The Red Cloud chief., 1876-01-13
SEEING BETTER DAYS,

SEEING BETTER DAYS.
The widow Minton had seen better
days. How far back wasn't exactly GER
tilted; but she had seen them. Better
days thung modify about her, like the
dcfaced shreis of an ~anti9uated en-
brOidery.
The sturdy gossips of the sea side viii
lage, 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
p:tiful meagerness of aspect, her flick
cring black eye, and her trailing old
gown. They nudged each other, and said,
"Better days-Lord save u.s."
Eut the widow did not trouble the
neighbors much, nor they her. A body
who couldn't do a heartsome hands
stirring was best left alone to- her brood
irg, and the widows smoky little cabin
solidarity apart on the seashOre, was left
pretty much to herself and her boy Tom.
Tom was a sturdy, brown faced lad,
who picked up a living by doing odd
jobs for the boatmen, and now and then
taking a day for fishing. Tom had
probably never seen better days. The
widow shook her head over him-so
stupidity content, poor Tom. SO beaming
and good natured over beggarliness and
hopclessness. A tail, well grown fellow,
with bare feet, a tern straw hat, and a
red shirt, Tom took the world easy,
looking with reverent eyes on his
mothers by-gonc gentility, but by no
means seeming to covet it for herself.
The widow deemed it due to her past
responsibility 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 and 4 certain doubtful hesitancv of
gait, as if heaven itself might be look
ing down critically on her shabby black
gown and rusty bonnet. AS for Tom,
patient Tom, he went Flooding slowly
after her, with his smiling face, whist.
ling to himself as he went. Always
patient, always %plodding, poor Tom
Patiently falling asleep during the SER
mon, and patiently listening. open
mouthed, TO the closing hymn, his care
less, bright face, contrasting s o oddly
with his mothers querulous and tear
worn visage, won for him the sobriquet
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 season.
He deemed it his duty 10 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 a
common household drudge, or a low
born field hand9 She thanked God she
had too much spirit left yet to put her.
self under anybody's feet. He hadn't
far to go to find scores of drudges and
diggers, but he might go further, before
he knew a lady when he saw her.
1t might have been the afternoon al
ter the good mans visit that the widow
sat idly %broOding at her cabin door.
Her eyes had a wandering. far-away
look, and her face was keener snd thin
ner than ever. Beyond the bluff which
sheltered her cabin, stretched a far liue
Of sea coast, the white sand cleaning
silvery in tine u n Far off a group Of
bathers, in bright dresses, frolicked be-
tween shore and water. They came
from the great hotel Town beyond; she
could almost catch the sound of their
voices as she sat slowly rocking in her
doorway. 1t was q quiet afternoon; the
air was soft snd soothing, and the
widows heart so full of bitterness, telt
itself sweeten and soften in the still
ness. This part of the shore, sheltered
by its overhangipg rock, was seldom
disturbed by intruders, but presently
the watchers eye caught sight of a
young girl splsshing and frolicking In
the water just beyond the rocks. 1t was
3 pretty sight, the rounded arms, the
curv!ng shoulders, the swaying, floating
figure. Ard perhaps the old uni
recalled with a sigh the time when she
WAS young and blithe too, and had As
CHEEKY a voice as shat with which the
fair swimmer hailed her companion in
the distance.