Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-01-12

The widow Minton had seen better
days. How far back wasn't exactly Ger,
lied; but she had seen them. Better
days hung mold1ly about her, like the
defaced shreds of antiquated embroi
cry.
The sturdy gossips of the seaside
village. who went about with their
skirts tucked up and their bare brown
arms ready and able for any work,
looked askance at the widow Minton-
with her pitiful n1eagerness of aspect,
her Pickering black eye, end her trail
ing old gown They nudged each
otner, and said. E" Better days-Lord
save usl'
But the widow did not trouble the
neighbors much, nor they her. A body
who couldn't do a heartsome hand 8
stirring vas best loet1alofle to her brood
ing, and the widow . smokylittle cabin,
solidarity. apart on the sea7shore, was
left pretty much to herself and her boy
Tom.
Tom was sturdy, brown faced lad,
who picked up living by, doing odd
.jo6s for the boatmen, and now and
then taking day for fishing Tom
had probably never seen better days.
The widow shook her head over him
SO stupidity content, poor Tom! so
bea1ning and good-natured over beg
garliness and hopelessness. A tall,
well grown fellow, with bare feet, a
torn straw hat, and a red, shirt, Tom
took she world easily, looking with rev.
erent eyes on his mothers by-gone
gentility, but by no means. seeming to
covet it for himself. iane,d sie - .f..5.ss
The WidoT deemed it due to her past
respeeta hIity. to be seen at church of a
Sunday evening, and you could see the
two walking at twilight along the sands
together, she with her clean pocket
handkerchief folded over her old hymn
book ana o certain doubtful hesitancy
of gait, as If heaven itself might be
looking down critically on her shabby
black gown and rusty bonnet. AS for
Tom, patient Tom, be went piodding
slowly after her, with his smiling face,
whistling to himself as he went.
Always patient. always Flooding, poor
Tom + Patiently falling asleep during
the sermon, and patiently listening,
open-mouthed, 10 the closing hymn, his
careless, bright face, contrasting SC
oddly with his mothers querulous and
tear-worn visage, won for him the SOU
briquet of Widow Minton's rainbow
The minister of the parish, mistaken
soul, deemed it incumbent to make a
call on the widow; and, on charity bent,
it is said he unwarily offered to employ
her services in his household for a sea-
son. he deemed it his duty to rouse
the old woman TO activity.
he did rouse her; and it is averred
that he never found time to call at the
cabin again. Did he take her for com
mon household drudge, or low-born
field hand? She thanked God she had
too mpch spirit left yet to put herself
under anybody's feet. He hadn't far to
go to find scores of drudges and dig
ger, but he might go further before be
knew lady when he saw her. 11.
It might have been the afternoon after
the good mans visit that the widow
sat idly brooding at her cabin door
Her eyes had wandering, far-aWay
look, and her face was keener and thin
ner than ever. Beyond the bluff which
sheltered her cabin, stretched q far-line
of sea coast, tine white sand cleaning
silvery In the sun. Far off q group OF
bathers, In bright dresses, froicked be.
tween shore and water. They came
from the great hetel down beyond; she
could almost catch the sound of their
voices as she 9at slowly, rocking in her
doorway. It was q quiet afternoon; the