Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-09-18

"iiow Is she said sam, tying his
horse and the doctors, while the latter
went in.
well" said the Oldest man, will
deliberation, ''the wimmin's all thar
if that's any sign"
Each man on the log inclined his
slightly but positively tn the left, thus
manifesting belief that Sam had beer
correctly and sufficiently answered
sam himself seemed TO regard his in,
formation in about the same manner
suddenly the raw hide which formed
the door of Sans house was pushed
/ aside, and a woman came out and call.
cd sam, and he disappeared from his
log.
As he entered his hut all the women
| lifted sorrowful faces and retired no
one even fingered, for the Pike has not
the common human interest in other
peoples bus.ness-hc lacks that, as
well as certain similar virtues of civil
ization.
sam dropped by the bedside and
was human; his heart was ia the right
place, and, though heavily intrenched
by years of laziness and whiskey and
tobacco. it could be brought to the
front. and it came now.
The dying woman cast her eyes ap-
pealingly at the surgeon, and that
worthy stepped outside the door. Then
the yellow-faced woman said:
Sam, doctor says amt got much
time left
Mary" said sam, II wish ter God
| could die fur yer. The Children"
Its them | want to talk about,
SAM" replied his wife. "An' wish
they could die with me. rathern
hey EN- live ez I've he'd TO. Not that
you amt been a kind husband TO me,
Tor you hev. Whenever / wanted meat
yev got it somehow an when yev
been ugly drunk yev kept away from
the house. But I'm dyin', Sam, and
it's cos you've killed me-
''Good God, Mary" cried the as
tonished Sam, jumping up; yu're crazy
here, doctor"
doctor can't do no good, Sam !;
keep still and listen, ef yer love me
like yer once said yer did fur l hevn't
got much breath left," gasped the
woman.
MARY" said the aggrieyed Sam !;
Il swow TO God l dunno what yer
drivin' at
Its Jest this, SAM replied the wo-
..N snL falitn' ,-a'l
love me an honor me, an perfect me.
You mean to say now vet doao 'th,U8
to ask of nobody, an I'm telling the
truth, not KNOWN what word'll be my
last
Then tell a felIer where the KILN
came in, Mary, for heavens sake" said
the unhappy Sam.
Its come in all along. Sam, said
the woman. There is woman in
the States. so I've hcerd, that marries
fur home an bread an butter, but
YOU promised more'n that, Sam. An
I've waited, an it amt come. An
there's somethin' in me that's all
starved and cut 10 pieces. An it's
DOul ldull. sNalu. luh NCi lui DtbItI
or fur wuss, an I've never grumbled."
Il know yer haint. Mary" whispered
the conscience-stricken Pike. An |
know what yer mean. IF God'll only
let yer be fur few wears. I'll see ei
the thinL can't be helped. Don't cuss
me, Mary-Ive never knowed how I've
been a-goin' wish there was some
thing | could do fore you go, TO pay
yer all owe yer. I'd 90 back on
everything that makes life worth
hevin'.
Pay it to the children, SAM" said
the sick woman, raising herself in her
miserable bed. "Ill forgive yer every
thing if you'll do the right thing for
them. Do-do-evervthing." said
the woman. throwing up her arms and
falling backward. Her husbands arms
caught her his lips brought to her wan
face smile, which the grim visitor,
who an instant later stole her breath,
pityingly left in full possession of the
rightful Inheritance from which it had
been SO long excluded.
sam knelt for moment with his
face beside his wife-what he said or
did the Lord only knew, but the doc
tor, who was of speculative mind,
afterwards said that when Sam ap-
peared at the door he showed the first
Pike face in which he bad ever seen
any signs of soul.
/ sam went TO the sod house, where
| lived the oldest woman in the camp,
and briefly announced the end Of his
wife. Then, after some consultation
with the old woman, Sam rode to town
on one Of his horses, leading another.
He came back with but one horse and
large bundle and soon the women
were making for Mrs. Trotwine her
last earthly robe, and the first new one
she had worn for years. The mex,
day wagon brought coffin and q
minister, and the whole camp silently
and respectfully followed Mrs. Trot.
wine to a home with which she could
find no fault.
For three days all the male Pixies in
the camp sat on the log in front Of
Sans door and expressed their sym
pathy, as did three friends of Job
that is, they held their peace. But OF
the fourth their tongues were unloosed
AS conversationalist the Pike is mo-
a success, but Sans actions were Sc
unusual and utterly unheard Of that il
seemed as if even the stones must have
wondered and communed among them
selves.
IL never heard of such thing" sale
Brown Buck; she's gone an bough
new clothes for each of the four Young
'uns."
"Yes," said the patriarch of til,
camp, san this mornin', when l wen
down to the bank to soak my head
COS last nights liquor didn't agre
with it, 1 seed Sam with all his youn.
'uns as they wus awashin' their face
an hands with soap. They'll ketcI
| thax Aa.th o,A ha ~, <ho h;ll ,.,:.I