The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-12-06
AARD TIMES.
BY AUGUSTUS LARNED.

if she did enjoy misery, and she had
no intention of letting Mrs. Henslow
know that the family lived on can
allie bread.
Obed had been kicked in the chest
by Black Bill, who was trying to run
with the cart, and now he lay on the
bed IN the family bedroom, and Sa-
lone was with him. Mrs. Fairman
had told the men folks, more than q
hundred times, that they ought TO
sell Black Bill; but she was not any
body to be considered, and no heed
was paid to what she said. There
was one satisfaction though: things
had turned out exactly as she pre-
dicted they would, aud that was the
worst possible.
Now she stepped away from tho
stove where she had been carefully
covering up the little gray loaves
with crash towel, she glanced out Of
the window at the spring pastures
that were perishing for the want of
ram, and where the cattle could
scarcely get mouthiul; and beyond
to the hard-looking plowed fields that
showed only the iaintest glimmer of
blue green. oats. The wells were
giving out, and springs that never be-
fore had been known TO fail.
Mrs. Fairman face had n cut-water
outline. 1t was rheumy and pinched
in at the nostrils, aud tucked down at
the corners of the mouth. Now, as
she looked ut the cold, black, brown
fields taken in connection with the
canaille loaves behind the stove, it
seemed plain TO her mind that there
was very judgment upon them; and
in somewhat vague way she con-
nected the judgment with Ubed, "who
had never been under conviction since
she married him." aud who had sell
dom stepped his foot into the meet
ing house at the Corners. She had
read i'll the newspapers that the
drouth extended over the whole of
New England, and large portion OF
the Western States; but IL did not
| occur TO her that Providence was 20
ing considerably out of the way TO
punish Obed for his obsiinacy and
spiritual blindness.
a man had ridden early in the
morning over from Salisbury, with
Whtcomb's bill, and had threatened
to levy on some OF the farm impli-
ments, and order sheriff sale unless
it was paid III ten days Mrs. Fair
man knew that Obe,l was - drained
of money, and the prospect Of being
sold out of house and home, = thing
she had so often predicted would hap
pen, seemed dismaliy near.
Miss Henslow lived across the road
in little house that appeared 10 be
always in the sulks. Now she left
her goose heating, and took section
of Deacon Broderip's coat over her
arm, with her big tailors's shears at
her side, and went, STOPPING. across
the way. She had q crooked back,
and hooked nose. with mouth that
hid itself i'll the big cavity of her face,
and which, some way, gave one the
impression of a gigantic owl She ap-
peared to have three-story throat,
and to speak out of the basement
door. She stepped over one Salome's S
flower beds, where the sturtioDs'
could not push their heads through
the caked soil, and she gave sharp
peck on the window pane with her
steel thimble.
Il got the fidgcts setting alone, y
she began, as Mrs. Fairman admitted
her, and settled down and let her poke
bonnet fall back, showing a ring o.
snuffy brown hair on each side of her
face, done up with big pin, "You
see | dreamed of rats last night, anC
it's always bud sign. The last tim,
1t happened was just before Aun
Debby Strong died. Seth Barnaby
and his cousin went up to watch thc
last night, and they said Miss Pratt
who'd been hired to stay there, Sc,
the scantiest supper ever was. DID
you hear about Hiram Walkers wife
She was Aunt Debby's niece, and il
coming into the property; and just a
soon as she got back from the grave
she went to counting over the
things, and what do you think ther'
was six of the old lady's best sheet
gone"
"Dear me-" said Mrs. Fairman, com
ing out of the buttery with her apron
half full of dried applies, "these are
solemn times"
The expression had great force, al
though it was little uncertain whethe
it applied to Aunt Debby's sheets o.
to things in general.
Il guess they may be-" croaket
Miss Henslow, suspending the opera
tion of parting one of the seams o
Deacon Broderip's coat. "It looks a
though there wouldn't be spear 0
grain raised this season; and there
Dave Blodgett, one of them Miller
J ites-second adventers they cal
f misunderstanding the wored's goinl
to be burnt this year, on account O
the big horn and the little horn in th
e book of Daniel. 1 asked if h
wouldn't get me to make his ascen
sion robe, for 1 thought if he didn't
come out straight in bis calculations
L might as well have the job"
Salome stepped out of the bedroom
with great bowl in her had. Sh
was tall girl, with light hair jus
turning a little on gold. 1t ha'
: slipped out of its braid, and was hang
ing against her white neck.
u "What a mob of hair LONE ha
). got" said Miss Henslow, when sh
Il had gone back into the bedroom.
!. !. notice that weakly girls are apt to ru
to hair"
@Saloma amt rnnoed that's Ger