Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-05-27

lonely sitting there with no one to speak
to, listening to the moaning wind, the
loud ticking of the clock.
The wind walled and walled, and
Nabby thought and thought The fact
of having freed her mind" to the squire
had relieved her long pent--up indigna-
ton, and now she felt more sad than
angry. Up before her seemed to rise a
picture of her life-the youthful dreams
and hopes, the changes and disappoint-
ments, the love turned into wrangling.
She even thought Of Josiah with pity
For the first time "she put herself in
his place." and realized how impossi-
BILE it was for one of his weak nature to
resist, unaided, the temptation which
would cost stronger will effort.
Pm afraid I've been little to sharp
with Josiah" thought she, 1--WE sorter
took it for granted was saint and he
was sinner and scolded him right
along down-hill A nice saint l am!
AS proud and high-strung as Lucifer
himself Oh, dear!'' sighed Nabby.
"a pretty mess Eve made of living! If
we could go back and begin over again,
seems to me things would go better"
Just then there was faint noise, like
the clicking of the door latch. Nabby
started and looked around, All was
still again--no one visible. Yet Nabby
could not rid herself of the impression
that some one was near her, that odd
sense we have ofanother's individuality
near US, though not present.
-
here, l know" said she to herself.
Nabby was one who always met things
half way. Accordingly she walked
to the outside door, and opening it
quickly, peered out into the darkness.
There stood Josiah, wet, sheepish,
sorry. Once he started to go in, but
his moral courage failing, he fingered
in dubious hesitation on the doorstep.
''Why don't you come in Josiah?'
asked Nabby
II didn't know as you'd want me,
Nabby," replied Josiah, with all the
meekness becoming returning plodi-
gal.
Want you? OF course [ do" said
Nabby heartily. Come right along in.
I'm going to have good griddle cakes
for supper, and you must tend them
while set the table. Griddle cakes
was one of Josiah's weaknesses, and
Nabby knew it.
Josiah came in. If he ever gets into
heaven probably his sensations will
not be one whit more delightful than
they are now, as from forlorness of his
wretehed wanderings he came into the
coy brightness of the kitchen, and felt
that he was home once more. How
good the tea smelled. The fire roared
and snapped, the tea-kettle boiled and
bobbed its lid up and down, and from
the griddle the savory odor ofthe cakes
ascended like homely incense. Josiah's
face shining with mingled heat and
happiness as he turned the griddle
cakes, was something worth seeing.
Nabby stepped briskly around get
ting supper ready. 1t seemed SO pleas
ant for two again, to have some one to
praise and appreciate the cooking. The
November wind might howl its worst
now Its hold on Nabby was gone. In
place of all the bitter sadness that hung
heavily around her heart was warm
feeling of happiness, of comfort and
hope.
All the explanation they had was this
Josiah drew from under his shabby
coat an exceedingly awkward and
knohby bundle.
I've bought somethin' for you,
Nabby," he said.
The 3somethin' " undone proved to
be very handsome britannia teapot
The teapot must have known that it
was IL peacc-ofiering, with such prefer
natural brightness did it shine and
glisten. Something in Nabby's eyes
shone and glistened, too, although she
had winked hard, and scorned the
weakness of pocket-handkerchief
''Thank you, Josiah" she said, Cts
4 regular beauty, and shall set lots by
it"
Which, so long as they understood
each other, was perhaps as well as if
Josiah had made Il long-worded speech
of repentance and reformation, and
Nabby another of forgiveness.
| wish | could say that Nabby never
scolded Josiah again. But | can't.
However, she drew it mild, and there
was general understanding between
them that this was only sort Of exer-
else made necessary by habit-a bark
ing by no means involving biting. And
Josiah was so accustomed to ii that he
would have missed it, and not felt nat
ural without being wound and set going
for the day by Nabby
One day, later in the winter, Nabby
was washing for Mrs. Hosley.
80 you've taken Josiah back again,
after all, said Mrs Hosley.
well, yes, | have" said Nabby,
giving the last twist to sheet she was
wringing out. Josiah mayn't be very
much to brag of; but then, you see,
getting to be old folks, Josiah and me,
and We may as well put up with each
other the little while we've got to stay
here"
''How has he been doing since he
came back 2"
First rate. He's walked as straight
rs Il string ever since. He's a good
provider now he's quit drinking, and a
master hand for fixing up things around
the house and making 1t comfortable.
l tell you what it is. Mrs. Hosley, we've
got to make 'lowance for folks III this
world We can't have 'em always just
to our mind. We've got to take them
just as they are and make the hest
ont"
I'm glad to see you SO much happier
and better contented, Nabby."
well, used to fret and complain a
good deal because things hadn't turned
out as | expected them to; but lately
I've thought good deal about it all,
and I've made up my mind that there's
considerable comfort for every one in
this world, after all. We mayn't
git just what we want but we git some
thin"
In which piece of philosophy | be
lieve Nabby was about right
Meyerbeer and the Poet
Paris Letter to New Orleans Picayune.
One night while he was in Brussels a
duet came into his mind at a. m. He
leaped from bed, rang the bell for a
servant, and asked for poet. The