The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-11-13
NICK NEVINS' SIN!
BY MRS. A. NJ. FREEMAN, IN CHICAGO
''FIREsIDE FRIEND"

"The last dime is deposited; thank
heaven fer that" exclaimed Nick
Nevins, knocking the ashes from his
pipe and unfolding the evening paper.
"And the mortgage"-began his
wife Sallie. Nick took up the sem
tence and finished:
Will be lifted. Before to-moFroW's
sun goes down the danger that threat
ened to make US homeless will be
aVerted. We've worked hard, Sallie,
you and l; we've scrimped along
someway, the goodness only knows
how, but we've done 1t. We've saved
the old place; we've made home for
the children, aud now that we are
getting old, It's u comfort to know
that we may live and die here togeth-
er. The worlds been hard on us. It's
showed us about pretty roughly, but l
think, Sallie, with all it's unkindness,
we've managed to stow away consid-
cradle sunshine"
generous, that you'd have fair word
to say for the worst. / never was so
good. / haven't forgotten the winter
that Ruby died-hoW the cold crept
in and froze, first his limbs to numb
ness, then turned the darling's heart
to stone. I haven't forgotten that
there was no bread in our house to
eat, that there was no work to do, that
we could only stand by and see our
darlings die. I have laid this up
against the world, and the bitterness
of that hour is cruel now as memory
as it then was as reality. Even now,
when know that the money is safe
s.,k kIioh hoT + I,1A al
last days worry is over, / am expect
aside our good fortune" 81
Nonsense, Sallic, what can occur ?
Look herel Do you see this bit of pa
dred dollarsI Is it all cloud and no
sunshine when we've been enabled
out of our small earnings, to lay aside
the place was ours. There's a dim
ness in my eyes, a dancing of the let
ters over the pages, as though they
were running into one, kind of un-
steadiness creeping into the world
about me, trembling, which | s'pect
is mine more'n the worlds. l am
growing old, Sallie; from now on to
the end, with you and me, it must be
the down hill side of the road"
Nick Nevins rubbed his glasses
vigorously, while his wife Sallie
smoothed the cloth of spotless muslin
ever the we'll covered pine table.
There was q moments stiffness, only
the clock licked mournfully, with q
sound of ominous sharpness, as
though full of prophetic fears for the
future. Then came q gust of wind
ho cn inly N
spasmodically in broken quavers tbro
the cracks and crevices of Nick New
| ms well worn home. The loosened
clapboards flew about wildly, bits oil
shingles futtered to the ground
Truly this was not much of place,
but it was a poor mans home-more
to him than ever palace to king; for
if the palace be levelled TO the ground
grander one, but if Nick Nevins
left with which to build another.
Suddenly the wind died down to 8
breath. Nick Nevins threw up hi
hands and fell forward resting on hi
face.
"Nickl Nickl What is it Nick p
cried his wife, Sallie, lifting the
bowed head and looking down into
the careworn features.
1T is gone, all gonel" he gasped
pointing with trembling finger toward
the evening paper. sos
! "The good luck gettin' the money
has been too much for him." mur
INJURED Sallie. "Nick hasn't been owe
strong of late. When the strain tha
kept him up was over, he just willie,
right down. ] knowed all along hoy
) it would be-"