Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-23

be We stoppin' for? Sos 10 g,ow,' ses
he, cooler'n . cucumber. Grow says
l. Yes ses he. Its q reel CROWN
day /: the aint heap such DAYS; sun .
shinin.' birds signin,' wind blowin'
real soft mostly we're friz to death 10
this world: kinder stunted, Deacon; I
want to grow whilst I can; there's
morc'n forty daysi1n the wilderness to
work, We know Well, i'll didn't let
him be Taint no use talkin' TO him
when he gets a Gurus notion like that
holt on him."
There's somethin' TO most o his no
tions, that's . fact" replied the old
lady. 81 kinder wonder whether or no
he amt got the right ont, Mr.. Ellery.
Mebbe ef we'd took more sunshine into
us along back, you an me would't ha'
been so dreadful rheumstick."
''He's . queer genus, anyhow" NUT
tered the deacon, walking off; but it
was to be observed after this that the
old man sat in the south doorway more
than he ever had done; and that his
wife let IN all the sunshine into her
bed room and kitchen that the small
green paned windows allowed. II they
were too old to be cured Of rheuma-
tism, at least the rooms grew CHEEKY
and the air sweet, and spectacles did
them more good than usual.
They would neither have read or re-
membered hygienic treatise Oh the
benefits OF sun and air. but they had
sense enough to accept the homely
wisdom Of Jericho jim, and brains
enough not 10 let carpets stand be-
tween them and comfort.
Before many months Jim became a
sort Of neighborhood courier; he ped
died milk for the deacon, and dispens-
cd with his quarts and puts all the
news Of the village. Many n good
woman waited eagerly for his coming,
and ran out with her apron over her
head, not merely for the pitcher OF
fresh. sweet. rich iuid, but To hear
about "Mis'" Aliens sick baby, or
Jones's grandmother who broke her
leg last week. or Sary Penny's CON-
pany from York; and it was strange
enough TO see how quantity and deity
Jim fitted his story TO the hearer. With
the curious instinct that sometimes
dwells in the souls Of those We conceit-
edly call half-witted, he seemed to
comprehend the characters he met, to
understand their wants and their ways
and many was the word in season
carelessly dropped from his lips that
did n blessed errsnd, all the more be-
cause it was uttered by the foolish
ness of man.
''Did ye stop TO Harris's to-day 2" in
quired the deacon, as Jim rode up TO
the gate one frosty morning, with clat-
tering empty cans.
"Well. l expect did"
Len the quart, spose, n didn't
| get nothin' for't:"
NO, sir. give 'em somethin' to
boot. Ole Harris came 10 the door
fort she's done up. Doctors gig was
a stannin' there, an he was clus up 70
the windcr mixin' . mess, n ole Har-
ris seq: BE you Ellery's fools Yes,
be. YOU bet, sez l, poo,y cherk. Then
he larfei rough as bark. Give US a
| quart, SEE he ); Il hain't got no change
to-day We'll, sez l. it amt no mat.
ter s longs ye're 10 hum; Deacon's
willin' to trust folks 7 stay TO hum.
He looked orful beat nd mad. nd see
the doctor lardn' /; but he took tke milk,
md whipped up, tell ye."
Jericho Jim never knew that Tim
Harris stayed at home through his
wife's long illness, simply, TO be sure.
since he bad no money TO buy il with,
that the delicate baby, sole survivor Of
six, should have its regular food for
drunkard and idler as he was, be had q
passionate, reasonable fondness tor his
children; and when one after another
they died, he sought fresh consolation
At the whisky-shop. But this one lived.
ihanks 10 its sudden weaning FROM its
heart-broken, worn-out mother, whose
bitter troubles and meagre food had
poisoned even the draught Of life for
her babies, aud sent them 70 untimely
graves. While she lay helpless and
raving with fever for nine long weeks,
Tim stayed at home, nursed her Is we'll
Ms he could, tended and fed the baby,
who learned to cry for him, instead of
crying at the sight Of him as all the
Others had, and getting fat and rosy
on the yellow milk that Jim brought
daily in little pail from the Deacon's
Alderney, wound itself round the faith
er's heart, kept him with bands strong
er than iron from his evil haunts,
taught him to live without bis stimu-
liant, at least for 90 long; and estab-
lished Q hold on him. never lost. 1t
was little Rosy Harris who in after
years cOaxed her father into good hab-
its, aud made her mothers last days
bright and calm; but it was Jericho
Jim who began the good work with his
unauthorized statement Of the deacOn's
willingness 70 trust mao who ''stsyed
to hum"
| Curious enough, too, were Jim's peace
making propensities. These ciouded or
sirsyI0x minds sometimes take = certain
elish delight In mischief. but his desire
and delight WAS peace. Miss Nancy Vance
was thin aud somewhat little old mail,
| Jct SuSFu VIII xoou ueni VI ocuses ouo
tOierably reasonable; xb0ut half . mile
from her little brown house, where she
lived with y bed-ridden mother. aud did
tailoring, lived the Widow Payne, q noisy,
good-uaiured.g hixh-tempered woman;
quick to resent or TO fancy an injury. but
equally quick to forgive. Between her aud
Miss Nancy ragged feud Of such strength
aud bitterness IS Is only to be found in .
little country village between people whose
minds are narrowed by their limited hOri.
zOn aud slight experience. They were
both church members. but they would
neither look Ut each other across the meet
ing house, nor recognize each other in the
porch. Miss Nancy always called Mrs.
Pike that pesky widow" and was styled
10 return with more yigo: than reticeuce,
That dsrned old maid"
Jericho jim was aware Of this, and many
time shrunk ~ If from y pin prick. or .
blow when one began 70 vituperate the
other. and openly evaded the subject.
| 81 sss,se r,ld Nance VnuS. takes half 4