The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-04-24

| W no uuTl6u IIOm JllO udud VI dOu Ou
every sin of man, while mercies were
| capricious visitants, to be feared rather
than welcomed, and accepted on the
platform of the old hymn
Ave should suspect some danger nigh
| When we possess delight"
Therefore it is not strange that Sam
considered it a direct punishment for
his tricks upon Henry when he found
his leg was helpless, and he must lie by
the way-side till some Samaritan came
past. Luckily this proved to be Miry
and her mother, who were shocked to
find him lying on the grass, pale as a
sheet, and suppressing with effort the
pain that all but opened his frm-set
lips in spite of his self-control. With
AlmiIa's strong arm to help, and his
own efforts, he was at last laid in the
bottom of the wagon and taken to the
house, where the old farmer came to the
rescue, and before long Sam was care
fully laid on "ma's own bed in the
little room off the kitchen and Henry
being yet in the unpleasant swamp look
ing for Miss Betty, Almira herself drove
hurriedly back to the village and fetched
the doctor.
Two hours after, as Sam lay there
splintered and helpless, but not un-
comfortable, he could not but hear a
laundering foot stumble into the kitch-
en-, and the old farmers voice in its
gruffest tone begin:
"Where hev ye ben, Henery Pine
Here's the old cat to pay cows hum
two hours back, an nobody to do
chore but me Sam fetched in with a
broke leg, mother een-a' most distract
ed, Almiry obleeged to go arter the
doctor herself, and you a-wantin'."
"Well, swan to man." responded
Henry, in an injured growl, "I've ben
a-doin' my best to find that tarnal Jarsey
keow. She's led me sech another chase
all over creation, an 1 hain't faound her
yit an dono but what she's sot in the
| hemlock swamp this minnit.
"Oh, come now, that won't pass no
muster at all, sir. Betty's safe in the
yard along o. all the rest on 'em, an
has give down six good quarts into my
pail this very night; so you needn't give
me no such humbugging talk, sir. I
won't stan it."
"Lordy dono what you're a. a-talkin'.
L say an swear I've ben a-huntin' Bet
all over, up acrost the wood lot an way
into the big swamp, till I've tore my
1
"More fool you |" calculated the dis
gusted old farmer, as he eyed Hehry's
rags with sidelong glare. "Jest you
harness up t'other mare, an make tracks
up to Miss Peters, over on the noun
ting, an fetch her over to see Sam. Take
the lantern along; the roads kinder bad,
an don't lose the mare"
Stung by the undeserved sarcasm,
| o,,1 mott oOrTx for Gorr ba o,1rYbt 20
have been, Henry took things at his
ease, and it was we'll on to midnight be-
fore Mrs. Peters got to her boys bed
side, to find him sleeping quietly; and
when he woke at early dawn to the
strange consciousness of his own help
less and painful condition, it was a COM
fort to see his mothers anxious, tender
face bending over him, and to feel her
motherly touch about his bed, smooth
ing and settling and "tidying up" as op-
ly his mother could do. After the rest of
the family had dispersed to their various
duties, and Sam had his mother all to
himself, he came to full confession, even
so far as to own his previous converse
ton with Henry.
"I thought of you in minnit, mother.
1 knew you'd tell about it's being jedg-
| l. 4
was. He's got clear field, anyway, an
I'm left out in the cold for all my boast
in';" and here Sam heaved deep reluc-
tant sigh.
"Well, Samwel, it don't never do to
force Providence. The Book says, ye
know, it is good that a man should
both hope and quietly wait, and 1 ex-
pect that holds true about all good gifts.
| II 10 fr1Hn ,nrnf
wei, and hope it'll be blessed to ye."
"I don't feel none too blessed now,"
murmured Sam, under his breath. "It
does seem heap more as if I was
t'other- -thinged. ="
Luckily his mother did not overhear
poor Sans amendment of her final
opinion, but busted herself as tenderly
and carefully about his wants and wishes
as if she meant at least to modify the
visitation, while she acknowledged his
deserving it. But Mrs. Peters could
not be spared long for Sans service,
and though she took every opportunity
during her short stay to impress upon
him her belief that he was being pun
ished for his hard feeling and unkindly
acts toward Henry, and read to him
punctually and pointedly all the Scrip
lures she could sift out of the Bible to
that same end, it was doubtful even to
her hopeful soul if Sam accepted the
situation with proper submission. Still,
she had to leave him, for he could not
be moved yet over that rough mountain
road, and Mrs. Calkins and Miry both
declared it was not to be thought of at
any time. The bedroom "dreadful
handy" opening into the kitchen and
shed both; and now all the plowing and
planting were over, there was not the
same pressing need of his services that
there had been. Even Henry, seeing
the field was clear for his courtship, be-
came sullnly amiable to his rival, and
helped take care of him unasked, which
in time softened Sans feeling toward