The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-08-26

Lazy. more likely. He's got pre-
cious little staminy, though"
i ran back to the field. where / found
Stephen still lying ON the ground. He
took the water gratefully, and seemed
better at once. - ..- -
"fm all right now," he said, cheer
fully. was much relieyed; and we
talked merrily of many things. 1 said
not a word of all my dreaming, but /
was thinking all the time of Stephen in
the new character had given him. 1t
was no effort of the Imagination to
fancy Stephen q gentleman; for there
was a sweetness and dignity in his ma
ture that no uncouthness of dress or
speech could hide. Once out of the
clutches of Mrs. Deacon Witheridge,
what might he not become?
/ Mamma" 1 asked at tea that night,
whats 'stsminyP" "e-
.Staminy' What does the child
meaup'
"Why, Mrs. Witheridge said Stephen
hadn't any 'staminy,'" explained.
"Oh, staminar' said my mother.
She meant that he hadn't a strong con-
stitution."
"'Staminyr" cried my father.
"Well, the old lady has enough of ii
herself. She and the Deacon are as
tough as old shoe-leather. They
"Andrewr" said my mother, re-
proacnfully. "Before these childrenr'
"And they've no mercy on anybody.
They work that poor fellow early and
late, till it's wonder there's anything
"Andrew. L wouldn't" began my
mother again. -
Hes bright, smart little fellow,
too. He'd make something anywhere
but on Deacon Witheridge's farm. Get
him off that, and you might hear from
that boy. / declare there are too many
folks in this world that have dropped
into the wrong place."
For some reason had no errand to
the Deacon's for week after this. One
morning heard my mother and grand
mother talking in the dining-room.
"Should you want to send her up
there, if he's so sick?" asked my
mother.
"No. I shouldn't send her on any
account, my grandmother answered.
"Does she know he's sick?"
"No. l haven't liked to tell her.
You know she's taken a great liking to
him."
."Well, he's d nice boy. hope he'll
live. Always respectful and wellbe-
haved." -. ...... ..,-. .... =.
Stephen was sick and they had not
told me. said nothing; but instant
ly put on my hat and started for Deacon
Witheridge's. Mary Ann met at the
door with:
"Wal, Stephens ben terrible sick
sence you was up here. Guess he amt
quite so bad though, now. I'll go ask
Mrs. Witheridge ef you can come in and
see him"
"She came back in q moment, and
said:
"Yes. come along in. He's in the
back bedroom"
went softly into the room and stole
up to the bed. Stephen lay there so
pale and wan and pitiful that could
hardly help crying, He heard me and
opened his eyes, aud his face frightened
so that 1 forgot to be sad.
"It's too bad you're sick, Stephen ~
said. rather timidly.
soon"
His cheerful face comforted me, and
we talked till quite forgot my anxiety.
AT last there was q pause; and we were
both silent for several minutes. There
was something different in Stephens
tone and look when. he said, at length
Sometimes I dunno as / shall evei
get very rich" ...s-.. --...
| I looked up quickly, to ask why; but
! stopped:
"i kinder think sometimes I AIM
good for much here. Folks 'ud gel
along well enough without me-"
I was bewildered, but still I said
There was lots o. things 1 wanted
to do, though. 1t seems kinder hare
that can't have time"
looked at him in vague distress
The momentary pain that had crossed
his face was gone, and q happy. beauti
ful look remained, that l have long re
membered.
."Pd like to have done something be
fore had to go. But there's plenty o
folks left. It's all right. know that
It's always all right"
With a great sob I cried: "Oh! Ste
phen, don't diei Don't die!" ant
rushed out of the house.
A week after Stephen died, and
knew the first genuine sorrow of my
life. 1t was long before 1 ceased t.
feel a sense of bitter grief and crushin.
disappointment; but time has softenet
the sharpness of my sorrow, and ha
left me the memory of a sweetness an,
trust and patience that have all my lif
strengthened me in the divine doctrin
that it is "all right" And thougl
there was, after all, no story to tell ant
no book to write, believe that in tn
best and truest sense my Stephen wa
| q hero.-Helen DdtUes Broom, in NJ