with all the meek
ness becoming returning prodigal.
want you? OF course 1 do said
Nabby, heartily. Come right along in.
Pm going to have griddle-cakes tor
supper, and you must tend them while
1 set the table, Griddle-cakes was one
of Josiah's weaknesses, and Nabby
knew it.
Josiah came in. If he ever gets into
heaven, probably his sensations will
not be one whit more delightful than
they were now, as from the bleakness
and gloom of the night, the forlornness
of his wretched wanderings, he came
into the cozy brightness of the kitchen,
and felt that he was home once more.
How good the tea smelled! The fire
roared and snapped, the tea-kettle boil
, ed and bubbled and bobbed its lid up
and down, and from the griddle the
savory odor of the cakes assended like
, a homely incense. Josiah's face, shi-
ming with mingled heat and happiness
! rs he turned the griddle-cake, was
| cooathipp p worth Seeinu
Nohhv stannaJ brisklv arounu getting