The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-04-11

l couldn't give up my pride, and va
just ~ high-spirited ~ ever. But ou
farm didn't prosper; and Mrs. Plum
ber came to live with Us, to look aftel
things, she said; /; and she got to pity
ing him, every now and then, fol
marrying . poor wife, snd-oh, we'll
what's tho use of talking: sometimel
1 couldn't help wishing John String
cr's strong shoulders were at thu
wheel. when 1 was working myself te
death morning and night for nothing
Then when the baby grew bigger ]
took to teaching An A b C class as
used to before was married |; but
what little 1 knew had run wild since
then, and couldn't keep the boy,
straight somehow; and the girls didn''
care about samplers, for the sewing
machine had ridden right over every
thing. u..ii upiiess i..snas ofai ,
Then Jesse fell ill of the fever, and
with all the faming, and fretting. and
nursing Of his mother, and with all my
watching day aud night, somehow he
clipped of between us. And 1 found
myself q widow with the ill-fared,
wasted farm on my hands, and Moth.
or Plumber, drizzling and maundering
after Jesse in a way to break my heart.
But kept my spirits up yet, and 1
advertised half the place for sale at
the court house; for if l could sell it
we should skin through somehow on
an acre or two, thought.
Well, who do you suppose came
over one sunny afternoon as 1 was
standing in the Kitchen door? Who,
to be sure, but John Stringer, large as
life-a little gray, ayhap, and lit.
tie more angular, but keen and strong
as ever. He's q use for that bit of
land, 1t seemed, and had his eye on it
for long back. always was wanting
what wasn't his,' Mother Plumber
said. She owed him grudge for be-
ing more forehanded than Jess. 1t
took deal Of looking after, and law
yering. and surveying, and the Lord
knows what to settle it; and used to
see j hn Stringer's STOPPING should.
ers and broad felt hat down just be-
yond the rise OF the meadow time and
again. But he scarce ever came near
the door, till one day-I can't tell how
it was-when the settlements were to
be made, 1 just took baby up stairs
and had cry for that bit of land had
been Jesse's fayorite piece, and Moth.
er Plumber had been harrying me all
day about it. .,...-......-
The ways of Providence are so
strange! r said Mother Plumber, laying
her specie down atop of the Bible, and
putting on that awfully patient air.
which was wearing me to skin and
bone-past finding out. Now If jess
had married Sophie Miller that was,
and you
But Ibid not want to hear any more.
As I say, 1 just caught up baby and
went of to the garret. And while 1
sat by the cobwebbed window, Mrs.
Barrett-Sophic Mills that was-went
riding by in their new spring wagon,
she and her half dozen children round
and rosy as barrel of apples. Sophie
nodded and smiled to some one COM
ing up the road, and looking along 1
saw John Strlnger walking, thought
ful-like, right up to our gate, just "a
he used TO come in counting days-for
John never had any foolish ways
about him. saw Sophie look back
ut him as she and the children, with
their fluttering ribbons and gay ging.
hams, disappeared at the turn in the
road. Then smoothed my hair md
washed my face and went down. The
time of settlement had come knew.
MARY Ann said John gravcly, "the
lawyer will be here presently; but 1
reckon we can make it all clear in our
own minds without his help. And
I've settled it, in fact, that there are
certain conditions on which I'll take
the lsnd-if you agree.'
AuSu HOW AuNO y pnSosOus OU V0
been long enough making up your
mind says 1. Il don't throw my land
at anybody's feet. and haven't asked
any favors Of you, leastways, John
Stringer.'
Softly, there, softlyr says John,
putting out his hand to me, Don't be |
in hurry, little woman /
John Stringer,' says l, all in heat
you're just the same man you was
years ago, when you thought l was
firing up every time you got out of
temper YOURSELF
And weren't You, little woman :?
said John, quite gravely. Don't wo-
men folks like their own way better
Than anything else?'
'You don't know anything about
l cried, ANY moro than you
lid then. You thought wanted silks
md furbelows more than-than-'
'Than you did me- said John; and
right enough you was, too, il you
;ouId have got 'em. 1 always said so
Mary Ann
ANY man with half an eye would
nave known BETTER says hotly.
How |" says John. His great hulk
ng figure lifted itself up and he look
I'd at me with those sharp, brown
'yes that used to give me start in the
Did time. 'How 2 he repeated softly.
Do you mean to say was mistaken
years agor His big brown hand was
III Of tremble as he held out to me.
Little woman. little woman, saws he.
let's haye done with all now, and it
will all be as it never was.' s,als