The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-05-03

eagerly united and unfolded it. The
motto was printed in large German text,
easy to read, though gay with gold and
colors, and it ran thus:
"Take us the foxes. the little foxes that
spoil the vines, for our vines have tender
grapes"
Mabel stared.
Mother. what on earth does it mean?'
Mrs. Lee smiled and sighed, both, as she
read the legend over the girls shoulder.
"Look here, Mab," said she, slipping q
fiat gold hoop off her third finger, and the
girl read inside, " Beware of little foxesp'
and looked up, freshly astcnished, into her
mothers face.
/ suppose grandma means me to tell
you story, Mabel, which she told me
when l was first engaged. 1t hurt her
bitterly to tell it; but it did me much
good. I think she could not bring her.
self to tell you. You are not her daugh.
ter, and cannot love her as do, and you
never have had reason to pity her as
have. You never saw Grandfather Jarvis,
Mabel"
why, I thought he died before l was
born"
mo, he died ten years ago in Brazil.
never saw him myself, Nab; he never even
knew he had a daughter"
"Mother!'
Mrs. Lees lovely dark eyes filled with
tears as she drew Mabel down beside her
ON the sofa.
~ have been told that grandma was q
very beautiful, high.spiritcd girl at your
age, dear; animated. brilliant, thoroughly
satisfied with herself and her surround
ings, especially when Jonathan Jarvis
fell in love with her. Her father died
when she was three years old, and her in.
valid mother adored the child, and spoiled
her even more than do YOU"
Mabel kissed the soft hand laid on her
shoulder, and gave it a willful little bite:
"DOn't be horrid, nanny, or shall
eat you right up. As if was one bit
spoiled"
"If you were not, my child, you would
not need grandma's lesson. She was
spoiled, as said, and Jonathan Jarvis
knew it, but he was bewitched by her
spirit and beauty, and thought, as men
are apt to think, that he could control and
cure all that. She loved him, too, very
deeply, after her fashion, and there was
nothing to delay their marriage, but the
day was scarcely fixed when her mother
suddenly sank and died. Grandmother
did not mourn so hopelessly that it was
thought best to put off her marriage,
though, out of respect to her mothers
memory, there was no wedding party, and
the happy pair began their life at once
in the old homestead, where grandma lives
to-day.
1.-THE outlook before these two was very
fair; youth, health, competency, what
seemed to be devoted love, made them an
apparently enviable couple; but no sooner
were these unbroken wills brought into
daily contact than trouble began.
"You may laugh, Mabel, but their first
dispute was about coffee-pot. Mother
preferred the old fashioned urn, her hus-
band the newer style Of pitcher. Neither
would yield in a mere matter of taste, and
this was the beginning of evil.
"Silly? Yes, it looks wonderfully silly
to us: but think heard very warm
discussion only yesterday on the proper
style of riding hats for lady"
Mabel colorcd TO the waves of her dark
hair, and tried to smile.
"They came to a compromise on this
matter, agreeing to drink chocolate in
place OF coffee; but other small disputes
followed; they all burnt in on grandma's
mind, but l forget most of them, SO
slight and trivial were the matters of dis
cussion, though they grew to active means
of torment.
IA child was born, and Jonathan, in
his sad and sore heart, thought that would
bring peace, and his indignant and
grieved wife hoped it also, for each
blamed the other as cOmbatants will; but
the baby's eyes never saw their strife; it
died, and the hope died with it. Little
frets are what wear away love and life,
Mabel. My poor father!-and my poor
mother! There was NO kindly friend to
say judicious word to either. They
showed a smiling front to the world out
side, but grew more alienated daily.
"There was no real quarrel, no vital
disagreement, but the hourly fret of un.
disciplined tempers, impatient natures,
strong wills and a self-cOnsiderati0n that
forbade yielding, that cherished pride and
petulance, that recognized no duty except
as owed to itself.
"The end of these things fastened,
Before the nameless babe had slept in its
green grave year, father had set out fol
Brazil in merchant vessel, leaving this
short adieu to his wife:
"'You can say 1 have gone South on business
Mehetabel, he wrote, but yOu must know
shall never come back. am tired of living in
torment, and you will be glad to part with one
who could never please you. 30 farewell
mother was frantically angry at first
She raved in her own chamber over what
she termed q mortal insult, but, as day
after day came on, and her loneliness and
weakness grew over her, she began to see
things more honestly; and when news
came that the ship had fOundered at sea,
and all hands persisted, then she was en-
tirely Frustrated. As she told me, her
past life rose up, looked her in the face,
and struck her down.
II was prematurely born, and a very
long illness carried her to the gates OF the
grave. She recovered at last, . stern and
saddened woman, with only one interest
in her life; but she brought me up will
strictness and care, tenderly as she loved
me; and when was about to take my life
up for myself. told me this bitter story, and
gave me this ring.
"If had killed the little foxes sale
she, sadly, might to-day have goodly
vineyard of my own. Beware of them
Hetty. They have spoiled my life.'
"And after all, Mabel, my father wa!
not lost on that wreck. He was picket
up by another vessel, and, under an as
sumed name. lived ON in Brazil. In tn
grasp of mortal illness, he wrote to Iii
wife, asking and giving pardon. 1t wa
from him that all her wealth came, blu
she has never forgiven herself"
"Poor grandma!" sobbed Mabel, ant
l have been SO horribly hateful to her!'
"It will console her for all your freaks
my darling, if you only profit by her pitt
full story"
The next time Grandma Jarvis cam
| over Mabel greeted her with a strinpen