The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-08-27
From the n. Y. world.l
JOEL FIELDING.
ny MARY FAITH FLOYD.

knew him. Our acquaintance began in
this wise. l was passing through II
small town some ten miles from the rail-
way when found my watch had stopped
running. The afternoon was cloudy, it
was growing late, my horse wis tired by
II hard days journey, and | went to q
tavern for the night. After hearty sup
per the landlord directed me to g. to
Joel Fielding.
"JoePs sort of eccentric chap, quiet,
too, but a good workman, better than
EN- rs has more To say"
experienced no difficulty, after the
mans direction, III finding Fielding. He
wis tall, stoop-shouldered, delicate
looking man, with the saddest pair of
large, earnest eyes ever set III a human
head, They were of an Understandable
color, rs if they had caught the blue,
gray, green and inky tints Of the SEA,
and something of its shalowy depths
as we'll. His voice was low ami sweet,
gentle as Il woman's in It's soft cadence.
He was Very silent, serving customers
with the fewest wsrls, and yet III the
kindeSt manner.
1t was impossible Ia look into his eyes
when he lifted them Ia view with their
pathetic glow without feeling IN interest
Ill their owner and a strong suppositio ion
that he had IL history.
left my watch with the promise
from Fielding that il should be- ready at
an early hour the next morning.
Did you find your way To Field
ing?" asked the proprietor, who WAS
lettering Ill the common reception room
on my return tn the hotel.
Yes; what splendid eyes your silver
smith has" remarked, hoping to learn
something OF his history, knowing the
loquacity of tavcru-keepers i'll small
towns.
That's true, but they serves no go
to body. Jucls been here, | re.In,
about ten years now, and he never goes
with other people, never has much to
say, but somehow or other everybody
likes joel.
Don't YOU know the reason of his si-
lence?"
Il never heard. He bought old Bent
ley ont, as l was saving, ten years back,
took hold ri the business, and nobody
has any fault To find. He come here 1t
stranger. never has no words Ia say about
his life, but is mighty kud To the poor.
Joel don't look strong, aud is sad-like,
poor fellow. But rckin the poor folks
would miss INN ii he should go away
more than any man here.
| finished smoking my cigar and re-
tired. The next day got my watch,
mounted nv horse and proceeded Oh my
way, Fieldimg's eyes with tier melan-
chOly depths often recurring 10 ME and
II feeling of unquenclahle curiosity to
learn something of his history.
\ year sped by, and 1 ceased to re-
member this subject. grew weary Of
being collecting agent for mercantile
firm, aud WAS considering the feasibility
of procuring permanent stationery
business, when friend wrote to me that
he was about entering the grocery trade
in the quIrt little town of A-aiid desired
ME to become his partner. accepted
the offer and was soon located i'll the
place where had spent the night the
year previous.
/ often saw Fielding as We passed each
other on the street, always with word
or nod ofrecOgnition. Our tastes were
similar III the practice of taking long
solitary walks Oh Sunday afternoons. L
noticed lac Was fond of flowers. Some
times he had companion in his strolls,
a little girl, the child of II la.ly ut whose
house he boarded. She called him Joel
and seemed very fond of him. Once in
my peregrinations | found him half re-
Ginning on n knoll near pretty creek,
about n mile from the village. The child
had woven wreath Of asters and golden
rod and had crowned her companion,
who was idly pitching pebbles into the
water.
"Oh. Joe, how becoming it is with
your big eyes, putting her chubby arms
caressingly around his neck. "Do laugh
Joel, then Won won't look SO sad.
At this moment l sauntered UP, and
Fielding said, with laugh and an actual
blush:
lyon see, Newton, Nettie is making u
fool of me"
"Ask him to laugh often, Mr.. New
ton" said Nettie. coaxingly; she is 30
good, dear old thing, but he only smiles,
and isn't it sad?" she went on, with
childish garrulity, her little face full OF
ea6erness, "Mr. Newton, You sit down;
Pm going TO try the wreath on you, too. .
/ Obeyed the little nine-year old
tyrant, and she lifted the wreath from
Fielding's head and put it on mine.
With wOmanly coquettishness, the lit
tie miss stepped back to see the effect
cts more becoming to Joel, with hi
big, sad eyes, like my WAX dolly"
Seeing look Of disappointment, which
affected, she said: "You look like my
china dolly, and she's ever 50 pretty"
sis she ? Thank you for the compli
ment, Nettie."
The child turned away, and begaI
throwing stones III the water, and u,
awkward silence fell upon us.
"You seem To have two likes in com
mon with me, Fielding, said aftel
some minutes, and more to relieve thu
silence than anything else.
(Which 2" he asked, laconically, CIV
ing me a glance, and then dropping hi'
eyes.
"Like for solitary rambles and fond
ness for children"
"Yes; both do me good. The hear
Graves some affection, and that Of a chile
issincere. The intense repose and beauty
Of nature tends to calm an unquiet spirit
and there is something in a clear, still
Sabbath afternoon that seems forecast,
of heaven 10 me. ALI! what a world thi
would be, with all its loveliness, il Their
was not something beyond, he added
more To himself than to me.
YES" | assented longed to Learn
what had saddened this mans life.
] did not know how To continue tn
conversation in this strain without be
traying an inquisitiveness that fel
would be indelicate, for there was dig
nifty about Fielding which precluded an,
questioning into his affairs. Happil
the child, firing Of her play, came TO II
and urged our return home. The con
versatiOn then was rambling and unim
portant.
After that often met Fielding OH Sun
day afternoons, sometimes alone an
sometimes with Nettie, who chattere
and teased him, dressed his hair or dec
GRATED il with wild flowers, oaressed nm
complimented him in her own loyil
fashion, occasionally went with then
aud fell into Joel's long sllepces or al
swered when he talked. He seemed !
like me and manifested much interest i
my success. With all his gentleness nm
unassuming department he wasa man G
strong common sense and OF contempln
tive mind, as well NJ u shrewd bushes
man. He often gave me advice who
led to success III my mercantile afflirs.
As spring came with its bleak winds
npticed Joel stopped more and his coug
grew worse. Sometimes Iremonstratef
for had learned to love him, and viii
he never spoke word Of his own lif,
we had many thoughts and symPathi'