Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
solently replied Hope, going his own

out that great white cross you nave OF
your shoulder"
"Go and sell your herrings, lazy girl, D
replied Robert, "and do not concern
yourself about the passers-by."
The little girl, silenced, fastened to re-
enter her mothers shop.
At this moment Hope arrived at the
house of the butcher, who was convers
ing on the threshold with his neighbol
the blacksmith.
"You are just the man l wanted,''
said the latter, stopping Robert; aud he
began to speak to him on business; but
hardly had he commenced, when old
Peggy TurtOn arrived in her plaid gown
and blue apron.
"Mercyl Mr.. Hope" exclaimed she,
taking up her apron, "what is that on
your back?"
Robert turned to tell her to let him
alone, but the blacksmith then perceived
the mark made by Mr.. Taylor.
"Heavens!' said he, laughing; che
might serve for sign to the White
Cross"
81 suppose" said the butcher, that
his wife has marked him thus for fear of
losing him.
Hope felt that there was for him one
method of escaping at the same time
from the apron OF Peggy, and the jokes
of the butcher and blacksmith. so he
FASTENED to leave the spot, not without
some abusive language to his neighbors;
but the cross had begun to weigh more
heavily upon his shoulders than he had
at first supposed.
The unfortunate Robert seemed des-
tined this day to provoking encounters,
for he had gone but q few steps when he
found himself opposite a schoolhouse.
School WAS just out, and the scholars
were at this moment issuing from the
door, ready for any fun that light pre-
sem itself. Hope was terribly uneasy,
ard imagined he already heard cries be-
hind him. His fears were soon realized
he had scarcely passed the schoolhousc
door when a long shout was heard, and
fifty scholars at least began to pursue
him and point at him, throwing up their
caps in the air.
"Look, look!" exclaimed one; " there
is sheep marked for the butcher
"Don't yon see," replied another, {" it
is crusader just setting out to Pales.
tine"
And the shouting and laughter recon-
menced more loudly.
Hope became pale with anger; he
turned like cross dog pursued by chill
dren, and perhaps would have cruelty
revenged himself on his young perse.
cutors, had not Mr.. Johnson, the school
master, suddenly appeared st the door
of the house.
Robert advanced toward him, com.
planning Of bis pupils as being insolent
Mr.. johnson replied that he would not
for the world encourage impertinence in
them, but that the white cross which he
had on his back might make wiser peo'
pie than boys laugh.
"What is this cross to your" replied
Robert, Grossly. els not my back my
own property"
The schoolmaster smilingly assented,
and Hope went on his way. But the
GLOSS was growing heavier and heavier.
He began to think that it would not
be so easy to pay his rent in this man.
ner. So much raillery had already been
heaped upon him, what would it be il
the cause were known? His landlord
might as we'll have written on his back
receipt in full.
As he reflected thus, Robert arrived
at the tavern. He was passing by when
he perceived Mr.. Taylor himself at few
PAGES distance, and on the other side his
neighbor Hullins, dragging his wooden
leg, and conversing with Harry Stokes,
the carpenter. Harry Stokes was the
wit of the village, and Hope would not
have encountered him before Hullins
for the world. BE therefore took refuge
in the tavern.
But the place was not long tenable
The drinkers did not fail to perceive the
cross, and to rally Hope, who grew an
CRY; the quarrel became violent, and the
inn-keeper, fearing some serious result,
turned Robert out of doors.
The latter had left home with the in.
tention of examining some work which
had been offered him in neighboring
village, but his mind had been so dis
turbed by old Fox, Patty Stevens, the
blacksmith, the butcher, Peggy Turton,
and the schoolboys, that he resolved to
return home, thinking that would be,
"1eCA dbAA3 VIC pCoNChOAC pAoCCs
Have you ever seen in the month Of
September, a young partridge, the last
Of the brood, f1uttering along through
the fields, with wounded wing? Such
was Robert on his way to his home at
the other end of the village. Now he
walked rapidly lest he should be over.
taken, now slowly lest he should meet
some one; now in the road, now in the
fields, gliding behind the bushes, climb
ing the walls, and stunning glances like
a gypsy who has stolen chicken from 8
farmers poultry yard. At this moment
the white cross was an insupportable
weight.
At last he reached his dwelling, anc
this time hoped to find little rest. But
as soon as his wife perceived him sht
cried out.
care you not ashamed to come bacl
as you went? Five or six of our neigh
bors have asked me if you had lost you
senses! Quick! let me rub out tina
cross!"
"Away, womanl" exclaimed Robert
exasperated.
! "You shall not remain so, Hope;
| "AAA AOV AoS0 Oh OAAO OOAOuAlnS W AC 81
ridiculous. Take off that jacket! take i
of this minute, I tell you'll"
AS she spoke thus, Mrs. Hope attempt
ed to sieze her husbands arm; but tn
latter rudely repulsed her. Mrs. Hope
who was not remarkable for patience
replied by blow, and the result was
scume between the TWO, to the grea
scandal of the neighbors, who ran tt
separate them.
Everybody blamed Robert, who, whe1
he became calm, understanding tina
there was no hope of rest or peace 70
him otherwise, etfaced the cross of hi
own accord.
The Monday following he carried hi
rent to the house of his landlord.
"Ah! ali! Robert" said Mr.. Taylor
on perceiving him, II thought yo
would soon repent your bargain. Thi
is good lesson for envious and impatien
dispositions, who are necessarily con
planning. Do not complain of bein
less fortunate than other, for you kno,
not the suferiugs of your neighbor. Al
crosses are heavy; the way to rende