Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-11-01

making no pretense OF eafiug. 10 SEND
rious sunshine, pouring its living gold
over the short, thick grass, in which
her feet sank so softly. as she pinned
the snow-white garments TO the long
lines. and then lifted them with forked
sticks into the upper air, where they
fiuttefed and were kissed into dryness
and fragrance by the sun and the wind.
It's a miserable dogs life; that's what
IL is. and I'ye mind to be rid of it al
together, a :.
This was what she said, going back
into the large. pleasant kitchen, and
looking about her with a glance of in
difference Then she. turned and went
hurriedly up stairs still with that vague
undecided look. In her own room the
sunshine poured, and the old, familiar
furniture giistened on every side.--
Plump pillows, square and snowy, flied
tile lower part of the window, laid there
for an aiffng. The pretty Light Equilts.
she had made long ago, rested OIL chairs !;
and all things bore an impression Of
taste and cleanliness, though the usual
mornings work had been left till now.
= Hannah. walked with preroccupted
glance; ahd shesitatinG feotsteps 20 the
bureau. and began listlessly opening the
drawers, one after another, and as llst-
lessly shutting them Iagaina IL was
plainly to be seen that some great grief
marked its agony upon her face. 1t was
no ordinary suffering that had turned
lips SO white, and eyes so stony.
Presently, Hannah came upon little
box. and from that she took small Vial,
fingering it inervously, holding 1t up to
tile light. Her eyes kindied with a
strange fire as she shook it and toyed
with IL. and then let the sunshine thrO'
its dull crimson sbas Hldr.E
Suddenly she stopped. and In the
strong light looked at herself in the
glass. A long, persistent, unhappy
glance It was, that took In every line,
every touch of defacing time. every sign
of frost upon the rich brown hair.
For Hannah had been beautiful. In
all the country round she had been
noted for her rare loveliness, and that
was only ten years before.
She need not have married poor
man. the village gossips said, but on,
she was willful girl, and John Wells,
though he was dreamer. was as hand
some as Hannah-but then, it was q
pity, you know And so there was
much shaking Of heads over Hannah,
for people said, after time, when the
children came, and her seat was vacant
at church, and she grew careless in her
dress that Hannah Wells was not Il hap
Hannah, as said before: looked long
and haggardly at herself.
Y You have lost your beauty, madam,
she said at last, with manner that
would have been Mdicrous but for the
bitterness of voice and gesture.
You are only the ghost of Hannah
May, that was. Your eyes are dim; the
color has died out of your lips, and left
them like ashes; the very bones of your
cheeks are visible. Is that the reason
you are slighted and neglected. Even
nv own boy says: ....,.,.f .-.. ,,5l 20
'Oh, mamma, you're not as pretty al
Bessie Bright;' no wonder, when they
see where their father spends his time.
will be by-word for the village gossip,
| no longer she cried passionately: y
| will die! I will die!' ...Tt1. i
The terrible force with which she pro
| nounced these words seemed to take al
the strength out Of her. She sank
painting and trembling, on the. chair be
| side her. There was glow enough or
her cheeks now, but il was the glow o
almost insane anger. Presently it diet
out and left her whittier than ever.
She took, the little vial, and presses
her Fps together as she placed it in he
bosom.
Il will set my house in order first,
she said, with a laugh that sounde'
more like moan, and rising, she mad
the bed. put, to rights the inner-room
where her two bright, rosy boys SLEPT
tand then went down stairs. s-
The woman's eye burned with stead
light as she moved to and fro, putin
the finishing toaehes upon herlabOf,, S
mechanically performed. Once, whe
she looked in. box that her husban
had ,carelesslyi left on the handicapped
iher whole face famed up again; sh
went quietly to the stove and lifted on
lof the covers from the waning fire bt
meath, took the box down, and just i
ithe act of pouring its contents into i
paused. trei.t- lg
sHe made that box for me before "
4 were married : she murmured, 'and h
loved me then; l won't destroy 1t, bl
oh! how hate all those models wit
which he has fooled away his time.-
lY3FThev seem to me like so many demon
leating up our substance. By-and-by I'll
thouse will go;s the chiidrenswin gro
iup beggars; but never mind, and 81
ilaughed harshly, She will marry Bess
Bright, and then all will 60 merrily.'
The baby still slept. 1t was health
little, )dimpled thing and never an
trouble.
Hannah looked about her after all WI
done, and the dinner decided upon.
'Oh, John will want a clean shirt
wear at then she clapped her lhaf
She threw coal in the stove, put all I'll
irons on, and set to work with energ
by drawing out the ironing table and il
ispecting the clothes. AS fast as tht
dried. and sometimes when they we
still wet, she went to work and iron,
ifuriously. The poor soul was panied 8
through; she had borne and borne, 81
said to herself, in silence and in sorro'
and now her brain was giving way.
sWas-it she wondered. putting h
hot hand up to her brow. People
90 crazy from anxiety and oyer-wor
from sighted affection and devote
Il wronged; she had hoped it might be
with her.
st wouldn't be my fault. then;' $
cried; sit wouldn't be anybody's fault
oh, John! Johnp and down went t
iron, and for moment she sobbed a.
wept despairingly.
81 There are self-tOrments in this wor
and / pity them. Imaginary jokes q
sometimes the heaviest TO be borne, a
burdens that one will persist in weari
never fit the shoulders-never.
Hannah grew very nearly hysteric
when a soft, little cooling. sound, pei
trated her ear. She turned, and tn,
le was that baby-face, like fresh create
IN looking smilingly into hers. She da,
ne ed the tears away, and caught up t
be child, caressing it with almost fran
ne gestures.
MY baby, my baby! will it be 81
he lot, some day?' and the rosebud !
It. only parted for another GOO, and ano
IN er smile while the eyes, as blae
heaven, sparkled with that Taught
1T gladness never seen only in the eyes
10 a baby.
nd Eor long time she sat there fondl
lie, the child. and stsinking. Suddenly
mt kitchen clock struck twelve, and sim
ht taneously two pairs of feet struck
at threshold, and young voices cried
Justify for something to eat.
* Hannah tied the baby in its Ii
gh chair, while the boys came round
with their clamor. Bread and bu,
ed made them happy for awhile, and n
Ter chief made them happier. Ned uni
the baby and gave it a bump on its fl
a head, or rather the floor did, for
st, poor little thing fell headlong. ii
He nah, as usual, grew distracted, and Il
yh, more vindictively than ever on
slaves life. Johnny daubed him
mo- with svrun which he obtained with