The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-08-07
tended not to hear-he was busy lifting
little Mary out.

| tended not to hear-hc was busy lifting
little Mary out.
"Set on them blackberries, Hannah!''
said he, toward the close Of their even
ing meal, "thc little girls so tired she
can't eat nothin' solid -
al was calculatin' to keep re black
berries for the donation party to-mor-
row." said Mrs. Raynesford, rising
with rather an unwilling air.
"Nonsense !" quoth the farmer, with
broad laugh. "I'm havin' donation
party Of my own, tonight ! Here, little
one, see il these berries don't put the
color into your cheeks -
AL the evening little Mary sat by the
hearth, with hc-sAzsaje-;a- h.- mothers
and her large blue eyes fixed earnestly
on the kind farmers face.
"What are you thinking about dear
est ?" asked Mrs. Ellsworth, once. She
drew long sigh and whispered "Oh,
mamma he is so kind to us -
The tops of the far of eastern woods
were being turned to gold by that
wonderous alchemist, the rising sun,
when Mary Ellsworth and her little girl
sat out upon the long walk to Brcckton,
Job Raynesford went with them to- the
gate, fumbling uneasily in his pocket,
and glanced guiltily around to make
sure that Hannah was not within seeing
distance. When Mary extended her
hand to say grateful goodbye, bank
bill was thrust into il.
"Don't say nothing" muttcred Job,
with sheepish air. "ren dollars amt
much to me, and il you don't chance
to get work in the factory right away it
may be good deal o. use to you.-
Needn't thank me-you'rc as welcome
as flowers in May :"
"Ten dollars - calculated Mrs. Ray
nesfold who had witnessed the little
episode from behind the curtains OF her
milk-room window. "ls Job Raynes-
fold crazy? To give ten dollars to a
poor strolling vagrant il he don't get
piece Of my mind" And she hasten.
en- out, her cap-boadcr fairly standing
on end with horror. Job awaited the
coming tempest with philosophic cool
ness, his lips parted with good humor-
cd smile.
"She means we'll, he said to himself,
when the volley Of wrath had been dis
charged on his lucklcss head, and Mrs.
Rayncsford had returned 10 her butter
making, "but she's got the greatest fac
ulty for scoldin' of any woman ever
saw"
The years fitted by, sprinkling the
steep old farmhouse roof with crystal
drops of April showers, and thatching it
with the dazzling ermine Of January
SHOWS many and many time. Gray
hairs crept in among the raven locks OF
Farmer Raynesford, care-worn wrinkles
began to gather around his mouth and
brow. Alas those swift footed years
brought troubles innumerable to the old
man.
"Twenty years - muscd he, one
bright June morning; sit don't seem
possible Hannah, that it was twenty
years ago this very day, that caught
that ugly fall from the hay-rack, and got
lame for life" And he looked down
at the crutches by his side. Hannah
stood in the doorway tossing corn to a
forlorn little colony ofchickcns. Tween
ty years had no, improved her in any
respect-shc was gaunter, bonier and
more vinegar-faced than ever.
eyes" said she, slowly, "and per-
haps you don't remember that it was
just twenty years ago to-day that you
threw ten dollars away on that woman
and her child. told you then you'd
end your days in the poor-house, and |
don't see but what my prediction is like
ly to come true. Didn't | say you
would live to repent itl"
al won't deny, Hannah," said the
old man "but that I've done good
many things I've been sorry for-we
amt none Of us perfect, you know, wife
but that is not one Of them. No, |
never for minute repent being kind to
the widow and the fathcrless.
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, but
made no answer. Didn't you say you
were going up to see that rich lawyer
about the five thousand dollar note to-
day." she said.
ayes, but don't s'pose it'll be much
use. II he'd wait little, I'd do my
best to please him. Jones says he'll be
sure to sell the old place from over our
heads, however; they tell me he's n
hard man. ! mean to explain to him
Just how the matter stands, and"
al told you how it would be long
ago |" calculated Hannah, unable to
retain her vexation. "What on airth
ever possessed you to sign for Jesse Fair
weather1''
al supposed he was an honest man,
and wouldn't see an old friend wrong
ed"
"Fiddlesticks That's just your cal
culation, Job There, Zekc has brought
the wagon do start off or you'll be too
late for the New York train !" and Job
meekly obeyed, only too happy to es-
cape from the endless discord OF his
wife's railing tongue.
The rays Of the MONDAY sun stream.
ed brightly through the stained glass
easement OF Mr.. Everleigh's superb
Gothic library. The room was decora-
ted with every appurtenance OF wealth
and taste. Velvet chairs, with tall backs
Of daintily carved rosewood, were scat
tered here and there marble vases oc-
cupied inches beside the doorway, and
the rarest pictures hung on the paneled
and gilded walls. But the prettiest OBJ
ject OF all-thc one that the rich lawyer
oftencst raised his eyes from his writing
to contemplate with an involuntary smile
Of pride and anfection-was lovely wo'
man in white cashmere morning robe
trimmed with white velvet, who stood
opposite, arranging flowers in bouquet