Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-11-03

it, but John just takes the heft of
the work off from me.D
And so he did, and this is the way
he showed his love. When the
women arose in the morning, the
fire was made and the kettle sing
ing; wood enough for the day was
at the door; the cows were MIXED,
and the table lifted out of its place
ready to be set for breakfast. And
so ten years had passed, and Sarah's
health slowly came back to her, but
the erutches could never be laid
aside. Mrs. Slocum thought, and
not wrongly, that there wasn't such
another pair as her children to be
found in the parish. John at thirty
was a splendid man, and Sarah at
/ twenty-five, albeit her infirmity had
somewhat tempered mirthfulness,
was a noble woman. In Johns
clear gray eyes there was a wistful
look that seemed to be pleading for
something's look that one seldom
sees in any but the eyes of women
and children.
One night the meaning of the
look was expressed in words. There
was no romance about it, no delight
full moonlight walk in the lane with
/ his sweetheart when his simple dec
laratiOn 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 dry
ing, when suddenly, as if the
thought had never occurred to her
before, Mrs. Slocum said:
"John, Pm growing old, and it
seems to me you ought to be think
ing of getting married"
"Well, mother" John answered,
simply, ~ have been thinking of it
a good while"
A faint glow stole up to Sarah's
cheeks and faded out again, leaving
them paler than before, but no one
noticed it, and Mrs. SlOcum said:
'Been thinking of it, have you,
John? And who is the girl, I'd like
to know, that you calculate to bring
home to take my placer"
81 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
l would marry would think of me"
Stuff and nonsense" said the old
lady, irascibly; "as if you were not
good enough for anybody! Not
take my place, eh? / know all
about sons wives. She's smart
enough, and will be turning things
upside down, and Sarah and me
out. It's that Betty Smith, sup
pose. She's smart enough, Tll al
I l., ont ii
speak, John? Is it Betty"'
"No, mother, it is"
"Uuph! Jane Carroll, I'll war;
rant; fiashy, upstart thing! So
you've been taken in with her board
school airs. A nice househeeper
shell make, stunning pianer all
day, and the wheel idle!"
mo, mother, it's not Jane"
"Well, who is it, then? Can't
YOU speak? | never knew but one
girl I'd like you to marry, but l
suppose you can't have her. Why
don't you speak?"
John laughed a little quiet laugh,
and said, "MOther, if you'll give
me a chance I'll tell. The girl of my
choice is right here by your side.
Sarah, I've loved you these dozen
years. VIII you marry me?"
Sarah's head sank down on her
arms, and said never a word, until
the old lady said, rather sharply.
"What's the matter, Sarah e?
Aren't you going to answer the
boy? Isn't he good enough for your"
You're the only girl l ever thought
| good enough for him, but since
you've been lame I'd kind o. given
up the idea. What are you going
to say to hinl?'
Sarah looked up through tears, and
said, go, John, / do love yOu-lOve
you too much to tie you to my mis-
fortune. Find some one else, JOhn?"
81 shan't do it" said John; made
up my mind long ago, only some
how between you and mother was
afraid to speak. But if Pm salts
fled with you, 1 don't know what
you and she have got to say against
it."
Sarah StenhOuse never repented
becoming Mrs. John SlOcum, and
| the old lady said it was "such a
comfort that John didn't marry out
of the family"