Ellsworth American., 1875-12-23
hlisrell
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Seeing Better DAYS.

The widow MInton had seen better days.
How far back wasn't exactly certified but
She had seen them. Better days hung
mOuldtly about her Ike tile dctaccd shrrd>
OF aniiquatcd embroidery.
The sturdy gossip, ui the seaside village
who went out with their skirts tucked up
and their bare brown arms ready aud .,oIc
Tor any work, looked a,haucy AZ the Wid
ow Mintou, with he: ptiiul meagcrne>s ot
aspect, her flichcring black eye, and her
trailing oid gown. Ihey nud2ed each 9th
cr. and sdld, Better days-Lord save
u- ,'
Bat the widow dId not trouble the ur.-h-
burs much. nor they her. \ body Who
Couldn't u 4 hcartsomu hand, stirring
va, best left alone 70 her Orooding. and
The widow smoky little cabin, >olitArjy
apart on lhe sea--hure. was lett pretty
much 10 herself and the boy Tom.
Tom was q sturdy. Oruwu-taccd lad,
Alo picked up living by doing odi JOB,
Tor the Luatmeu, and now and then taAiug
Il day for fishing. Tom had probably new
er seen better days. The widow shook her
mead over Ailn--sO stupldiy content, poor
Tom. 50 beamlug and good natured over
besgarline>s and hopelessness. \ tall,
welI-grown fellow, with bare feet, a torn
straw hat. and a red shirt Tom took the
NblIl thHIIN. iObhlllS IN IGNtItul eyes
on his mothers by-Sone gentility, but by
no means seeming 10 coyet it for himself
The widow deemed it due TO her past
respectaDiilty to be seen at church on IA
sunday evening, and you could see the two
Walking al twilight along the sands tOgeth-
er, she with her c'.au poe YCAet-hanukerchief
folded over AcI oiu hymn-book and a GER
tain doubtful hesltancy OF gait, as if heav-
eu Itself might be looking down critically
Oh her shabby black gown and rusty bon
net. A. for Tom, patient lom, he went
poddiug slowly after her. with his smiling
face, whistlln9 To himself a he went AL
ways patient Away ploudlng, poor Tom
Patiently falling asleep during the sermon
and patlently listening Open-mouthed to
the closing hymn, his careless bright face
contrasting oddly with his mothers quer-
uIOus and tear-worn visage. won for him
the sobriquel of the widow Minton's rain
bow.
The minister Of the parish. mistaken
soul, deemed II incumbent TO make a call
on the widow aud. on charity bent, il i,
said he uHwarily offered to employ her
services Ia hi. household for a season. He
deemed II his duly to rouse the Old woman
TO activity.
He did rouse her; aud it is ayerred that
he never found time 10 call at the cabin
again. Dad he take her for a common
household drudge. or born field
hand: Sne thanked God she had too much
spirit left yet to put herself under aGy-
bOdy's feet. he hadn't far to 90 to tind
scores Of drud.es and diggers, but he
might 20 further before he knew a lady
wuen he saw her
1t might have Oeen the afternoon after
the good mans visit that the widow sat
idly brooding at her cabin door. Her ewes
had wandering, far.away look. and her
face was Aeener and thinner than ever.
Beyond the bluff which sheltered her cabin
stretched far line of sea-coast, the white
sand cleaning silyery in the sun. Far off
a group OF Dathers in bright dresses frol-
! licked between shore and water They
came from the great hotel down beyond !;
| she could almost catch the sound of their
voices as she sat slowly rocking in her
doorway. IL was quiet afternoon; the
air was soft and soothing. and the widows
| heart, so full Cf bitterness, felt itself sweet
Ell and soften in the stillness. This part of
the shore, sheltered by its oyerhanging
rock, was seldom distuI bed by inlruders.
but presently the watchers eye caught
sight OF ayoung girl splashing and frolck-
ing ia the water just beyond The rocks. 1t
was pretty sight. the rounded arms, the