The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-01-16
JAMES BROTHER JOHN.

Only three little mouths since that
Saturday morning. and yet how the
world is changed to me! had promised
my little son his fnvorite dish Of stuff.
ed meat for Sundays dinner, and had
forgotten thyme, the very root and es :
sence of all favors; so, in hot haste.
with nay sleeves rolled up. my white
apron on, 'and nothing but dnsting
cap on my head, I rushed into Jane,
singing cheerily to myself.
81 know::a bank whereon the wild thyme
blows."
In truth, Jane was bank where some-
thing else could be had beside this fra
grant commodity. Many time had
tided over Sundays dinner with the
help Of pudding or pie from her caps.
cious larder; and on rare occasions,
seasons of dire neoessity-for Jane WAS
more chary of money than anything
else in the world-sl,e had lent me a
bit OF currency, which always paid
back at my earliest convenience, even
il Was compelled to borrow it from
somebody else, because, I knew that,
to be 10 JAMES favor, one must not fore
get what she called business transac-
ton. confess with shame and re.
morse chat | have lost count OF half
loayes OF bread, Jumps Of butter, small
quantities of vinegar, pepper, mustard,
even a scHttle of coal. These things
have passed from my memory. and left
no distinct trace; but 1 never have fail
ed, when have been compelled to bor>
row money from my sister-in-law, to
put the amount down on the kitchen
door, and have even worn string on
my finger I'LL the debt was wiped ont:
She wasn't exactly my sister in-law-
she was my brother-in-law's brothers
wife-but amounted to the same thing,
and I've even introduced her as my
sister sometimes to save ceremony.
Jare generally explaius. for she is a
very conscientious and strict woman,
but the ramifications of relationship
are SO intricate that 1 never stay to here
them unravelled. On this Saturday
of which I spske I rushed
into James kitchen, singing iaa
81 know b,nk whereon the wild thyme
blows" HfH8En&
but the notes died away in an embar.
rassed cough. For there. by the kitch-
On range. fitting back in his chair. and
staring at me with all his might, was a
strange gentleman. One could see he
was gentleman at the first glance and.
truth to say, all the good people that
visited Jane did not reach my idea OF
true gentility. In the meanwhile q
warm, generous, encouraging smile
lighted up his face.
"My-my sister is out!' stammer-'
ed, looking about me for Jane.
"Your sister, he said, inquiringly;
and as Jane wasn't there. [ was com.
PEELED to explain.
"Not exactly my sister," I began;
and suddenly he broke IN;
"Your sister -in>law, you mean?'
"Oh, what does IL matter?" I said.
"It's of some little consequence TO
me-" he said. still smiling in his pleas
ant way, and somehow 1 felt as if I'd
known him . hundred years. Before l
knew it began telling him about the
stuffed meat for my little Howard's
Sunday dinner; had to wait for Jane,
and it was stupid to stand there and
say nothing. At the least encourage
ment nay tongue always ran like mill
race, aud here was the brightest and
best Of reasons for talking, when had
70 ready and willing listener. and one
20 sympathiEinR and genial. From my
little Howard it was the easiest thing
10 the world to get back to his poor.
dear papa. and my heart vss strangely
warmed and comforted By the gentle
sympathy that shons ID his faee Of this
kind gentleman for my widowed and
lonely condition.
Az usual, whom my tongue ran ahead
If my reason. I. vas hronght up shsrs
b. the awkward consequences Of this
a mine, and when II