The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-04-03

Lay one WAS not anu liFetts tH0uSA
she would not have acknowledged il
either. Her feet were weary, for al
day they had borne her weight.
"What have yOu got there, Setf
Gray?" questioned she. in tones
shrill and sharp. Company. I de
clare, and it's house-cleaningl"
Then, as the farmer tenderly lifted
down the little bundle in his strong
arms, she continued:
"And child, too, I declare
Well. all can say, Seth Gray-you
may stay at home and take care OF
her -
She turned away forgetting. in her
righteous Indignation, even her
tieors.
"Never you mind, !" said the far
mer. as he noticed two great tears
swimming in the large brown eyes,
and trembling, ready to fall. on the
jetty lashes, while the delicate mouth
quivered. 'It's just her way. She
don't mean 1t. Come now, dear"
you'd best show her to the spare
room," interrupted The shrill tones
again. as they entered.
Then, as her husband returned
alonefrom his errand, her just wrath
broke its bonds. @
Are you mad, Seth Gray, to put
any more care on my shoulders at
this time? You can take another
ride to town to>merrow, and take
the child back where she came from.
My hands are full enough"
The doctor said we could save
her life, mother. | thought we
wouldn't let her die for the want Of
trying
Mrs. Gray said no more, but that
evening, when she was washing out
her fayorite china with her own
hands. and little figure. stealing
up beside her, whispered, "Let me
help you,'' though she answered,
"Such as you cannot help" all re-
monstrance ended there. and soon
the little fingers were deftly wiping
the smoking dishes. and, with care
haste, putting each in its appointed
place.
Somehow. as the days wore on.
Mrs. Gray found she had more time
to sit aud rest-that instead of adj
ded care, it seemed lessoned while
little fairy-like figure fitted here.
and there, and everywhere, like a
burst of sunshine.
House-cleaning was over now;
her voice had lost its hardness, her
brow its frown; and as Hope. who
had rushed to her own room at
the sound of wheels. watching her
from her window open her motherly
arms to welcome her boy, saw her
happy, tear-dimmed eyes. she won-
dered how she could first have re-
garded her with such dread.
Her own eyes did not seem so big
now; a faint peach-bloom had stolen
into her cheeks; her figure had lost
its angular line in rounded curves,
and all day thanksgiving seemed
to come bubling to her lips in
song.
"Why, who's that, mother?' ques-
toned the tall, handsome young
man, as he turned his laughing
blue eyes out through the open
window, and saw the little figure
fitting among the flowers.
shes child father brought me
home in keuse-cleaning. wasn't
over-glad to see her. but I think I'll
miss her when she goes
An amused smile overspread the
listeners face. He could appreci-
ate that welcome at SO inopportune
a season.
Reuben wondered. as the days
heightened into weeks. why his
home coming had never been SO
pleasant before. t5 s,fs 81 aa,.aF ....s
He, too. began to think he would
miss Hope when she went away. /
Somehow the parlor had lost its look
Of stiffness, and even had an air OF !
habitation, with its fresh flowers in
every available receptacle.
In fact. flowers were everywhere.
Even the chairs seemed to find
themselves no longer ranged in
lines against the. wall, but obliged
to look to themselves FOR support.
and to stand in positions as though |
inviting the weary to rest.
swell guess we have done all
we can for Hope said the farmer,
one day. Poor child she's an
orphan, and will have to win her
daily bread. But she's got back some |
of her strength. and the color has
found its way back to her face again
and you must be tired of having the
care of her''-this with quizzIcal |
expression. while he narrowly |
watched his wife's face.
You'll do ne such thing, Seth
Gray Just like a man--when the
girls beginning to pick up, to whisk