Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-06-15

ifA'F1 Sill WIN lldtl ItSiRIleu ,dHu WIlU
could nur3e sweet girish faneies, with John
for hero An unreasonable old tyrant wasn't
The winter came in early that year, and be-
foreChristmas everything was frozen up tight
and the cold was intense. We piled up coal
IN the stoves, listed doors and Windows-that
IS, Ruth did the work, and l enjoyed the re-
suit, bu, then came one cold day-one Friday
when it seemed no Goals, no listing could
conquer the cold, Children froze on their way
TO school that day, and were found stiff and
stark, leaning against the fences. Food froze
on the tables. Ask anybody in Maine if they
remember that black Friday, and see if some
mothers eyes will not fill as they think OF the
! llttle scarlet-hooded figures brought to their
| doors, white and rigid. that had lifted little
! rosy, round cheeks Tor kiss only few short
| hours before.
| On this cold Friday, Ruth hurried through
her Work III the morning, making my room
| the warmest place i'll the house, covering my
armchair with soft wollens, and moving 1t
| near the stove. | would haye it face the win
! dow, Tor my glimpse of out door life was 100
precious TO resign, but 1 was not, as usual
near it, f2fi;uth said there might be draught
hen a'l was done Indoors, saw from my
| char Ruth, with scarlet cloak and hood thrown
over her, going to the well with an empty bucket
She stepped along quickly ever the hard, frozen
ground and was udmirlng the trim little feat,
and the dainty figure, when saw her slide to the
two steps that ahove the welI-walIs and fall
the two wooden ,.els and the rough sides OF the
we'll AS Ii she could not rise Two or three times
her hands clutchcl the lower step, and she raised
herself half Nay up only to fail back again. as if her
lmbS would not support her.
Aud could only look on, powerless TO move to
aid her. Oh, the agony otiti To know she was
hurt, uuabe TO ri.e. and | as helpless as a log.
screamed and called for help Silas was some
whore, could not tell where, and called loudly
Ter him. could see, after time, that Ruth,
after her frantic struggles, was growing drowsy
twitn the death sleep OF cold, The scarlet hood
dropped more and more, TIL it rested against the
well-sde, and the blueveued lids closed over her
ewes. Iha sight called from me such cry OF
/. agony as / thought must be heard for miles
Il was heard. moment later, John Hayes,
painting and eager-eyed, burst open my door.
What is it K hc crcd. 81 heard you calling
| on the road nv
"Ruth-ltuth ' / s,relmed ''She is free zing
9 to death in the well
He stopped 10 hear NJ more. Out upon the
hard, slippery ground, down tue steps with swift
/ rapid strides, and then | saw him stoop aud hit
, the little scaret-cloaked tgurc ia his strong arms
I and come swiftly back, bending his face down
q over the seuseess one on his arm, while hot tears
/ raiucd down his brown cheeks. He put her on
lounge near my chair and then dashed out ior
{ snow.
: Rub hel rub her lie SAID. ii am going for
i q doctor and my mother
e Before it seemed possible he could have crossed
Il the lots to his home, his mother was with me,
: and lifted Ruth away from the tire to the bed
) | The doctor came, and the two worked until my
heart sank with utter HOY elessness before the blue
eyes opened again or the breath futtered through
the pale lips.
e But it did at last, and John ioired me in a
g feryeut Thank Goo"
: Bn! Huth had broken her leg, and We knew
{ she must lie helpless for many weeks before she
: could he our own active bright girl again. Ii
:, was an appalling truth for me to face, but she
| u A.
d well-eurb, and could not but feel thankfules ss
" far, far above the pain Of knowing her suffering
u [ was trying to settle it all in my mind: to un
d terstand the Doctors words, while Mrs. Hay e.
% ahd the doctor lifted Ruth TO her own room
e that opened into mine, ana John sat beside me
holding my hand in his and comforting me a:
= il had not taken the very hope of his life from
+ him.
q "D3n't srieye so - he said gently. "She vii
'r live .
n "Thanks 70 YOU - said. "oh, John, if sh,
Il gets well, she is yours Give her your arm 70
10 liz John, insteadot my helplessness see to
t day where my selfish love has nearly cost her
! her life ~
=, .'Do you mean that John asked, with
70 little trembling in his voice; do you real
;. mean that ?"
u II do, indeed. Let me stay here, John.
Q, will no: be burden on yonr purse, for the hous
vi and farm, and all have saved, are Ruth's, bu
let her give Ire whaitime and love she can spar
e. from you.
eS "Giadly,' he answered, but We will not wal
Is till she is well, Mr.. Martin. Let me have Rui
~ fJr my wife now. to-day
IN "With broken leg, SICK, helpless"
,e "D3es she not need me the more? Give he
to Inc now
:" But he had to wait till the bauns were calle
tn in the church three lines, though he came to Il
er that day, caring for me with the tenderness OF
er son, while his mother nursed Ruth. They wer
alone together we were, and they had shl
Al up the house, and come TO live with us, never
ar leave again. For, one morning, propped up wit
~ pillows, Ruth was DIRE ssei in hte by Mrs. Hay,
~ and We had u wedding IN the little room Nj
In euair was moved in, aud the neighbors cam
ed roat ia, and near TO hear the solemn words thi
to made Johu and Ruth man and wife.
to Aud happiness has shed its true light upon OF
p | home eyer since.
1i.
"a Compliment I o Benureoard.
er From the New Orleans Bulletin.
w cen. Bsauregard has Just returned fro,
on a trIp to Galveston and Houston, for bot
OF which cites he X consulting enginee
Ter and we IL lrn has recently received n letts