The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-09-18
MARTHA.

WOAAou WIZ W00 AuOWA %
"Martha,' - and who was !. convalesoent.
she had been serioualy1ll with com.
bination Of disorders, but there had now
commenced one of those gradual and
prot1aoted zecoeeries that arc 50 ex-
haiuastive liati Of the p,tianee Of friends.
"Whsn they thought I va. going to
the next world" reflected the sick
woman, with . smile, 'they came to see
me; but, now that it is clear that l am
to remain in this, they forget even to
ask for me, and I am left alone.
The effect of ! prolonged .brooding'
upon this text: Wa to arouse in her
81 .:{ %.@:t; g. ::
AS ,he l.y With Her white face turn
ed upward toward the ceiling, and With
her eyes closed, her arms extended, aud
her thin fingers spread apart 50 that
they might feel the cooling air the bet"
ter, she inwardly communed with her.
self:
II must do something" thought
she ;"I must stir; I must arouse N.Y.
self I must get out Of this sloth and
inactivity i; I must be somebody. Let
me look at myself fairly. I should like
to be married, but there seems to be
nobody to marry me. Before they cut
off my hair, I used to curl it, which
made me little haudsomer but, now
that cannot do that, I must be pretty
ugly. Besides that, I an thirty.6ve
years old ; my cheeks have become
thin, and I should not be surprised if
my skin were left with a disagreeable
redness: No, let me think no more
about marriage. Now, l have an in
come Of three hundred dollars each
ye.r, wh1oh is aot half enough for one,
and ny brother Shares ii with me. To
be sure, ii enables NE to b.yet' i roof,
but the roof leaks; il gives me 1 dress
or two, but they are Of calico; it pays
for a fair quantity Of food, but the meat
is coarse, and. the vegetables are very
cheap. My house is spelling for want
Of paint, but I cannot afford to paint
it; my garden is full Of weeds, but I
cannot pay to have them pulled up.
Therefore, l am going backward. My
brother is sportsman, like Rip Van
Winkle; and, like Rip Van Winkle,
be does not shoot any thing. I am in
debt to my doctor, and in debt to my
curse; and still, with all of these
troubles, I have desire to be more
useful and important than 1 am. Per.
,haps I am going mad"
She listened; somebody was COM
ing. =;
There entered heavy, broad.should'
cred man, roughly dressed and roughly
conducted. His psntaloons were rolled
up to the top. Of. his boots, biz ooarst
coat was covered with soil and dragged
At the pockets, and he had. . bluisl
scarf about his. neck. His, face wa'
heavy and ill-n.tured, and his long hail
was pushed up like = crest, and, made
him look fierce and combative. In Re
pose, his face was disagree.ble; but il
was when he attempted to smile that ii
most sinister expression manifested il
self: With him, to Be gracious. xaa Il
BE- supremely ugly, and, in the pres
ent instance; he seemed specially ben
upon showing an emiable temper.
He placed his broad hand upon th'
dearest bed-post; and asked, With inter
ct, in . loud voice.: -. .r:.- =: .s~~r.
,f< swell, and how air ye nov, sister p
The invalid opened her eyes with
! that timid flicker of the lids which i
compelled bv sudden light, and replied
| in 4 whisper
"Much better, Jared, much better
"Good !" calculated the man, with 81
much emphasis that he mado the be-
tremble; "1'm glad Of it." After = mo
ment's silence, during which the sicl
woman closed her eyes again, he oh
served !: II don't know but I'll go int
the woods after = few birds. They tel
me they've pretty thick over on tn
other side Of the hills, and per'aps
little deroate meat to stuff ia you
mouth wouldn't bsso bad: 1've know
ed the time when I'd have ralished tn
ribs Of . gr,y' squirrel, and the bre.,
Of ). qu.il, MYSELF It's been r,inir
desp,1, hard, and I'm going to Try
pretty tang1e bit Of goupd just aiaroun
liz spur Of The mountain '' Mebbe T.
stay out all night, and mebbe I won
1 can't tell exactly just now. It d.
4 ponds . great deal on the luck I hav'
and the weather |: meet. Nov, T.,
dreadful mistrustful Of that powder
the horn out there its been bougl
for . month, and I guess that . leet
damp must have erep;' ; in., s'pose
went down to the village to lay in
stock, pound Or 80, might r.!
eyes," responded the sick woms
! sdding invardly, '"nowI be will ,,k +
wbats IL really 'does want" E4":2