The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-08-20


child, clasped ID his two thin waxen hands !;
and she thought ofthe lilies of paradise
and OF, the saints who held them and of
the words OF scripture again. "1nasmuch
as ye have done it unto the least of one Of
these, ye have done it unto me-"
A better work even had been done also.
The last words Of Tom were never for.
gotten by his father who, from that night,
became reformed man. Lizzy went to
school and, more than that, never again
heard harsh word at home.
Ella and .Lizzy became great friends.
The former, from her superior position,
was able to do much for the latter. 1t
was not chance, rely on it, that made Ella
give away, at some sacrifice ut the time,
that lily.
Gas We SOW, 50 shall ye reap
A TEST OF LOVE.
Mrs. Clark had been reading the Beech
er-Tilton scandal until her faith in man
had dwindled down to a very fine point !;
she had poor opinion of them.
She had noticed that her hitherto low
ing spouse had, for the past two weeks,
been low-spirited and down. hearted.
She thought that perhaps he, too, had
been led from the path of virtue, by the
deluding voice of some bewitching siren,
and that his love for her was growing cold.
But now we find out if such was the case.
Josephus did not show any signs of pro.
ducing statement, or ofconfessing his
guilt to a mutual friend.
Her brow corrugated, and her hands
clenched as she brooded over her i'm.
aginary wrongs, and she determined to
put the fidelity of her husband on the test.
But how to do it, that was the question.
"Aha! have it," said she, trium.
phan.ly."
It'll drown myself, that is, figurative-
ly."
Clark was a farmer in good circum-
stances, and being several years younger
than his wife. and good looking, it kept
her in q state Of perpetual worriment and
jealousy. Mrs. Clark proceeded to put
her plan into execution.
Just behind the house was very deep
we'll that had not been used for some time,
and it was covered over now with some
boards tc prevent the cattle from falling
into it.
She removed the covering from the we'll,
and placing her bonnet and shawl upon
its brink, crawled under a large goose
berry bush to await developments.
The weather was cold, and she was
nearly frozen before she saw her husband
and the hired man coming from the barn
where they had been working.
Clark passed by the we'll without no.
ticing the clothing; but the hired man
saw them and gave cry Of horror.
'Mercy on US, Mr.. Clark! Your wife
has thrown herself in the WELT" he
shouted frantically.
Mrs. Clark expected that her husband
| would tear his hair and rush to the edge
of the we'll, and, after calling her all the
endearing names he could think of. de.
scend into the watery depth in eager
search of her cold, damp corpse.
But Clark did not do anything of the
kind. He calmly took q fresh chew OF
tobacco, and then approaching the well,
he looked quietly into it.
II guess:the old girl has suicided,' said
he, without any emotion worth speaking
Of. "Jake, you sling them boards back
again; wouldn't have that brindle heif.
er get in there for fifty dollars; and after
dinner we'll hoist the old woman out"
"Hadn't [ better get some of the neigh.
bors here first p asked the frightened
man.
"After dinner will do, Jake. Business
before pleasure is my motto, and I'm
awful hungry
Jake covered up the we'll, and the men
went into the house, leaving the old lady
bowling with rage.
'l'll old girl him! I'll sucided him
Take more pains over that pesky keifer
than he does with me. I'n--In-
Words failed her; they were mad
equate to express her feelings.
After dinner Clark sent the hired man
after some of the neighbors, and while he
was awaiting his return he seated himself
upon log in plain sight of his loving
wife, and whistled "Old Hundred'' ali
through without missing stave.
The neighbors arrived and were full OF
sympathy for the bereaved husband =;
and Josephus bore his honors meekly.
Various plans were canvassed for rails
ing the body, but owing to the great
depth of the we'll, they could not decide
upon the right one. :.
I'll tell YOU the best way, friends, -"
said Clark, pathetically. 'She is gone,
and will never come to this world of woe
and trouble; 50 I think We had better let
the body remain where it is, and fill up
tie well. It will save power Of trouble
and bother.''
This proposition was agreed to by the
neighbors as being feasible, and the work
of filling it up commenced, Josephus
throwing in all the large stones and
blocks Of wood that he could lay his
hands on.
''Thcre," says he, II guess that will
do after they had thrown q couple of
cart loads Of miscellaneous rubbish into
the we'll. Jake can fill up the rest, odd
spells and rainy days. Well have the
funeral sermon preached as soon as get
done hauling wood.'
Near by the side Of Josephus stood a
woman of about thirty summers or win.
tiers, and she had been regarding the
solemn scene with mixture Of sorrow
and pleasure, intermingled !; and when
tho rest Of the neighbors took their de-.
parture, she fingered behind to comfort
the aching heart Of the bereaved wild.
over. ';jtf Il, -:.... - ;. ...,.
1T is q great pity to be SO suddenly
cut down in the prime Of life, like the
t aextr XXI g. ''oaontide." :: said 'he. mourn:
aoIlys :i@:s.a .5irt}tf j., ~ n :y,i , .: .
.'!t 81 attal a. : ;-,.!f't q, :. Z r. -, 81.