The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-10-12

She said, why shouldn't Ibe patent with
her queer ways +? Wasn't It one ofher qneer
ways to keep rue and love me and make
me her chiIa, when I could be but little
better than clog and a burden -
So the two grew together, great ten
derness fostered in the woman heart, and
gratitude in the girls. John was always
a good son, but from The date of Sarah's
misfortune he seemed 70 develop new ex-
cellences. He neglected no duty about the
farm, but at the same time he made his
presence feltin hundred new ways in the
house.
Hes as def as q woman" his mother
said, "and sometimes I seem scarcely to
I miss Sarah's help. / don't know how he
/ finds time to do it, butJohn just takes The
heft of the work off from me-
And SO he did, aud this IS the way he
showed bis love When the women arose
IL tie morning, the fire was made, and the
kettle singing wood enough for the day
was at the door; the COWS we're MIXED,
and the table lifted out to its place ready
to he set fur breakfast And so ten years
had passed, and Sarah's health slowly
came back to her, but the crutches could
never be laid aside. Mrs. Sloeum thought,
and not wrongly, that there wasn't such
another pair as her children to be found in
the parish. John at thirty was splendid
man, and Sarah at twenty-five, albeit her
iufrnity had somewhat tempered mirth-
fitness, was a noble woman. In Johns
clear gray eyes there was q wistful look
that seemed to be pleading for something
/ "a look that one seldom sees in any bat
the eyes of women and children.
One night the meaning Of the look was
expressed in words There vas no romance
about it, no delightful moonlight walk il
the lane with his sweetheart when .his
simple declaration Of love was made. The
three, Mrs. Slocum and the young people,
sat one autumn evening by the kitchen
fire. All three were pairing and stringing
apples for drying, when suddenly, as if the
thought had never occurred TO her before,
Mrs. Socum said:
"John, I'm growing old, and itseems to
me you ought to be thinking of getting
married"
"Well, mother. John answered, simply,
II have been thinking Of it good while" "
A faint glow stole up to Sarah's checks,
aIta Tauea 0uU sfrfEt. lez4f ffEE4z
than before, but no one noticed it, and Mrs.
Slocum said:
"Been thinking Of t, have yon, John
And who is the girl, I'd ike to know, that
you calculate to bring home to take my
place23
II wasn't thinking Of bringing any one
to take your place, mother-no one could
do that and, indeed, am not-sure at all
that the woman | would marry would think
ofme."
1stuf and nonsense, said the Old lady
iraseibly; "as ifyou were not good enough
for any bodyl Not take my place, eh?
know all about sons wives. She's smar
enough, and win be turning things upside
down, and Sarah and me out. Its that Bet
tv Smith, I suppose. She's smartenopgh
: I'll allow too smart. Why don'tyou speak
John? Is It Betty?"
"Eo, mother il is
"Unpb Jane Carroll I'll warrant
! aashy, uPstart thing 50 you've been tax
en IN with her boarding sirs. a ME
hoasekeeper sbe!l make, stramming
ianer all day, and the wheelidle r
mo, mother, it's not Jane"
"WeIl, who is ii, then? Can't you speak
/ never knew bit one girl ga ike you I
marry, but / suppose yoa can't have he
WHY don'tyou speak ?o
John laughed little quiet laugh, an
said, Mother, # you'a give ne . chance
LII tell. The gisl Of ny cnoice Is rigf
! here by your side. Sarah, I've loved yo
these dozen years. viii YOU marry me
Sarab's head sank down % Ter arm
and she said never d word, until the y
lady said, rather sharply
"Whats the matter, Sarah? Aren I yo
going to answer The boy? Isn't he goo
! a,,o,1,b for voIo You're the only Girl