Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-09-29

was better than keeping school anu
boarding round. an so she'd a few tears
i'm dark corners. when couldn't help en-
an Tobias kept company with NE while
for forms sake, an then we were
married.
"But very sonu found that | hadn't
butlered my bread, Tor Tobias had a
little farm, an he always left me with
the heft of the work To do, an the har-
vcsling or what not "A spelling in tho
field. while nc was of lrallicking.
but still it wasn't scnoo keeping. an
so | kept on an male his home bright an
CHEEKY an Comfortable Tor him, an al.
ways had hot supper an nice fire Tor
him when he'd come home at night, even
il had to split up the wood for the very
fire he warmed himself by.
After while Tobias's old father came
to live with us. an made him welcome,
an tried to humor his whims rs best 1
could; but he was terribly lractious old
man, an nothing could do would SUI,
him. an things got more an more un-
comfortable every day.
Our family kept growing larger an
more expensive, too. all the time. Tor I'd
hardly got one baby fairly out OF my
arms before another would come to take
its place. But loved the liule fellows.
so rosy and rugged. an never saw the
time when could have spared any one
of en-. An their father was proud OF
EN-. too. they were so smart an bright,
an would say when new baby boy WAS
put into his arms We'll, there's plenty
OF work in the world for him to do good
rs q hundred dollars in the bank. .Ta5itha,
An knew he meant there 5 another one
TO work Tor me.
But though | loved my boys, my
heart yearncd tor little daughter, be.
cause she would seem so much more
mine than those strong. stalwArt. strap
ping boys who were 50 brimlul Of animal
life that doubt il they ever noticed how
their loud voice. aud hearty ways made
my aching nerves tinglc. for hard work,
aud constant at IL, had made me whimsi-
cal an nervous.
"Wcll. a, last ,ho little one n,y hungry
hear; had Ion 81 tor. came.
.Eu, when old Nurse Gracic took up
Toe l,lc ,hias, AN pot it into Tobias's
arms. 80 O., stood los my eide, an said
'As putt, a. liulc .,,r' a- ever Sc see, Nj
Short ,,v % iI,,,u come over hj, iacc,
an l knew my nl,.s daughter wasn't
welcome.
Il tell ye, C,in,hy Ann. it h0rt me
sore. lor hadn't thought. a minute alore,
but that he d have bceu as glad rs was.
1T really seemed as that my baby
grew older that il knew il wasn't wanted
6y any body but me, an Tobias couldn't
COAX il out of my arms. L. clung an
c,ung 10 me in the mos, pitoous way. an
didn't want NC TO leave italone = minute.
an when pa, il down on the floor, or iu
the rocking chair, while went about my
work. il would jlst follow me with it,
great, wisIfu. ycarnng. blue eyes, an
never seemed to care 20 play AT all.
The boys, dear fellows, were wild
over their little sister. an she would SUBJ
nit to their rough ways. and seemed To
realize a. much as any queen on her
throne that they were her most loyal an
devoted subjects.
But by an by, Ciiuthy Asn," aud
Aunt Tabtlhas tears were falling like
rain, yet her peaceful. placid old face
was undisiurbed. there came a time
that i. hard to tell yc OF; only in the
morning my little angci child was as well
rs usual, an at nigh; she was in her
.hroud. But before she died that sad,
grieved look went out u her eyes forever.
an | don't believe that in that other
Home she'll ever lee, that she wasn't
welcome.
"But hadn't much time to weep Tor
her, il | would. Tor. Que 10y one, every
one oil my eight boys came down with
the Group. as she had done, but they all
fought it through, an when they were all
slaving ab at again was ready TO lie
down By oaOy Nelrs side. But Tobias
an the boys couldn't spare me, an so
dragged on.
The summer after baby died Grau'ther
Short was taken down. An, child, |
hope you neyer'lI know what it was to
me to take care OF that old man, an he
in one continual fret an scold from morn
iug until night. Sometimes wouldn't
yet to bed from waiting on him until one
or two o'clock in the morning. An l
never knew Tobias to carry him SO much
rs - cup of cold water.
"Just before graurher died, he said to
me one day: We'll, TAbitha, yc've done
rs well as ye could An, child. if ye
will believe il, no star' me- soul Was ever
50 thankful for q crust # bread rs | was
ior even that faint praise.
'At length. what wito the sickness an
expense IN al, the farm couldn't main
tain us. au' then Tobias wanted TO be
even more ut liberty. SO we sold it, au'
came down here To the Corners, an
opened this tavern stand with only me TO
do all the work indoors. An nobody
L,o,vs ho,v h,ve vnrkrl early nn' late