Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-10-23

i
his parents mad been dead some year
" 1 was sad and wanted seclus ion. rem
:, ed the house in the city, refused m
guardians 8 offer of home in his FAM
ly, and moved to Farmdale. Book
music, a grand piano and many i'm
provements in furniture crept into th
homestead as year after year rolled b
and l was known as "learned lady
amongst the villagers of "Steele," th
little village, a mile from Farmdaie, ,wh
regarded my foreign literature and mu
sic as proofs of profound erudition.
will not deny that 1 was often Ions
ly and longed for companionship, ye
my life suited me, and had passed m
thirtieth birthday when Allison Fair
field came to Steele.
1t was Tuesdaymorning, when Marg
cry, coming home from the village, toll
me of the new people, the widow Fair
field and her daughter. =
s'She has rented the little cottage b,
the bridge. Miss Annie, where Mrs. Le'
Used to live, and put up paper sign il
the window for sewing. All me! it
little she'll make with needle at Steele
where they'd sew all night to save |
dollar, any of them.'' n
1 could not defend the village from
this accusation, knowing how fond of {
dollar, and how hard working its peo.
pie were, but said, aThere are al
those pillow-cascs and sheets, Margery.
claws me, Miss Annie, I'll find plen.
ty Of time for those" 'l
"But l think will have the pillow
cases refilled and trimmed, Margery.'
"There you CO." she answered; sal.
ways looking out for other folks. As IL
l couldn't see it's all to give the poor
woman chance. Well, go along for
an angel as you are!" f.
By which it will be seen Margery
rather over-estimated my merits, hab-
it she had from the time l could toddle
out, wee babe, to have my cup filled
at milking time.
drove out to the village in the after
noon in my little basket carriage, and
took the pillow-cases to the widow. 1t
was not long before she was tearfully
telling me her story, and 1 was drawing
my own conclusions.
Her husband had been literary man
and had spent most of his married life
in Europe, where four children young
er than Allison rested in their graves.
1t was evident that the dead husband
and father had been disappointed man,
Ambitious, and failing in his ambitions
alwas poor, always in debt, had return
ed to his own country to die of illness
brought on by despair. 1t was also evi-
dent that his wife was uneducated, fret
full, and repining, with the traces of a
long past prettiness upon her worn face
"Your little daughter,"I said, "has
been to my class in Sunday school. She
is in advance Of many older girls in BIZ
BILE knowledge"
"Her father spent hours every day
with Allison, y said Mrs. Fairfield
"teaching her everything. 1 sent her
to Sunday-school, but 1 suppose she'll
forget all she learned. She played well
too, but of course she can have no pi-
ano here.'
1 went home with my head full of
schemes. Surely, here was . good
work to be done. I knew that I was
competent to lead the child still along
the paths of knowledge her father had
opened to her, and my heart throbbed
quickly with pleasure at the thought of
young companionship in the lonely old
house. @ -'
The more 1 thought of it, the more
the idea pleased me, till felt impatient
for Sunday, to confirm my impressions
of the dssirabilify of the plan, ,or to
point opt any existing objection. " :
Sunday made me more anxious than
before to secure the sweet face for
Farmdale, and Monday morning I drove
again to the village. "
My plan was to propose to Mrs. Fair
field to come to Farmdale for q. few
months as resident seamstress, and to
offer to give Alison some instructions
each day, in part payment for her moth
er's services, in order to avoid any ap-
pearance of charity, that might wound
either. r3G 3i At
My offer was gladly accepted, and the
middle of the week found the pair dom
iciled at Farmdale, and my content
complete.
1 shall never forget my sensations
when opening the door Of my sitting
room, found Alison on her knees, sob
bing over the piano, petting and kiss
ing the ivory keys as if they were 4iv-
ing things: I stole softly away, and
little later burst of melody broke
from the instrument, so full of joyous
gladness. SO triumphant and that old
Ma,oerv drooped a ME she was carry.
inc to the oven. to clasp her hands abd
listen. =
80 Miss Anniel Oh, listen to that!"
she said. adon,t !. hat anv nolta Won
oyer beardp Oh wbv don,t vou n,av
Eka that inste.d of n.l;n. mo crv ev-
arv finn. Won to,,ch the n;.oosn
Ibid no, ston 70 sxnIo;. 70 Mo~c.-v
but burried to tbe s;,t;n !. rom ~ and
.I;son sha ,.s orr;nr IN, -o,.a ta.rs