The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-10-03
Aunt Mercy!"

cept these old ones who are almost
ready for the next world, and just few
who hold on because they were born
here and whose sons will get away as
fast as they can. OF course the mill
brings q certain class, but their lives are
as jOyless as life in q treadmill. And
yet here is this lovely country, and
these farms that ought to be homes and
not prisons. Now, don't you suppose
it possible to stir up some sense of pride,
some patriotism-if that is the word
something that will make these boys
willing to stay, and win give them some
thing to think about? Aunt Mercy,
have plan. Now listen, and see what
you think"
"Tea first, child, and thee may talk
afterward. Thee should be hungry"
81 believe I am,' Ruth said, as Lin
da, the servant-who with her husband,
George, was q relic of the former Dy-
sart prOsperity-Opened the door and
showed the small round table laid for
two and almost lost in the great room,
which, however, with its open fire and
the soft light of the student-lamp held
its own cheer.
ssMiss Ruth, she's at her old ways"
Linda said as she went presently into
the kitchen. give been a-wonderin'
what she'd find to take up, but she's got
her hands full nOw.''
"NO good won't come of it," George
answered, discontentedly, rs Linda end
ed her summary of what she had been
able to CLEAN from the conversation,
I" Longs it's beggars and riff-raff you
don't so much care; but this is just a
lettin' herself down to low people that
won't know but what she's always done
it. I'd speak to Miss Dysart. Miss
Ruth don't see."
ats past any time for speakin',"
Linda grOaned, rs she rubbed off the
waflle-iron. +" Its all cut and dried.
Laws! Twas sure there wouldn't be no
mussin' here, but it's begun, an Miss
Dysart she'll be spendin' all her money
sure's you're born"
George shook his head, and continued
to shake it rs he moved about, but the
opposition from the kitchen did not
reach the parlor.
Ruth devoted the evening to looking
over a vast collection of photographs
and stereOscOpic views, and to asserting
them in carefully numbered and marked
piles while Aunt Mercy made various
changes in the contents of an old
fashioned bookcase in the corner of the
dining-rOOm. The south parlOr where
they always sat in winter, had two deep
recesses each filled with books, Ruth's
special favOrites being in her own room
overhead. In fact every room they in
habited became the library temporarily,
for Ruth and Aunt Mercy had a fashion
of looking up any question that interest
cd them, and bringing to bear every en-
cyclOpedia or reference-hOOk which
could throw the slightest light upon it,
and their library was not only well filled
with standard and general literature but
had 3 range of authorities seldom found
outside the walls of a professed students
armory. The temptation had been
strong to lose herself in this society and
forget human claims, and Aunt Mercy,
who had mourned little that
this remote village must swallow
up her child just when most
eager and most ready for work, smiled
as she saw her absorption, and child her.
self for forgetting that something always
waited the ready hand.
Sam Sherburne walking modify out
of the tavern, smelling of very strong
tobacco and with heavy eyes and pale
cheeks, was surprised and disconnected
as, the next afternoon, Ruth met him
and held out her hand.
1--WE are going the same way" she
said. "Let us walk together, Sam"
Sam cOlOred to the roots of his hair;
then Strengthened himself and furtively
brushed off some lint sticking to his
coat. He had often in the summer
rowed Miss Ruth down the river; had
taught her how to manage the oars; and
had looked on with pride in his pupil
when her own light boat she had sent to |
Boston for took its place in the s'branch' |
back of the old house. He had even
once or twice been asked to tea, but |
since fall this had not happened. He |
knew she must have heard Of his wild
ness, and supposed she would not care |
10 speak to him.
Sam was one of the New England boys
who had no overmastering longing for
\ college education, who had never
aiken very kindly to his books and who
|" d. hCiCiy i" AC"AChys AuH-iOSuS Achows
with some common sense, rather rudi-
as yet, and a great longing to
. see the world" meaning by this
either going out to clerkship in some
narrow store, or possibly getting on one
IF the lake boats. But he was the only
BOY left; the farm waited for him, and
was one of the best in the county, and
Beniah Sherburne could not understand
why the steady round of work was not
satisfying.
A deacon in the Congregational
Church, and with q sheaf of doctrines
handed down from his father and des-
ined in turn for Sam, who would never
listen three minutes to their expound-
NC, the good man shook his head sOr-
ewfully and added one or two more
clauses to his daily prayers. The mother
md he sat contentedly by the little stove
n the sitting-room. She darned and
PATCHED and turned, with the
lifelong habit of saving as strong
low when its need was past rs in
he early days. They took the county
PAPER, and had few books bought from
l. h,,k kIa- |