The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-02-05
MISCELLANY.
HER TWo HANDS.

As4aE AkhLt AV0 aAV0os $50
Old Casper came home about sunset. His
pick was on his shoulder; so was his old wool
hat, for he thrust it far back from his wrinkled
front. Casper had a bend, as if he had been
half persuaded these many years to go on
hands and knees again, so heavily times sat
on his back, and SO close to the earth did his
daily labor draw him.
He was a good7natured, trotting old fellow,
working his mouth eagerly, and straining his
bleared eyes, as he approached the towns
draggled skirts, for very thinking of his
folks--his old woman and his little gal
There were rows of dismal frame huts all
around, built by railroad companies for the
purpose of penning as many of their employees
families at time as possible. They repose
gloomy and barn like, squat on that sandy
foundation which scripture condemns, swarm
ing with legions of tallow headed children.
Women, sharp at the elbows, and sharper at
the face, were raising clouds of pork smoke
from their respective kitchen affairs. In fact,
the whole neighborhood reeked with the smell
of grease, and the evening was so warm
Laplandcr might have resented it. But Cas-
per's noise was not delicate. He trotted over
the cinder sidewalk nodding this way and
that glad there was such a fine air, and that
his old bones were so near home.
s'Thar' S the lttlegal, as usual" he chuckled
as he turned corner and found Madgie on
ing sign to see in that neighborhood, so tidy
and fair in calico and braids and the pink
flesh color of youth. You wondered why she
had been no further up town, and draped in
something costly why her def fingers had
never learned there were ten keys to unlock a
soul which slumbers in rosewood, and which
rises ata touch, like some blessed genii, to
comfort all ills and fill all thoughts; you won
dered why some high bred father was not COM
ing home to her now. But then this old man
would have found it so hard to do without
her. Then, too, Madge might never in her
life have struck the royal heart which was now
in her hands, which she held her bank against
the only income which she wanted.
"There you are, grandpa!" cried Madge
eyes, and there you are Madge and here
we both are Madge!" entering the open rate
and casting down his pick e = /, ..s.s -, ., p
He put his hands on both sides Of her head
and gave her sounding smack on the check.
"Suppers ready
eyes, yes just wait until git a little of
the smut off my hands and neck. It's been a
powerful hot, dusty day."
Casper trotted through the little barn allotted
to him, hailed his old wife, who sat ready to
pour his tea, and after blowing and plunging
througlia deal Of water, returned to his family
onions.
~ .iist pulled these up for relish. They're
cooling, ingens is. You tended that ingen bed,
didn't you, Madge?"
"Grandma and u
"And we wanted some of those ingens for
market, "ssaid the old wife, cycling the sacrifice
severely. 1--WE amt got no ground to throw
away, raisin' luxtIries for ourselves"
"Well, well, mother" pleaded Casper, dip
ping his fragrant sphere in salt, 81 don't
calk late to pull 'em all. / jist want some
thin refreshin' after a hard day. Taste 'em,
Madge," said he, insinuating the emerald tops
toward her. e
"Oh, no, grandpa, keep, 'em yourself"
shaking her head and smiling.
al feel,' rambled Casper, filling his senses
and his jaw with perfumed roots until blind
man would have pronounced him a Mexican,
if his nose had sat in Judgment over Casper,
II rally feel as if needed somethin' refresh
in, workin hard day after day for nothin',
you might say. Sort of seein' your work go
to pieces under your own eyes, and KNOWN
the danger to them ON the road"
"What do you mean, grandpaP" cried
Madge, turning white as her bread and butter.
"Why, honey, you see we've picked and
picked in that cut, and the siles as unsteady
as water. The stones and the earth just roll
on the track continerally. The company orto
do somethin' to that cut. Stones as big as
you are Jared down every train. But then
the roads new, the roads new yet"
"Men amt got no sense" broke in the old
wife. "Don't you see you're skeering that
child to death for fear Charley'll get mashed
up! He runs on that road - s.s ~
Two blades of keen remorse leaped from
Caspers bleared eyes.
"Now, don't you be skeered, honey. Take
an ingen, honey
He reached over to pat her flagcrs'