Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-08
HARD TINES.
BY AUGUSTA HARMED.


Bill, who MAS trying to run with the cart, and
nov he lay on the bed in the family bedroom,
and Salome WAS with him. Mrs. FairHan had
that they o uflat TO sell Hack Bill, but she was
not any body 10 be considered, and no heed was
son tsoaeS: s things had turned ont exactly as
she predicted they would, and tnat was the worst
possible. =
where she had been carefully covering UP the
Little gray leaves " th crash towel. she glanced
out Of the window as the spring pastures that
were perishing for the want of rain. and where
the cattle could scarcely get mouthful; and
beyond. TO the hard looking Hopghed fields that
showed only the faintest gfimmer of blue-green
fa ne segS I and to ,1s
Mrs. Fairman's face had a cut-water outline.
1t was TheuIny and pinched-in at the nostrIs.
Now, as she looked at the cold, bleak, brown.
fields. taken in connection with the canailly
loayes behind the stove, IL seemed plain To her
mind that there was judgment upon them, and
in a somewhat vague way, she connected the
Judgment with Obed, '.whO had never been
der conviction since she married him, . and who
had seldom stepped his loot into the meeting
house at the Corners. She hal read in the news
papers that the drought extended over the whole
"a New England, and a large portion Of the west
ldence Was going considerably out OF the way
10 punish Obed for his obstinancy and spiritual
blindness.
A man had ridden early in the morning over
from Salisbury, with WhiteOmbs bill. and had
threatened to levy on some OF the farm imple-
ments, and order a sherif's sale unless it was
paid in tendays. Mrs. FairmaQ knew that Obed
was drained of money, AMI the prospect of being
sold out of house and home, thing she had -
often predicted would happen, seemed dismally
near.
Mrs. Henslow Lived across the road, in little
house that appeared ~ be always in the sulks.
Now she left her goose heating, and took a sec
ton OF Deacon Broderip's coat over her arm,
with her big tailor's shears at her side. and went
STOPPING across the way. She had crooked
back and a hooked nose. with mouth that hid
itself IL the big cavity in her face, and which,
some way gave one the impression OF a gigantic
OWL She appeared to have a three-stOry throat,
stepped over one of salo,ne,s t,orer beds I where
the '.sturtions' could not push their heads
through the caked soil. and she gave a sharp
be. On the ~'na'"-pane with her steel '"'ln-
II got the fidgets setting alone she began.
rs Mrs Fairnsn admitted fer and settled dow
and let her poke bonnet fall back. showing
ring of snufy brown hair each side OF her face,
done mp with a big pin. .'fou see, dreamed
OF rats last night, and IT'S always a bad sign
The last time il happened was Just before Aunt
Debby Strong died. Seth Barnaby and his cou-
sin went up I'd watch the last night, and they
said Miss Pratt, who'd been hired 70 stay there,
set the seantiest supper ever was. Did you hear
about Hiram Walkers wife? She was Aunt
Debby's niece, and Is coming into the property;
She went to counting over the things. and what
do you think? There was six OF the old lady's
best sheets gone.'' .....
Ls<dI s3ld All man. coming OUT Oi
the buttery, with her apron fulfof dried apples,
The expression had great force, although it
was little uncertain whether il applied to Aunt
Debby's sheets, or To things in general.
81 guess they may be" croaked Mrs. Hens
i Ss saspen9ipg the Operation Of parting one Of
AZ though there wouldn't be a spear of grain
raised this season; and there's Dave Blodgett,
lthemselves-saying the worlds going to be
burnt up this year on account OF the big horn
and the little horn in the book of Daniel I
aske ss ne %oud d like to engage me to make
well have the job" -tEt.,-
great bowl In her hand. Size was a tall girl,
Sth light hair just turning aaittle on gold. 1t
had slipped ont Of its braid, and was hanging
"What a mop of hair LONE has got, said Miss
Henslow, when she had gone back into the bed
IooI1. 81 notice that weakly girls are apt to
''Salome amt rugged, that's certain" said
Mrs- FaIman, who was interrupted in her cal
culations as to whether she could squeeze out
was corning. .She aia't tough, and had to be
put 10 hard wosk before she got her growth. II
Sarah Jane didn't keep scheol to help along, 1
eoslld la< Salome putter round for year or two,
tor says there amt any thing chronic"
81 don't know about thai, !" broke in Miss
Hensiow. ''she looks to me Just like Sister
SUMPTION"
"fhere Ai3't no consumption in the family"
returned Mr.. Fairman, giving a snappish lit
tie JERK to the hand in which She held the bread
: "Wal. L d.du- 4 mean to scare Won. Mrs. Fair
man; but then it's always best to be prepared
Tor things a. tss= come along
IN never uIPrepared," returned the other.
dsmaiiy I've gone through om1ch, that il
seems a. though twas alwaysexpecting trouble;
and obed, he dom seem to sense things a. do.
Cont suppose It's 10 be expected. Religion is
Snfa ~
when II looks a. Ii sc all were going 10 starye,
aud the cows don't average more than two
quarts apiece, II See.-s great sin TO be making
jOke4-"
.'Leok there at Miss oAcres," said the tailor
ess- .Ain't she Stiff-necked?' / understand 10
comes here often after LONE.
lie comes 70 see the bows returned Mrs.
FaiTm2n. with some asperity.
Law. a young fellow can visit the BOYS and
squini toHard a girl az theSame time But I'll
Tell Won hat, the old lag won't like it if 10
means % play that game. feel il nv duty as a
friend TO let yOu know how tie land lays"
NIT. FairElan had finished coring her apples,
shd how she went TO the sink and began plying
tle nShdie OF the pump with sgSh igor that her
Slsnoot last words were fort IA ately lost Mrs.
a.ir nnieAieered her goose heating red hot
over nome, % she took herself and her voice
away, but not before she got a Ieep at the ca
naille bread under the crash towel: and that
90 oxer re- No STE s Ssno1gnt wa, her duty to
hoS straightened the Fairmans were.
10 Dacres, q brosl-shoulderej, lsfty young
INHO~ Win sfeat ktride, anu esecry loud
voice, vas just opening the gate Of TIE house
pace. it was the sauggest, best Kept farm in
ue neighborhood. SilsOn Daeres, the old man
va beforehand, and had MONEY laid up la the
pank, AMT n there n anything country-foiks 10
bank. " - wv ' ~ INV
Mrs. Daeres always regulated her affairs by
the almanac. and the LIST Of Nav the sitting
room stove was taken down. whether or no: and
now the house WAS chilly as a cellar with
clean smell about it OF whitewash and var.
hish. .I-s 90 - '
Mrs. Dacres was-waiting for the men folks 10
come TO dinner. She had blown the horn twice
out OF the back door, and the pork in the spider
was curling itself up into little. hard, bilious
looking scraps With enforced patience, she
same IN and sat down in the rocking chair with
- Puny leather cushion, and united her cap
s nss Sue was large woman, with q heavy
sLeaa ana double chin, and an immense TALENT
lor In her own person, she repre-
senssa .he hard-hearted ethics OF Durham, and
Of her neightors. - ~ INC" So"'o
"Obed Fairman has been kicked nv horse \
y, said 10, beraying a little hesitation
I'D his Tone THE hurt ISN'T dangerous, but 1