The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-16

sense Of meanness and self.contempt, Of
utter discoura cement and despair, drove
him into the slough of despond without
effort or hope.
By a beautiful dlspensation of Provi-
dence, whenever poor, shlftless, good
for nothing man is sent into our world,
some active, go-ahead little woman is In
variablv fastened to him, to shove him
along through, and keep his head above
water. It's for the best, of course. What
would become of the poor fellow without
her2 At the same time, she sometimes
finds it a little hard.
Nabby was ambitious and proud-spir-
tied, willing to work hard, to save, to do
her part anxious to get on in the world
and stand well among the neighbors.
The fact, gradually realized; that in her
husband she had no help, no support,
only drag and burden, and finally q
disgrace, had been disapp ointment en-
differing her whole pature. To lhave 3
husband that no one respected, that even
the bows around town called Isl Gould, !"
was dreadful to Nabby. Perhaps it was
hardly strange that she grew hard and
bitter.
Meantime Nabby had succeeded IN
starting the fire, and having changed her
dress, sat down to dry her feet until the
tea.kettle boiled. But even the ruddy
light and warmth with which the kitchen
glowed could not send off the drea1iness
Of the night? The rain 'tappod with a
ghestly fnger-tip upon the window
PANE" and the wind howled and walled
around the house like the spirits of the
lost, pleading once more to be taken back
into human life and warmth. Such a
wind stirs even in the happiest heart a
vague sense of loss, or change, all Of that
which goes to make up the unsatisfac-
tones Of life. Dead sorrows creep forth
from their graves on such nights and
stalk up and down the echoing chamber
Of the heart.
Nabby could not help wondering
where JOSIAH was tonight. It was so
lonely sitting there with no one to speak
to, listening to the moaning wind, the
creaking of the blinds, the ticking of the
clock.
sAnd Thanksgivin' coming" thought
Nabby. IA pretty Thanksgivin' I shall
have.''
The wind walled and walled, and Nab.
by thought and thought. The fact Of
having s'freed her mind'' to the Squire
relieved her long put-up indignation, and
now she felt more sorry than angry
Up before her seemed to rise picture OF
her life; the youthful dreams and hopes
the change and d1sappointments, and
love turned into wrangling. She even
thought of Josiah with pity. For the
first time she put herself in his place, and
realized how almost impossible it was
to- ono of his weak nature to resist: un.
| aided, the temptation which would cost 8
stronger will no effort.
''I'm afraid I've been q little too SHARP
with JOSIAH thought she. s1've sortel
took it for granted was saint, and he
a sinner, and scolded HIM right down Hill
A nice saint ami AS proud and higf
strung as Lucifer himself. Oh, dear!'
sighed Nabby, "a pretty mess I've made
OF living. If we could only go back ant
| begin over again, seems to me thing
would go better"
| Just then there was a faint noise ik,
the clicking Of the door latch. Nabbi
started and locked around. And all wat
still again one was visible. Ye
| Nabby could not rid herself of the i'm
preston that some one was near her, tha
odd sense we have Of another's 1ndividu
atty near us, though not present.
"There's some one hangin' round here
KNOW she SAID to herself.
Nabby was one who always met thing
half way. Accordingly she walked to tn
outside door, and opening it quickly
peered into the darkness. There stoo,
Josiah-wet, sheeplsh, sorry. Once b
had started to go in, but his courag
failed, and he fingered in dubious hest
tation on the doorstep.
asked Nabby.
Il didn't know that you'd want me
| Nabby,'' replied Josiah, with all th
meekness becoming a returning prod
| gal.
/ "Want you9 Of course I do,n sal
Nabby, heartily. "Come right along il
I'm goin' to have griddle cakes for sul
per, and you must tend them while I sc
the table, Griddle cakes were one
Josiah's weaknesses, and Nabby kne,
it.
Josiah came in. If he ever gets mi
heaven, probably his sensations will NJ
be one whit more delightful than the
were now, as from the bleakness an
gloom of the night, the forlornness Of b
wretched wanderings, he came into Il
cosy brightness Of the kitchen. and fe
that he was home once more. How GOO
the tea smellcd! The fire roared an
snapped, the tea-kettle boiled and bull
bled and bobbed its lid up and dow
and from tho griddle the savory odor
the cakes assembled like homely incens
, Josiah's face shining with mingled he
and happiness, as he turned the griddle
cakes, was something worth seeing.
Nabby stepped briskly around gettin
supper ready. It seemed SO pleasant
set the table for two again, to have SON
one to appreciate her cooking. II