Sharp County record., 1878-04-19

+ was well on to midnight before Mrs.
Peters got to her bov's bedside, to ma
him sleeping quietly; and dwhen ne woke
ut early dawn to the strange conscious
ness Of his own helpless and painful con-
dition. it was a comfort to see his MOTH
arrs anxious. tender face bending over
him. and to feel her mOther-y touch
about his bed. smoothing and settling
and "ridving up" as only his mother
couId do. After the rest Of the family
had dispersed to their various duties
and sam had his mother all to himself
he came to q fuII confession, even so tar
as to own his previous conversation
with Henry.
Il thought Of YOU in q mlnnit, moth
er. I knew you'd tell aoOut it's beng
q iedgment; an I declare l donO but
what il was. He's got a clear field, an,
I'm left out in the cold for all my boast
fn':" and here Sam heaved 4 deep re.
luctanJ sigh.
- Well. SamweI. 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 eN-
pect that holds true about all good gifts.
+ make no doubt it's a aiudgment, sam
vel. and I hope it'll be blessed to ye. y
Il don't feel none too blessed now,
murmured sam, under his breath. " 1t
does seem q heap more as # I was 10th
er-thinged."
Luckily his mother did not Overlear
poor SANS amendment Of her inal
opinion. but busted herself as tenderly
and carefully about bis wants and wishes
. as il she meant 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 punished for his hard feeling
and unkindlv acts toward Henry, and
read to mpunctually and pOintedly all
the Scriptures she could slit 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, Tor he could
not be moved vet over that rough noun
tain road, and Mrs. Calklns and MIry
both declared it was not to be thought
of at any time. The bedroom was
- dreadful handy" opening into the
. Kitchen and shed both and now al the
blowing and planting were over, there
was nOT the same pressing need OF his
services that there had been. Even Hen
~. seeing the field was clear for his
courtship. became suIkIEy amiaDle to his
rival. and helped take care OF MIN un-
asked which in time softened sam feel
ings toward him so much that one bright
Sunday afternoon. when Henry had be-
taken himself to church with the rest.
leaving Miry to look after a hen that
would come off" on Sunday IN spite OF
the tithing-man, Sam improved the ac-
casiOn to confess his sin to MnT-that
IS. as far as concerned his hiding or the
ry7sSvsTfr-- z4e4.r - L. =
profound conviction that the broken lee
was a judgment.
Now Almira was at heart a real WON
III, for all her cool head and strong
will. To have Sam on her hands. help
less and appealing, for the last three
weeks, had sOftened her nightly to-
ward him. The handsome dark eyes,
languid with pain and WEAKNESS, had
their share in this influence, no doubt
and the courageous patience with pain,
the grateful look and word which al
ways met any little service done for
him, the cheerful endurance Of helpless
ness aud weary days-all these bent
Mira more and more toward her unde-
clared lover; for Sam had never yet said
the first word Of love to her, yet by
some wonderful perception this acute
/ young person was as well aware of his
passion as if it had been blaZoned in a
thousand words.
Sam did himself good service una
wares on that Sunday, for Henry took
heart the same night to declare himself
on the way home from singing-school,
/ prefaclng his offer with a full, true, and
( particular account Of Sans threats and
hard words. OF course Mira was quick
. ClLDuE II W lIlNtCl oItllIu cLJ OlICC WHY sam
had misled Henry on that eventfuI night
when he broke his own leg, and she
/ could scarce help smiling at the piteOus
tone Of her present adOrer as he re-
counted Sans fierce menaces.
Well, Want skeert none, Miry,
now l tell ye; but thinks I, III be even
with him sure as shOOtin', for III tell
Miry ont next time l cit a chance, an
eff that don't show her what sort O. a
feller he is, I dono nothin'"
"And s'pOse," retorted Mira, "yOu
never thought you was a-showin' what
kind of feller you was, now did ye?
Look a-here, Henery Pine! Ialways did
despise tell-tale from the time | was
knee-high to a hOp-toad; and a grown
up tell-tale is the worst Ofall!"
"Oh, Lordy! Almiry Calkins! what
D H.