The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-03

mean nothing 10 them-I get 80 OPP
pressed with the monotony, with the in
tense and horrible duliacss. that | want
team 20 run away. or any thing 10
happen that will rouse rs one moment.
Aunt Mercy. those boys will begin TO
drink do any thing that win give a
new sensation and bring q sense Of life
and by and BY there will BY one or
two or three more reckless, swearing.
lounging creatures like the Carsons In
the other village. | have begun 10 be-
lieve villages like this are doomed 70 de-
struction, and that New England will
turn into New ireland unless something
Is done to make them places where some
real life can be found. Aunt Mercy.''
:. Wen. child?"
= DO YOU know. | took up an old
county history to-day. Forty years ago
there were 500 more people here than
now. Every man has gone West ex-
cept these old ones who are almost
ready for the next world, and Just a few
who hold on because they were born
here and whose sons will get away AZ
fast as they can. OF course the mill
brings certain class, but their lives are
a. joyless as life in trcadmill. And
yet here is this lovely country, and
these farms that ought to be homes and
not prisons. Now, don't you suppose
II possible TO stir up some sense Of pride,
some patriotism--if that is the word
something that will make these boys
willing 10 stay, and will give them some
thing to think about? Aunt Mercy,
have plan. Now listen, and see what
you think"
:. Tea first, child. and thee NAV talk
afterward. Thee should be- hungry
- believe am" Ruth said, as Lin
da, the seryant-who with her husband,
George, was relic Of the former Dy-
sart prosperity-opencd 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. .I've 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, as 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 50 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
= It's past any time for speakin'.-
a - -. ....I.r-l -
wafiie-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 il a. he moved about, hut the
opposition from the kitchen did not
reach the parlor.
Ruth devoted the evening 10 looking
over a vast collection Of photographs
and stereosccpic 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 fashion
Of looking up any question that interest
ed them, and bringing to bear every en-
cyclopedia er reference-hook which
could throw the slightest light upon II.
and their library was not only wen filed
with standard and general literature but
had a range Of authorities seldom found
outside the walls Of protested 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 Shcrburne walking moodily out
Of the tavern, smelling Of very strong
tobacco and with heavy eyes and pale
cheeks, was surprised and disconnected
AZ, the next afternoon, Ruth met him
and held out her hand.
/" We are going the same way she
said. "Let us walk together. Sam
Sam colorcd to the roots Of his hair:
then Strengthened himself and furtiyely
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 sentto
Boston for took its place in the 'sbranch''
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