Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-23

grew more like his good-natured self than
he had been for twenty-four hours. The
defiant, indignant. disappointed expires
sion of those little dirty faces was irrcsist-
ible. Garlic protested stou1y when the
strong hand began to demolish her work ;
but Tom pusuadcd and explained, and the
final promise of a ride in the cart when he
rolled it back up the lane, effected salts
factory capitalization
The toll-gate diseased Of, Toms next
move was to follow his horse, and he
speedily discovered that the wise animal
had not taken the trouble to &c home, but
had stopped nearer by, at 4 place where
he had frequently been allowed to make
himself quite at home. He had been rec
ognized at once; and saddled and bridled,
but riderless. awakened suspicious of evil.
The trio of women had gathered about
him in the yard. Aunt Polly, with hands
dripping from the suds, Aunt Becky lean
ing upon her cruieb, and Maggie pale and
trembling, when Tom arrived upon the
scene.
Since he was prevented from making
Journey to far-off lands. and leaving long
chapters for misunderstanding, suspense
and adventures, he should according TO all
precedent, have broken u limb in falling
from his horse, SO that he could have been
carried into the house, and have had q
gradual reconciliation through slow, deli
cious convalescence--;l mixture of roses
and cream toast.
But he had boyish propensity for fall
ing right side up, and there was nothing
at all the matter except the rent in his
coat. Aunt Polly noticed torn garment
before his brief explanation was ended.
and in the kindness of her heart insisted
that it should come in for repairs. ''Shc
was washing, to be sure, and Becky was
no great hand with any needle but knit
ting needles, but Maggie could do it as
slick as you please The owner assented
with alacrity. ait did look rather badly
to wear through the viiage-if it wouldn't
he too much trouble to just put Il stitch in
it..
He watched the color come back into
the face bent so steadily over that piece of
darning; watched the white fingers busy
with their task and remarked significantly j:
what u talent you have for making
things right again
After other people have III. j. them
crooked" added Maggie promp...
Il don't think those threads :, il show
that they were ever separated.
Maggie Nouchsated no reply To tnat,
and he looked on in silence = w minutes
longer.
There the breach is nearly healed"
Quite" she said, clipping her thread.
us 1t ?" he asked SO suddenly that sl
looked up, and then his eyes would have
an answer, and she couldn't keep he
heart ont of hers.
SO that was the end Of it--a long stor,
cut short in the commonplace way.
And Polly absolutely left the world II
large to take care of itself for several sue
cessive wash-days while she planned Mag
gie's outfit Tom never went to Arizona
at all, but kept his place in the village
store, and goes home to a coy little nest
at night. where Maggie meets him at the
door and receives u double cntrance-fee,
because he says he shall owe that to all
toll gates his life through. And Maggie
thinks, with a throb OF thanktulness, how
well it is that Il ,cnderer Hand than our
own willful one guides our dcstinies.
Yes, they are simple souls and better sat
isfied with their humdrum happiness than
with the most poetic misery but alas fol
their biographer and the ruined volume!
-Scribners for May.