The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-12-22

very near it. But no one noticed it but
Lizzie, who sat behind the tea-urn now,
and, I fear, thought of nothing but the
minister, who In his turn seemed to
have eyes only for that tender, placid
face, on whose temples shone the silver
curls of beautiful old age, the face OF
the dear mother. 80 - -
"Hope you've enjoyed your tea, sir, =
said the farmer, as they drew up to the
fire, and mother Rolf took her knitting
needles from the little checkered basket
on the small stand in the corner.
Bless me, it does me so much good to
see mother here! I'm that lonesome
when she's gone that feel like q feather
floating, raOn't know where"
"Father is SO used to me, - murmured
mother Meadows, smiling, while the fire
gave the bloom and the look of youth to
her aged face. i:
"Wer, yes, If forty years together
makes folks used to each other. You
see one of our children, Ann, is deli
cate, and mother has to 90 there some
times; for tell you, after all, there's
no nurse like mother. The Lord
blessed us in daughters, sir. We've got
three. did hope to have a son in my
old age, to take care of things gin'rally.
Or if they'd become something besides
farmers wouldn't "a cared. It would
asset me up wonderful, I expect, to
have a minister for son. Perhaps the
Lord saw it want good for me. I'm
not the one to blame the Lord for my
own folly.
"My boys were fine boys, but didn't
know how to treat 'em. I was brought
up pretty much alone, and didn't know
boy nature. Bill and Benny were bright
little fellows; handsome, too, like my
old lady here; but l spoiled 'em by be-
ing overstrict. It makes me ache some
times to think how went on with them
children. Bill, he was the wild one; ]
tried to bend him.. but l broke him, sir.
He was quiet enough, but too fond of
his way. The other was more gentle,
and had great hope of him. Mother,
here, she used to try to soften my hard
ways, but l had my own ideas about
governin', and would carry them out if
l died for it. The stick first, the stick
last, and the stick always"
"There is a better way" said the
visitor.
"No doubt of that, sir. Why, do you
know when them boys was planting
with me the minute they'd begin to
talk, I'd stop 'em. No talk while at
wOrk'-that was my motto. No wonder
they rebelled; no wonder they hated
me-"
"They didn't hate you, father, - came
from the corner of the fireplace, with
mild emphasis.
"I'm afraid they did, old lady, and
can't say l wonder. They loved each
other, them two boys. If one was
whipped, and that one was gin'rally
Bill, the other would stick to him
through thick and thin. I've known
little Benny to git on his knees to me
for his brother. Well, and he sighed
painfully-"God forgive me. He knows
l thought I was doin' right
"And Benny" asked the stranger,
"what became of him?''
"Ah, sir, Christmas is something sad
to me. Benny was growing up to be
our joy and pride-17 years old, sir,
fine, manly fellow-when hewas brought
home, five years ago to-day, by three
men. In this room they brought him,
sir, stark and dripping, on this very
night, as it were. A weary, weary
Christmas that was, with his dear dead
body in the next room. As full of
health and fun he was when he went
out to skate with the little girl he hoped
to marry-and-that's the way he come
home. There was a soft place on the
ice. She was just saved, poor thing!
A good, good lad he was. He's gone to
heaven. He never give US scarce any
trouble, from his babyhood.
"You don't ask after the other one
Bill" said the old farmer, curiously.
There was no answer.
"Bill was the one broke, and the
boy got to hate me. Yes, he did, old
lady, and I'm not going to. blame him,
either. see things with a clearer light
now. One day 1 beat him for telling
me falsehold, as thought. He didn't,
though; found that out afterwards"
The old farmer shook his head sor-
rowfully, and his pale blue eyes grew
dim. an never forget how he turned
upon me at the last. Says he, You'll
be bitter sorry for this some day, father.
You've always been unkind and unjust
to me, and won't submit to it any
longer
"What! Child of mine to talk to me
that way! Why, I don't know but
what if l hadn't been sort of paralyzed
for minute, and had got hold of him,
I'd killed him, was that mad. l
don't wonder you shake your head; but
they say an open confession is good for
the soul. Mother, dear heart, she plead
ed and prayed, but vowed I'd beat
him again for that bit of insolence.
"Well, sir, 1 never got the chance.
That happened at Christmas, too. Liz
~ was baby then. Yes, that mornin'
l found Christmas present from Bill
he'd spent all his earnings for months,
Ben told me to get it-but there wasn't
no Bill" the old voice faltered. :" He
left letter-and in that he said-good
bye-to all of Us, even to old Susie, out
in the stable. You'll excuse me-" and
the horny hands fumbled for handker-
chief; 81 thought l could tell the story
but somehow can't"
Mother Meadows had turned her face
away to hide the two slow tears falling
from eyes that had often wept. Lizzy
was looking out of the window, perhaps
at the moon. sE
The minister sat like statue, arms
folded on his breast, lips fastened to-
gether, eyes fixed as if upon some vision
that troubled him, but the folded arms
heaved up with the deep chest breath
ing.
"There, I'm through now" said the