The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-11-05
WINE, jollies, clean linen, bed-ciothes,
and tl.litS 2,'
I es'm," sald Hannah again.

raced about the city gathering up comforts
Tor me, till the trunk stood packed and
ready, when the carriage came to bring
my nurse to me, and Susy cried over her
baby, and sent me tender messages
From some abyss of horror, some horr-
bic rack Of delirious agony, | have faint
memory of being recalled to dim con
ciousness Of realities by a low, sweet voice
saying:
Drink this, :"
Something cool and pleasantly bitter
was put to my parched lips, and oyer every
sense crept torpor, gentle soothing to
slumber, till all consciousness died in a
deep, profound sleep-I did not know how
long slept, but awoke with every sense
clear, and the fever tancies all gone.
looked about me. Twas perfectly con-
scious that had lost my reason in a bare
and desolate room, where the sun streamed
IN through dirty windows and the barest
| necessities of life around me were OF the
poorest description | looked at the win
dows shaded by dark-green paper, and soft
muslin curtains; at the floor scrubbed and
sweet smelling; at the bed-linen, white.
clean and cool; at little table beside me
with snowy cloth, upon which lay great
white grapes, luscious oranges, tamarinds
IN goblets Of water, Then | feebly turned
my head to see, standing beside me, with
anxious tenderness in her soft blue ewes.
my mother in-law
you must not talk, - she said very gent
ly. her soft little hand falling upon my
forehead like a snowflake, but tlH to keep
very quiet All is we'll at home. | hear
from Susy every day. She is getting well
fast, and your son is in splendid health y
My son ?"
Now | have given you pleasant
thought to dream upon, try to sleep again
But first take q drink of beef tea 1t should
taste OF home, for brought the condensed
| beef in cans from your Uncle Israel's store
He sent the grapes and oranges, and a lot
of good things, you shall have by and by"
But you ?" ] said wondering still ''arn
| YOU not afraid Of the tever?7
II have taken all prudent precautions, 4
was the reply, land my fear was not 50
strong as my love for my SON"
Thank you, mother 81 ! whispered and
saw through my own misty eyes, her lips
culver as called her by that name for
the first time
Can | tell you how she nursed me back
to health, humoringmv fancies, vet guard
ing against all hurttul indulgenoes? All
the CHEEKY letters Susy wrote, she read to
me, and answered for me, Till my own
weak fingers could guide pencil. In her
thoughtful affection, she had packed in the
wonderful trunk light reading to bcguile
| the hours of convalescense. When could
sit up, she exerted her ingenuity to keep
me from feeling lonesome, and would talk
unweariedly Of that wonderful two-davs'
baby, with eyes blue as patch of summer
| skies, and a mouth like cleft rosebud.
SusY's letters were a great comfort, and
answering them, giving humorous ac-
counts Of our wretched accommodations,
occupied many hours.
But the day came at last when the doc
tor said might start tor home without
fear OF CARRYING the contagion with me.
| Carefully we destroyed every article that
could endanger our dear ones, and started
for Memphis With the pleasing certainty,
that no accident Detailing. we could travel
by easy stages, and reach home before my
boy completed the second month of his
little life
The unwearied tenderness that had
brought me back from the Jaws of death
removed all dlscomtorts from the ionrnay
and arranged IOr all needtul rest.
1t was early morning when we reached
the city and drove across it to our country
like home But the carriage, instead of
stopping before our cottage gate, turned
in the gate way OF the opposite house,
driving up the wide, shaded hvenue to
where, upon the porch Susy was waiting
with our boy in her arms, | could not ask
questions then 1t was enough to fold my
treasure in my arms in utter thankfulness
But when Susy led the way to the wide
drawing-room, furnished exactly as we
had so often planned cried out in amaze
ment. My mother-ln-law leading me TO
sofa, made me sit down saying:
''1 on must let me explain. WANTED to
prepare pleasant surprise for your home
coming, and Susy has arranged everything
for me Yen will except this house from
your loving mother, will you not Ihave
won my lawsuit We never talked much
about it, Susy nor |, because | scarcely
hoped to gain it, My husband left me two
hundred thousand dollars but his relatives
disputed the Will After nearly three
years litigation, the case has been decid-
ed in my favor. But Susy is my only child,
and all have is hers SO YOU must let me
give you the house you like SO much for
your home and hers
Il will, on one condition."
what is that ?n
THAT You come and share it with us
That there is no longer the width of great
city between you and your children, for
you must never say again, mother, that
Susy is your only child"
But you do not like mother-in-law. -
II have had many likes and dislikes in
my life" replied, "but never one so ut
terly untounded and idiotic as that one
whose basis existed only in imagination.
Do not punish me by refusing to come to
us
Susy's blue eyes pleaded more eloquent
" than my tongue and the baby struck in
with most coaxing 'coo," so Mrs. Gard
iner consented Whether she ever repent
ed, cannot say, but do know that, from
that day to this, we have had happy
united home do know that my own
mother, had she lived after my babyhood,
ton than my Wifes mother bestows upon
me. | do know that there is no name more
loved and reverenced in my home than
that OF Mrs. Gardiner, in any capacity,
whether as Susy's mother the children's
grandma, OF my mother-in-law.
JOHN NIL iEkS WOOD PILE. The Bowl
ing Green, Ky, Democrat relates this:
John Millers wood pile was alongside
his yard fence, on the public street. in
the eastern part Of the city, He suspected
some one of stealing his wood. so he found
stick with woodpecker hole in it, filled
il up with gunpowder, closed the hole
with clay, and awaited developments A
colored friend, Jim Watson, in the gloam-
ing, appropriated that and other sticks,
and Miller followed along to see what
would happen. 1t did happen, blowing
the end OF Jims shanty out, and With it
chunck of stone that struck Ed Jones.
who was passing along the street, and cut
him severely. Miller, who was near by,
went to Jones aid and explained the Joke
to the wounded man, and now Jones sues
Miller Tor his injury, alleging that he had
no right to put a loaded shunck in the
highway to be picked up and used against
unsuspecting travellers Can he re-
cover?"