The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-01-15
SFElNG BETTER DAYS.

How far back wasn't exactly certified; bu
she had seen them. Better days hung mold
lily about her, Ike the dctaced shreds of al
tiquated embroidery
The sturdy gossirs of the seaside village
who went about with their skirts tucked III
and their bare brown arms ready and able 10
any work, looked askance AT the widow Min
ton, with her pitiful meagcrness OF aspect, he
Pickering black eyes and her trailing Ole
gown. They nudged each other, and SAID
Better davs-Lord save us
But the widow did not trouble the neigh
bors, nor they her. A body who couidn dc
a heartsomc hands stirring was best left alon'
TO her brooding and the widows smoky lit
tie cabin, solidarity apart on the sea.shorc
was left pretty much to herself and her boy
Tom.
Tom was sturdy, brown-iaced lad, who
picked up living by doing odd jobs Tor the
boatmcn, and now and then taking day ioi
fishing. Tom had probably never seen bet
tier DAYS. The widow shook her head over
him-so stupidity content, poor Tom. so beam
ing and good natured over beggariness and
hopclessncss. A tell, well.grown fellow, with
bare feet, a torn straw hat, and red shirt
Tom took the world easily, looking with rev
crent eyes on his mothers by.gonc gentility
but by no means seeming 10 covet ii for him
self
The widow deemed it due 10 her past res.
pectability TO be seen at church OF Sunday
evening, and you could see the two walking
at twilight along the sands together, she with
her clean pocket.handkcrchief folded over
her old hymn book and certain doubtful
hositarCy OF gait, as it heaven itself might be
looking down critically on her shabby black
gown and rusty bonnet. AS for Tom, patient
Tom, he went ploddlng slowly after her, with
lin, Inp al, hu
Always patient, always plodding, poor Tom
Patiently falling asleep during the sermon,
and patiently listening, opcn-mouthcd, TO the
closing hymn, his careless, bright face, con
trasting so oddly with his mothers querulous
and tear-wOrn visagc, won for him the SOU
| briquet of Widow Minton's rainbow.
| The minister OF the parish, mistaken soul,
deemed il incumbent 10 make Il call on the
widow; and, on charity bent, 1t is said he I'M
warly offered TO employ her services in his
household for II season. lie deemed it his
duty t. rouse the old woman TO activity.
lie did rouse her; and il Is averred that he
never found time to call at The cabin again.
did he take her for common household.
drudge, or low born field hand? She thank
ed God she had too much spirit left yet to put
herself under anybody's feet. He hadn't far
TO go TO lind scores of drudgcs and dIggers,
dy when he saw her.
1t might have been the afternoon after the
good mans visit that tht widow sat idly
brooding ut her cabin door. Her eyes had a
wandering, tar-away look, and her race was
kcener and thinner than ever. Beyond the
bluff which sheltered her cabin, stretched
iar.linc Of seacoast, the white sand cleaning
silvery in the sun. Far of a group OF bathers,
in bright dresses, froliCked between shore and
and water. They came from the great hotel
down beyond snc could almost catch the
sound OF their voices as she sat slowly rock.
ing in her doorway. 1t was quiet afternoon
the air was soft and soothing, and the wild
owls heart so full Of bitterness felt itself
swecten and soften in the stiffness. This part
Of the shore, sheltered by its ovcrhanging
rock, was seldom disturbed by intruders, but
presently the watchers eye caught sight of a
young girl splashing and frolicklns in the
water Just beyond the rocks. 1t was pretty
sight, the rounded arms the curving Shout
ders, The swaying, Boating figure. And per
haps the old woman recalled with sigh the
time when she was young and blithe too, and
had as cherry voice as that with which the
fair swimmer hailed her companions in the
distance.
Gazing abscntly on the smiling scene, a re-
verie fell upon her, aud when she looked
again, the young water-nymph had disappear.
ed She had probably swan ashore behind
the rocks The widow turned away, Rugged
her thin shawl over her shoulders, and
thought the sea wind was chilly Hank
What was that? Surely she heard cry No
merry shout or ringing laugh, this; it mil ht
DO the ciy of u wild bird on its way TO its
mate.
She couldn't have got beyond her depth,
that young creature, surely. But, la! what OF
1t 1t she had! Dying young, body gets quit
OF "a deal of trouble. And--Ies, surely, that
Was a scream. The widow looked sharply
out. Would Tom never come: The tide was
rising, and-and something certainly was the
matter. She called-si,e bcckoned iranlicaly
to the bathcrs bcyond-lhey seemed both
blifd and deaf
No one, not soul, Al hand, and tina, young
thing In peril Of life, a minute she stood
STILL listening, "A feeble uld woman with bag.
gard, scared lace, to which no one would have
dreamed of looking Tor help
II cant stand THIS, she said. 1t seems
might pull out that OLD scow myself Tom,
she screamed, with yell that held the con.
ocniratcd energy OF ten years. But no Tom
appeared. And 1t was the widow herself,
with those wlthercd old hands that disdained
the minister's kitchen wurk-it was the wild
ow herself, who, stralning Juggling and with
her grey hair ilu;tering in the wind, Embossed
the old dug.out from liz moorings, and trem-
bling, unssillful, armed with rude paddle,
went spinning out dlzzily over the water. 1t
leaked, the old scow; IL scorncd the broken
paddle aud the heavy oars; but finally II
came drifting out blindly To the object OF her
search. A plump hand, with a glittering ring
upon ii, cutched the edge of the boat, nearly
upsettlng II. A young, eager face, with
streaming hair, looked up from the water,
and gasplng, snuddcrlug, hal drowned, and
wholly scared, the young water nymph was
presently aboard the old craft
"Uh, how frightened | was she cried. Il
felt sure was losing my strength, and would
20 10 the bottom. Oh, you good soul. you
dear soul how did you ever set To me in tins
watcr.logged claftE'
ut has seen its best days, certain, said the
widow, Juggling al the oars.
You don't look aOlc Tor such work, said
the girl