Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-06-15
Little Ruth.

/
look around me and see the marcies given me in
my helpless old age, feel the warm love around
me on oil sides, and realize the desolation my own
hanu reached forth TO grasp, but l was blind to
inc future IN those days when so nearly wreck
ed all its happiness.
This was how it happened. After Martha died
my VILE, mean, with whom lorty years OF my
HE were spent-and all my children were dead
or married, excepting Ruth, there fell upon Iae
the heavy misfortune that chained ms to this
chair, or my bed for fifteen weary years.
had been a hard-w orking man all ny life-a
wheeiWfght by trade--with a large family To
rear, 20 clothe, To feed, to educate, and all, me
one by one TO bury III the old church yard, til
only Mary, James, and Ruth, the baby, were left
to Inc. Mary married, and went with her hus-
band to the far West james took hls small Tor.
| tune OF few hard-earned dollars and left us for
the golden lana OF promise, California, and only
little Ruth was left us Then the angel Of death
came Tor Martha, and only six months atar 1 was
| stricken helpless with paralysis
am reconeiled now to my hard ftte and can
| sit here happily, glad that my cyesleht IS skill
good, my right hand free, and that have learned
| III my old age to love books, to enjoy reading and
even writing, a. | never did in the hard-working
days of my youth. But in those first months OF
lhelplessness, when even 10 toss and turn in my
nervous torture was denied me- my sutierings
were simply horrible. No agony OF pain, no tor
ture OF flesh and bone, could equal the dreadful
pressure upon my stroug limbs that held them
| motionless, dead in spite OF my efforts to move
them one little inch. / have tainted with the
ffightfu efforts have made iust 10 lit once the
feet that had carried me miles IN \ day with uu-
vearied ease
But even IN that time OF rebeious murmurin9,
OF bitterest repiniug, there was some consolation.
First, there was the house and i've acres o land,
my very own, free Of debt or mortgage, and a
| small sum i'll the bank, the interest OF which
lifted us entirely above actual want. Then had
Ruth
She was Just twenty when her mother died,
and others beside her father thought her face the
fairest one for miles around, She had the bluest
eyes, like little patches OF summer sky, and hair
that was the color Of corn silk, and nestled IN
little baby curls all over her head-rebclious hair,
that would never lie straight under any coaNing,
but kinked up in tangles that Were iull OF sun
light. Her skin was white as milk, with checks
like the heart of blush rose, and her smile
showed the prettiest rows OF white teeth l ever
saw. She coaxed Inc from my wicked repiniugs
| by coming TO me for directions, making me iee
that my head was still needed to direct the work
though my feet would never more carry me ovel
e the door-sill. Then she lifted up for me large
, back room that overlooked most OF the farm, and
n had Silas, our head man. lit me up every morn.
Q ling aud put me in q deep-cushioned chair by tht
= window, where | could see the barn, the poult g
: yard tue we'll, and the fields OF waving corn AM
| wheat. She made me feel myself OF Importance
lby giving ME thus the master-eye over my owl
little domain, aud she brought up her own meal
:, 10 eat with me- in TIE room where lHy iudrmity
: held me prisoner.
You must understand what Ruth was Il
i me, or you will never understand the sim
pie story l have set myself to tell you. Sh
taught me 10 use my right hand without III
left, and II you want to appreciate the ditf
lculty, tie your left arm down for one singh
hour, and try how often 1t will unconscious
ly strain at the cords. She brought me book
from the village library and opened to my
old eyes and brain a field of pleasure neve
before explored. | mad read my bible ant
and news paper all my life, but never knew
!, even the name OF books, now my creates
treasures, till Ruth thought, "reading woult
be company" for me. Little Ruth, even sh
does not know the worl1 she peopled for M
in her loving care for my lonlness.
4 When she was busy ABOUT her housework
her baking, her washing and her ironing
she lett all the doors standing open, that
might still hear her cherry voice as sh
sang or talked to me- Then, when all be
work was doue she would put a clear
q white apron over her black silk dress, am
" sit close beside me. stitching busily on til
household linen, while read aloud what
ever had most pleased my morning stud
les.
She devised little dainty dishes 10 temp
me to eat: she put saucers OF flowers on B
T. to BILE that might cheat myself into fancy
ing / was out doors. AS their perfume crer
out on the air; she nursed me, Retted mt
loved me, till even my mIsfortuue4 SCENE
blessings drawing US so near together.
And when she was all In the world 10 mi
all that saved me from misery, John Haye
asked me TO give him my Ruth for h
rs wife. | could have STRUCK Kim dead whe
ni he stood before ne.ayoung giant in strengt
Of with hRudsome,sunburnt lace glowing wit
n health, and wanted to take away my on
blessing, my only home child.
II will be a true son TO you, Mr.. Martin,
he said earnestly. 81 Will never take Rut
N. from here; but let me come aud share ht
a lNtf Of . httF fAAa ls
~, | shoulders
ia | laughed bitterly. | know well VIII
C.. such sharing would he when Ruth had
les husband, and perhaps children 10 take h'
~, time and love from me. But | WAS II
,,lv harsh. did not turn tnis suitor from III
ol, house, aud bid him never 10 speak to Rni
lin again. much as | longed To do II. | Workt
re- more cautiously. let him so from mo
he I Ruth; and when he left her apd she came
be me. all rosy bushes. 10 tell mo, with drool
I'D ing lids and moist eyes, of her new hapl
sa- ness, / worked upon her love and aer sea
:, OF duty till she believed herself a monst
~ ~ OF ungrateful wlckeduess TO thinh of lea
ing me or taking any divided duty ups
,si- her hands.
his wept, asking her il she could face IA
at dead mother after deserving her neipie
father. l pointed out 10 her the unceasii
round of wifelv duty that would keep h
from my side, and proyod To her that I
duties OF child and wife must crash, II Il
l dertaken under such CIRCUMSTANCES As we
+ proposed.
The loving, tender heart yielded to ne, u
John was tearfuly dismissed. Through I
all warm autumn months, when the corn rlpen
and was garnered-when Our crops We're bl
sed, and the little bank fund was increased
the price of the farm produce = Ruth gr
100 very quiet and subdued, She was not sad III
ere. ing always a CHEEKY word and pleasant snl
two for me; but the pretty rosy tint left her IA
lase nef round 0neeks auu no longer NtaTu
and singing at her work. When | read TIE b