Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-10
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discouraged, Tor L saw I must begin
again at the very beginning" she is
more than 100 years old, and entirely
destitute. Yet she did not complain of
anything bat the cold She was former
ly a slave In Kentucky, but somehow
strayed away up here, and now has out
lived everybody that ever belonged to
her. If 1 could manage to get her In
the Colored Woman's Home for the rest
of her life, Ishould be glad. But, as she
isn't resident Of the city, it will be
necessary to pay her board. A dollar a
week, Mrs. Hoyt thinks it is"
Certainly, that would be the best
waking up little. "Still, don't know
what we can do until We have called a
meeting of the society"
That was much like her If the YES
Try had been on fire, she would have
stopped to call meeting of the society
before she would have ventured to
throw on dipper Of water.
But the poor creature IS freezing
and starving" said I, impatiently.
Cant you, as President of the soci-
ETY., empower me to give her at least
one Of those wooden sacks we have on
hand?"
Il don't know but might go as far
as that, though l suppose it isn't exactly
In order" returned the deacon's wife,
leaning back III her chair, and smooth
ing the table-cover between her thumb
and finger.
She seemed to be meditating, so I
waited for minute, and then she said,
abruptly:
What do you think of Mr.. Brod-
head, Bella?"
"There! I shouldn't wonder if he
would give Us something y exclaimed,
going down on my knees In my heart to
the deacon's wife for my injustice. ''He
is q man of means, and a generous man,
I've always heard"
The deacOn'S wife looked puzzled.
"Oh, your old colored woman I" said
she, directly. 81 wasn't thinking about
her ; ] was thinking of you. MI. Brod-
head has very high opinion of you,
Bella. Did you know it?"
what do you mean, Mrs. Shackel-
ford ?" said |, as surprised as though the
man in the moon had winked at me, for
my friends all knew how l detested such
talk. And, besides, [ never considered
Mrs. Shackelford that sort of woman.
Her attention was usually conferred in
the sewing society and her flower garden.
But for once some other idea had
taken possession of her mind, and, as
her thoughts always ian in grooves, she
never could harbor more than one at
time.
Mr.. Brodhead is nice man. and a
fine-loolling man." she said, looking at
me sharply ga man of means, and
generous man, as you say"
81 suppose So" replied, gathering
my shawl about me.
"Oh, don't you go yet, Bella. [ was
wanting to see you, and L consider your
dropping in quite providential The
deacon and [ were talking of calling on
you this very evening" said the deacon's
wife, putting out her hand to keep me
from rising; "and, when 1 saw your
blue shawl turning in at the gate, said
to myself, That's as marked token as
Rebecca at the well, with the pitcher on
her shoulder l haven't the gold ear
rings and bracelets to offer you, but 1
have all the rest" she added, laughing
nervously.
Just now the deacon came In. Now
there is, in the opinion of his wife, but
one reason why Deacon Shackelford
didn't make the world. He found it al
ready made. And when he came in,
she looked up to him as though Atlas
had come, and she could safely drop the
world on his shoulders and 60 off pick
ing golden apples.
sc was just speaking n good word for
Mr.. Brodhead to Bella, Deacon" said
she.
"Ah and what does Bella say?" re-
turned the deacon, looking as though ii
were a question of investing in real es-
tate, or the price of gold.
bella doesn't say anything" re-
piled. Certainly rot before she is
asked"
"You need not wait long, if that is
all, answered Deacon Shaokelford ''FIl
ask you now. Have you any objection
to an offer of marriage from Mr.. Brod-
head? There !"
HE Is a very bashful man, Mr.. Brod-
head is, Bella, and so he got US to help
him little. Why. he is in love with
you," interposed Mrs. Deacon Shackel-
ford" he is in love with you down to
his boots"
''Let it run out of his toes, then, !"
said 1, beginning to feel like new yeast.
"But you can't have anything against
the man." persisted Mrs. Deacon.
And think after o while you won't
have your grandfather and your Aunt
Susannah to talk to, and you will miss
it if you don't have somebody in their
place. It is best to think of these
things. And you won't find a kinder
man, If you search the world over with a
wax candle, than Mr.. Brodhead."
''Mr. Brodhead is well enough. Mrs.
Shackeford. I don't deny that. But
the idea of making a proposal of this
sort through 'middle-men!' 1t is too
absurdP ' said, laughing, and put on
my hat.
So went home to my classes In en-
broidery, and drawing, and wax-work-
to making Aunt Susannah's caps and
grandfather's coffee. My life was full
of monotonous work In those days, and
sometimes had a strange, uncomforta-
bic impression of machine wound up
and running without any act of its own.
One evening when 1 was putin.
the silver away after supper, and feel
ing the creak and crank of the wheels
more than usual, as though the ma
chine needed oilino tha front pate