South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-06-16
SEEING BETTER DAYS.

ne WIDOW MlntOn had seen better
days. How far back wasn't exactly Ger
tilted; but she had seen them. Better
days hung modify about her, like the de-
faced shreds Of antiquated embroidery.
The sturdy gossips of the sea side
village, Who went about with their skirts
tucked up and their bare brown arms
ready and able for any work looked as.
kance at the widow Minton with her pit.
liui meagerness Of aspect, her pickering
black eve, and her trailing old gown
They nudged each other and said, "Bet.
ter d&ys-Lord save us -
But tho widow did not trouble the
neighbors much, nor they her. A body
who couldn't do n heartsome hand s
stirring was best left alone to her brood.
ing and the widows smoky little cabin,
solidarity apart on the sea-shore, was
f, 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 aday for fishing. Tom had pro.
baby never seen better days. The wild
ow shook her head over him-so stupid.
~ content, poor Tom! so beaming and
good-natured over beggarliness and hope
lessness. A tall, well-grown fellow,
with bare feet, torn straw hat, and a red
shirt, Tom took the world easily, look.
ing with reverent eyes on his mothers
by-gone gen:ility, but by no means
seeming to covert it for bimself.
The widok deemed it due to her past
responsibility to he seen at church of n
Sunday evening, and you could see the
two walking ut twilight along the sands
together, she with her clean pockethand-
kerchief folded over her old hymn book
and certain doubtful hcsitancy of gait,
as If heaven itself might be looking
dowa critically on her shabby black
gown and rusty bonnet. AS for Tom,
patient Tom, he went ploddiug slowly
after her, with his smiling face, whist.
ling to himself rs he went. Always
patient, always Flooding, poor Tom .
Patiently falling asleep daring the SER
mon, and patiently listening, open
mouthed, to the closing hymn, his care.
less, bright face. contrasting SO oddly
with his mothers queraioas and tear
worn visage> won for him the soubriquet
OF Widow Minton's rainbow.
The minister Of the parish, mistaken
SOUL deemed it incumbent to make 4
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 il is averrcd
that hc never found time TO call at the
cabin again. Did he take her for a com.
mon household drudge. or n low born
field hand? She thanked God she had
too much spirit left yet TO put herself
under anybody's feet. lie hadn't far to
go to find scores OF drudges and diggers,
but he might 90 further before he knew
lady when he saw her.
1t might have been the afternoon after
the good mans visit that the widow sat
idly brood:ng at her caoin door Her
eyes had n wandering, PARKWAY look.
and her face was keener aud thinner
han ever. Beyond the Bluff which
sheltered her cabin, stretched far line
OF sea-coast, the white sand cleaning
silvery in the sun. Far of group Of
bathers, in bright dresses, iroicIled be-
tween 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 door
way 1t was n quiet afternoon the air
was soft and soothing. and the widows
heart so full of bitterness, felt ITSELF
sweeten and soften in the Stiffness
This part of the shore, sheltered by its
ovcrhanging rock, was seldom disturbed
by intruders, but presently the wat cher
eye caught sight of a young girls splash.
ing and frolicking in the water just be.
You'd the rocks. IL was pretty sight,
the rounded arms, the curving shout.
ders, the swaying, floating figure. And
perhaps the old woman recalled with n
sigh the time when she was Young and
blithe too, and had "a CHEEKY voice rs
that which the fair swimmer hailed her
companions in the distance.
Gazing absently on the smiling scene
reverie fell upon her, and when she
looked again, the young water-nymph
had disappeared. She had probably
swun ashore behind the rocks. The
widow turned away. Rugged her thin
shawl over her shoulders, and thought
that the sea.wind was chilly. IIark
What was that Surely she heard n
cry. No merry shout or ringing laugh
this IL might be The cry Of a wild bird
on its way to its mate.
She couldn't have got beyond her
depth, that young creature surely. But.
In what Oft if she had Dying young.
body gets quit Of deal Of trouble. -
And-Yes, surely, that was scream.
The widow looked sharply out. Would
Tom never come? The tide was rising.
and-and something certainly was the
matter. She called shp horkoncJ frort;
cally to the bsthers bcyond-they seem.
ed blind and deaf.
No one, not one soul. ut hand, and
that young thing in peril OF life A
minute she stood still, listening fee.
bic old woman with haggard. scared
face, TO whom no one would have dream.
ed OF looking for help.
81 can't stand this" she said. "Seems