The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-10-01

ailing, and he ha'n't no PATIENCE
but then he's got means, and she
wants for nothing. She had, to say,
seven silk dresses, when I was there
last time, and things to match,-that's
something.-But I'm sure you have
to work as hard as though you was
minister's wife, 'Tenty. I don't see
how you do keep up"
"Oh, like work, Miss Hitty. 1t
kind of keeps my spirits up; and all
the folks in Deerfeld are as clever to
me as though I belonged to 'em. !
have my health, and I don't want for
anything. think I'm as we'll off as
the Queen"
"You haven't had no great Of
troubles" groaned Miss Hitty. "I've
suffered so many 'fictions Pm most
tired out ); them is what wears on peo-
pie, 'fictions by death.'
II don't know" meekly answered
'Tenty; "I've had some, but I haven't
laid 'em up much. I felt bad while
they lasted ; but I knew other folks's
was so much worse, was kind of shy
about feelin' too bad over my troub-
les."
"Well, you've got real faculty at
takin' things easy; now I'm one of
the feelin' kind. l set down often
and often to knit, and get a-thinkin'
over times back, and things people
said and did years ago, and how bad
| felt. till l feel jest SO ag'in, and I
get a-cryin' till it seems as though I
should screech right out and I can't
sleep, nor I can't do nothing"
"A'n't you borrowin' trouble a
little bit, Miss Hitty? I've kind of
figured it out that it's best to let the
things that's dead and done for stay
so. I don't know as we've got any
call to remember 'em. The Lord re-
quireth that which is past it says in
the Bible; and I've always looked
upon that as kind of hint to men
that it want their business, but the
Lords"
"Oh, it's all very well to talk,
'Tenty Scranton talk, do but
'tisn't so mighty easy to practise ont. %
"Why, now, I think it's the easiest
way, by a sight, Miss Hitty. I didn't
mean to cast it up against you, for !
know its partly natur', but do think
folks can help natur' more'n they're
generally willing to allow. I know it
does seem as if you couldn't help
thinkin' about troubles sometimes
and it's quite chore to keep bright
but then it seems so much more CHEEKY
not to be fretted over things you CAM
help, and it is such a sight pleasante,
for everybody else! I declare, it does
seem jest as though the Lord hac
made this world for folks to have a
good time in, only they don't all know
how, and always feel a call to help
'em."
| "You're a masterpiece to talk
'Tenty,-but it don't make the differ:
ence with me it does with some folks
it seems as if I should ha' had bet.
ter time almost any way beside my
way. l get more and more failin' every
day,-Pm pretty near gonenow. I d 0n'1
know but what I shall die any time
[ suffer so with rheumatic, and I'm
troubled considerable with a risin' O.
the lungs; and sometimes I do think
I've got a spine in my back, it ache'
and creaks so nights.''
"Why, 1 was thinking, since 20,
set here, Miss Hitty, how spry you be
and you've got real 'hullsome lool
to your face; I should say you'e
grown fat"
"Fat!' exclaimed the indignan
spinster "about as fat as hens fore
} head! Why, Content Scranton! In
dreadful poor,-poor as Jobs turkey
, why, my arms is all bones and sin
ners."
, "You don't say so! I guess that
knitting, Miss Hitty; you. do kni
beautiful. Is that worsted or cottol
you're at now?''
u Praise allayed Miss Hitty's wound
: ed selfpity. She grew amiable unde
: its slow-dropping dews always, a
l 'Tenty knew.
"Oh, this amt any thing to boas
of. I call this common knitting; it
: q pair of socks 1 promised Miss War
ner for her boy. Speakin' of her bo.
Ned makes me think Have yo'
heard the news, 'Tenty?"
"No, I haven't heard any,"
r "Well, it's just like a story-book
Ned Parker,-he't was Doctor Park
: er's son, an promised to our Hammer
Ann,-he's turned up, it appears. H
, want drownded, but he was washe
) ashore, and the Indians they too
r him and he wasn't able to get ava
for ten year; then whaler's GREY
catched sight of him, havin' stoppe
there for water, and took him aboard
and he's been the world over since
He calculated everybody to Deerfel
I was dead and married so he didn
+ come back, but now he is a-comi1
\ back, for he's lost a leg, and he's e
some money, and they say he is a g
r in to settle down here"
IL "Has he come yet, Miss Hitty p
i. mo, they're expectin' of him
8 Miss Warmers every day you kno'
< she was Miss Parker's halfbrother
S wife"