The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-06-17

tho north bank of the Schuylkill,
stands a small deserted stone house,
having but room above and a room
below. 1t stands solitary and alone,
with the Schuylkill in front and level
green meadows behind, stretching far
away in the distance.
This house was once tenanted by a
good, honest old Scstchmar, named
Stephen Mattison. generally called
"Old Stephie. who had tended the
ferry for years. and was "well to do in
the world them" as he quantity ex-
pressed. it; but since, the towing path
was continued down the south side Of
the river, rendering the ferry unneces-
sary, he had managed to earn but a
scanty support for himself and wife
by his daily labor on the farms of the
neighborhood.
Old Stephie had, among many eX-
cellent traits of character, one or two
prominent failings: He was selfwill-
ed, and sometime, despite his christian
faith, apt to be respondent and fretful /,
especially wien there was little work
to be had, as was too frequently the
case in the winter season. But his
patient, hopeful wife, hustled about at
such times, and made a great show of
the potatoes, cabbages, and other veg
etables she had raised in their little
garden. Yes, Nellie was thrifty, aud
"canny house-keeper," as Stephie
proudly observed to his friends, in con-
fidence. And it was true, too, as any
one could sec who entered their hum
BILE apartment. To be sure, she was
obliged to keep curious assortment
of articles in that one room: kettles
and pans, and barrel of -four, all
ranged on one side; but the pans and
kettles shCne, they were so brightly
secured; the barrel, covered with a
board cut in half oval shape, was
covered with white muslin, from which
a curtain of the same material depend
ed to the floor, forming altogether
Nellie's ttelet-stand; the deal table
and the few chairs were white and
clean, and the cups and plates display
ed to the best advantage in the cor
ner cupboard; two brass candle sticks
gIittered on the mantle shelf, in the
centre of which, like a treasure of
known value, lay their Bible.
There was nobody in the wide world
equal to Stephie, in Nellie's estima.
nation, and it was touching to see the
trusting admiring expression on her
face, in the light Of the splendid hick-
ory fire, as she sat knitting and listen
ing to her "gude mon" reading and ex-
pounding from that blessed book every
night. She liked to hear mae body
sac wesl," she was once heard to say +;
"to be sure, Stephie had to spell n
word betimes, but barrin' that, he was
a beautiful reader.
At the time of which / speak, and
this sketch embodies facts, it was Feb
ruary. The snow lay white ard thick
over the earth, when suddenly there
came one of those warm spells Of
weather peculiar to this month. The
snow began to melt, the ice bound
streams to flow, and there was every
indication of great thaw. All day
long the warm sun shone brilliantly,
but gradually dense heavy fog arose
over all the land, till one could not
see friends. face at stone throws
distance. Toward evening it COM
menced to rain, heavy, continuous
rain. All night it rained increasingly,
and all the next day. The river rose
rapidly, and Nellie became alarmed
when its cold still waters crept silent
ly around and up to the very threshold
of their little dwelling, but still the
vast, solid body of ice in the centre
remained unbroBen, During the day
she had entreated Stephie, at intervals,
to carry their movable furniture up
stairs, and then leave the house until
the rain ceased and the river fell, But
old Stephie was "a little heady," as
Nellie expressed it, and thought ne
knew best. Indeed, the pious old
woman was overheard to pray, "Dear
Lord, be pleased to make Stephie
right, for Thou knowest he is very
SET" All in vain Stephie was as inn
movable as the hills.
The house had stood "waur storms
nor that" he said "besides, was II
not built on Draw foundation =? She
was always sac easily frightened, pun
wee body" and he regarded the little
silver haired woman fondly, "but noe
there was ma ony danger, God be
lhankit; nae'theless he wad assist her
just to keep her mind easy like, which
he did accordingly, and they soon gol
everything portable to the second
floor.
Hour after hour they waited, anC
hoped, and silently in their own hearts
they prayed as the night advanced
hut still tbp watprs encrOaclcd Qul