Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-31
JAMES BROTHER JOHN.

JAMES BRuTHER JUHN.
Only three little months since that Sat-
urdav morning, and yet how the world is
changed to me! l had promised my little
son his favorite dish of stuffed meat for
Sundays dinner, and had forgotten thyme,
the very..root and essence Of all flavors; so
in haste, with my sleeves rolled up, my
white apron on, and nothing but dust
ing cap on my head, rushed in to Jane,
singing cheerily to myself,
II know bank whereon the wild thyme blows'
In truth, Jane was bank where some
thing else could be had besides this fra
grant commodity. Many time had tided
over Sundays dinner with the help of a
pudding or pie from her capacious larder ;
and or! rare occasions, seasons OF dire ne
cessity-for Jane was more chary of money
than any thing else in the world-she had
lent me bit of currency, which l always
paid back at my earliest convenience, even
if was compelled to borrow it from some
body else, because I knew that, to be in
James favor, one must not forget what
she called a business transaction. I con-
fess with shame and remorse that have
lost count of half loaves of bread, Jumps
.of butter. small quantities Of vinegar, pep
per, mustard, even a scuttle of COAL
These things have passed from my memo
~, and left no distinct trace; but [ have
never failed, when have been compelled
to borrow money from my sister-in-law, to
put the amount down on the kitchen door,
and have even worn string on my finger
till the debt was wiped out. She wasn't
exactly my n-law-she was my bro
ther-in-law's brothers wjfe-but it amour
ted to the same thing, and I've even intro
duced her as my sister sometimes to save
ceremony. Jane generally explains, for
she is very conscientious and strict wo-
man, but the ramlfcations of relationship
are so intricate that 1 never stay to hear
them unravelled. On this Sunday morn
ing Of which speak I rushed into James
kitchen, singing,
ST know bank wherein the wild thyme blows"
but the notes died away in an embarrass-
ed cough. For there, by the kitchen range,
fitting back in his chair, and staring at
me with all his might, was a strange gen
tleman. One could see he was gentle
man at the first glance; and, truth to say,
all the good people that visited Jane did
not reach my idea of true gentility. In
the mean while warm, generous, encour-
aging smile lighted up bis face.
''My-my sister is out ?" I stammered,
looking about me for Jane.
"Your sister ?'' he said, inquiringly (;
and as Jane wasn't there was compelled
| to explain.
''Not exactly my sister," began; and
suddenly he broke in:
"Your sister-in-law, you mean ?''
ooh, what does it matter ?'' I said.
''It's of some little consequence to me"
he said, still smiling in his pleasant way,
and somehow felt as if I'd known him a
hundred years. Before knew it l began
telling him about the stuffed meat for my
little Towards Sunday dinner: I had to
wait for Jane, and it was stupid to stand
there and say nothing. At the least en-
couragement my tongue always ran like a
mill-race, and there was the brightest
of reasons for talking, when I had so rea-
dy and willing listener, and one so sym
pathizing and genial From my little
Howard it was the easiest thing in the
world to get back to his poor, dear papa.
and my heart was strangely warmed and
comforted by the gentle sympathy that
shone in the face of this kind gentleman
for my widowed and lonely condition.
AS usual, when my tongue ran ahead OF
my reason, / was brought up short by the
awkward consequence of this impulsiveness
of mine, and when L found that was act
ually being consoled by an entire stranger,
my tardy timidity took fright. and Ishould
have beaten retreat if he had not antici-
pated me-.
81 think Jane is coming he said. 81
! will go out for a walk, but hope soon to
see you again."
couldn't help smiling when he smiled,
to save my life. He caught up his hat
from the dresser, and went to the door.
"Why, where are you going .John?" said
| Jane, upon the threshold.
''I'll be back presently he said, and
with another little nod to me, he disap-
peared.
s'To think of that woman next door stick
ing pin in her baby's eye!'' said Jane.
II declare to goodness, woman that
won't sew hooks and eyes or buttons on
her dress don't deserve to have a baby!''
FASTENED to turn sideways to Jane. My
poor dear Howard used to say that every
embrace of his was at the risk of being
stabbed with pin or needle, so, to change
the subject, 1 asked Jane who the gentle
man was that had just left us.
"Why, that's brother John, said Jane
''brother John, from Long Island. He's
such home body | guess you've never
seen him BEFORE" Here Jane paused, and
winked her eye at me, and smiled. Her
smile was like her brother Johns, and lit
up her whole face. ''You see," Jane went
on, beginning to mould her bread. but
still nodding and winking at me, johns
come down here for somethin' special. MY
worst enemy couldn't call me a match