The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-12-04

to the house, ne lifted them into tn,
wagon for he would not trust himsel
to seek Charity's presence while his spir
its were yet on the decline.
The moon came dragging up. ct,
make a pair of u.s." Mr.. Twinkleblinke
said to himself with gloomy facetious
ness. ''She, with her face one-side,
and doleful-an unmistakable victim o
neuralgia; and l with nv thought
drawn askew." Then he sat down OF
the wagon-tongue to consider, and h,
did not arise again until he had decided
that Charity would be better of with
out him; that he would drop his selfish
ness, take up his burden like man
and 60 on with the specter alone-leav
ing Charity free to return to her owl
home, where they longed for her tt
come, and where she could enjoy thu
common comforts of life unhindered.
He even arranged carefully in his
own mind the words of the letter he
would write to her, telling her how he
knew him (for all that he loved her sc
welN, and how she must NECESSARILY
suffer if they went on in life as they
had begun, and how utterly she must
cast him aside, and be her own happy
self once more. He laid plans, too, fol
| procuring the money that she would re.
quire to take her back to her father s
door-and finally strove to make up his
mind that after the first few days, she
would naturally rejoice rather than
grieve over the change.
Having, according to his judgment,
come to the best possible terms with
fate, Mr.. Twinkleblinker accepted the
situation fully and resignedly, and lift
ing his pals down from the wagon, he
walked calmly into the house. 1t was
his habit to strain and set the milk
away at night, because Charity was
tired, and he performed that duty faith
fully. Then he drew the wooden rock
er toward the stove (for the night air
seemed chilly and sat down. How did
it happen that Charity always had a
good fire when he came in? The whole
room was warm and rosy, just now
even the roasting baby, asleep in the
low, old-fashioned cradle, had thrown
back the covers, and actually glowed in
his repose. BY the way, this baby was
of great account in their humble estab-
lishment. How he could crow, and
spring, and laugh! And Mr.. Twinkle
blinker often wondered if any other
baby were ever quite so strong in the
back, and so steady on his legs. Didn't
he know the cat or the dog as well as a
grown person, toO-and wouldn't he
watch the pigs and chickens an hour at
Il time without opening his head? 1t
mattered little to him whether the
house was palace or a howell, so long
as he could roll and kick, and get
enough to eat, and be put to sleep when
he desired. But who beside Charity
could ever decide the precise moment
of his somnolency, or who, beside
Charity, could manage that perplexing
pint basin, and denied spoon, and baby 5
two hands, to say nothing of his feet?
And what could Charity do with baby
at church if she didn't have him, Ella
kim Twinkleblinker, to look after it?
She certainly couldn't sing much, or
find time to get very devout, either.
Perhaps it would be better after all
to talk the matter over with Charity.
The dishes were nearly done now, and
no matter if they were up trifle late,
Saturday night. What a pile of dishes
Charity had tonight any way! He new
err thought of it before, but it was to be
expected, of course, with threshcrs
there to supper. And he, stupid blum
derer, had squandered his precious
time shaking impotent fists at fate,
when he ought to have been helping
her! Being thus tardily reminded Of
his neglected obligations, Mr.. Twinkle
blinker sprang to his feet and advanced
toward the low, cross-legged work-ta-
BILE with astonishing alacrity, consider
ing the extreme martyrdom which he
had been meditating.
''Where is your securing board.
Charity? Let me rub the knives. 1t
will just keep me encouraged, and I'm
brute that / hadn't thought of it be-
fore"' he said, his words tumbling
over one another in their haste to make
amends.
"Mr. Eliakim Twinkleblinkcr, you
are one of my particular friends, and l
shall not allow you to call yourself
Names" said Charity, with great decis-
ion, taking her right hand from the
dishpan to shake dripping forefinger
at him. g But if you will be good and
tracta5le, you may scour the knives
and she forthwith procured the neces-
sary materials.
Are you tired, Charity?' asked MIR.
Twinkleblinker, his mind going back to
the result of the problem that he had
worked out by the pale light of the
moon, while sitting forlornly on the in
clined plane of the wagon-tongue.
Charity, quite unconscious of the sig
nificant battle fought and the important
victory won there, answered with play
full irony:
"Oh, no! You wouldn't look for
any such event, under the circum-
stancesr'
"You have been tired every night
since you entered this miserable, con-
temptible little hut and 1 haven't
grown so selfish as not to see it,
either!" maintained Mr.. Twinkle
blinker, with rather startling vehe-
mence.
"There you are againr' retorted
Charity, taking up the half dozen
knives that Mr.. Twinkleblinker had
secured, washing them, dipping them
in the rinsing-pan, and wiping them
deity. 81 objected to your abuse of
my lawful spouse, and now you assail
my home. Haven't we planned, and
tackled and hammered, and taken down
trumpery and put up shelves, till it's
the snuggest little place about? Didn't
l dare to quarter one of the sixteen
sheets my mother gave me, and make
curtains for the windows? And aren't
the beams, and rafters, and boards over
our heads nicely whitewashed, thanks
to your ingenuity? What better could
you expect, we being here less than
three years, and the country new, at
that?'
"But how shall we ever pay for it,
Charity?' asked Mr.. Twinkleblinker,
growing suddenly persuaded that it
was thrifty-appearing habitation, after
all, and in some degree worth retain
ing.
"By hard work, of course! What are
we both SO strong. and healthy, and en-
terprising for, if it is not to accomplish