The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-05-23
nothin' mean or contrivin' about

nothin' mean or contrivin' about
mo -
"1'm sure there isn't, Jane" | said.
"And | hate a meddler; but ever
since Belindy died Johns just buried
himself down there AT his place on Long
Island beautiful place bcyu t(M'
repeated Jane, unctuously, Tree
fairly laden down with fruit and what
with new>laid eggs and cream, anC
home, made hams and sausage, the place
is next door to paradise. There am
no manner O use of Johns givin' W
his whole liIe TO mournin' over Belindy
she had good time of it while she
lived never had to raise hand. john
that foolish about woman that she
never has to raise a hand, and that
something for poor strugglin' widow
TO think of, isn't it, Nelly"
Yes" ! stammered out, my face in {
glow, and Il world OF confusion battling
at my heart. This good creature Jane
had evidently invited her brother Johr
purposely to see me, and though hel
intentions were good, what must he
think of my meeting him halfway in hi'
consolation a little while ago? Oh, how
bold and contriving he had found me
How in the world was TO know he was
wdowcr, and invited down foraspeciaI
purpose?
ooh, why didn't you tell me, Jane ?'
cried
"Wcll, you see, couldn't tell how it
would turn out. John didn't know
there was a mortgage on Susan's pro-
pcrty,"
Susan % repeated.
Yes; you know Susau-my hus
bands sister. She's comm down on {
visit to-day, and John says he don't care
n pin about the mortgage; he's only
afraid he can't care for Susan, You
see, his heart was bound up in BE
Indy
began to understand that it was moi
my lonely condition that Jane had in
terested herself to amelorate, but that
of her husbands sister Susan. 1t took
quite a weight of confusion from my
heart, but left it strangely sad and dis
! c0mfted. 1t was so hard to be alone
and desolate, and have nobody care
whether one lived or died, and Susan
WAS so much better Off than !
81 thought Susan was quite comforta-
bly, situated" said.
"WelI, there's the mortgage" said
Jane; "she keeps botherin' us about
that mortgage all the time, and my hus-
band can't undertake to bolster up all
hii relations. You see, / ust told John
all about it, and it's business transac-
tion, Nelly. If she gets John we won't
hear any more about the mortgage
began to lose all interest in the con
versatlOn and remembered that my poor
dear Howard had told me how sOrdd ant
m9rcenary all these people were. ltw wa
really dreadful to hear the most SACRED
sentiments OF life degraded to the leve
OF mere business transactions. Jane
Brother John didn't look like this kint
OF person, but OF course he must be
The whole thing so confused and be
wiIdered me that | went away withOu
my thyme, after all
We all know what appalling thing
can happen in an incredibly shor
space OF time, and our dearest hope
are blasted when VIC least look for :
calamity. | had not expected to be
absent five minutes, and had left my
kitchen window open, rs the morning
was so balmy aud sweet. Imagine my
dimay when | saw astrangc catactuaIly
standing on my kitchen table and help.
ing herself to the meat which had al
ready cost me 80 much trouble He WAS
a lean and hungry animal, with murky
green eyes; and though he fed az my
approach, and had not made much pro
gress in his meal, Of course The damage
WAS irreparable. | felt as Byron did
about the little Walter. "What you ve
touched you may take" said, and flung
the meat after the green-eyed monster.
Then banged down the window, shut
ont the balmy air. and looked dOleluIly
at the miserable materials left to me.
might have borrowed any one of them,
or all Of them, it the meat had been
there, but I couldn't ask Jane for the
meat it would be like the !rishman
be !ging the loan of an egg for his pinch
OF salt. Ne; it was plain to be seen
that little Howard must go without his
Sunday dinner. didn't care for myself,
but my poor little iatherless boy would
sullrr for my carelessness and neglect
Ard, truth to say, he was not wont to
suffer in silence or uncompIainingly.
should have a terrible day, and began to
feel more and more that lite was hid
eOus anG unbearable burden. saw
through the front window a lady 90 by
wearing a sealskin sacque. | could not
think it possible it was Susan. But il
wss--yes, it was Susan. She had the
seaskin sacque which she had so long
coveted. Some people were born to gooo
luck. Heaven forbid any injustice or
my part, or useless repining at the ways
of providence, but it did seem hard that
Susan should have everything. To crown
all, | saw somebody else pass my win
dow. II was James brother John, with s
lovely bunch of viOlets in his hand. II,
was only few rods behind Susan h,
would soon overtake her and give he
the violets with some nice little speecl
about her eyes, which, | remembered
were washed-out blue. Then thel
would 90 into one of James appetizini
little lunches, while | and psor littl
Howard would sit down to a crust, AM
the end OF it would be that Susal
wouldn't have to raise a hand, while ! =
Well, | must go about my sweepin
right straight away.
Which ! did at once. But the sal
and bitter tears that iell from my eye
ought to have allayed the dust of m,
dining room. didn't care for anything
30 much as my little Howard's disap
pointment. How could confess to tn
child that | had left his precious bit o
meat to be devoured by that green.eyet
monster. He would kick aud cry ant
refuse to be comierted; and | should be
| ,no,t ,ni.arah hla