Sharp County record., 1881-08-04

1" more selfish, cold, heartless set of
neople the Lord never allowed to live
This consoled and strengthened me.
We began abusing them, and | felt bet
ter and stronger. Aunt Maria'S was
one of those scheming, turbulent ma
tres that had never agreed with mine
in the davs of my prosperity, but 1t was
a kind of bitter tonic to me just then
"rd "a given 'em apiece OF my mind
if I'd "a got here in time. But, you
see Mrs. Rogers-you know the wom-
an that kept our boarding house"
I shook nv head. Aunt Maria's pres
ence was already losing its strengthen
inc and consoling qualities.
3Well, she died last night, and Mr.
Chandler he came to me to talk things
over. I've boarded there off and on
before and after your uncle job ed,
for NIGH on to fifteen year; and Mr.,
ChandIer's wife she died the very next
summer. and he's kept his second story
front ever since. You see, he owns the
house. and like enough has mortgage
on the furniture. He's wishy-washy
sort of man that most anybody can get
the best Of Good gracious me'
"What is it, Aunt Maria? What's the
matter?"
"Why, souls and bodies! if there
amt special providence in this thing,
nv name amt Maria Peckham. 1t came
to me then, Just like a hash-the hull
thing. Why can't you step into Mrs.
Rogers place, and earn livin' for your
self and children? Mr.. Chandler wants
some one right away. It'll be kind o
comfortable for me to have some
one there that l can depend on,
and the Lord knows it'll be CON-
Portable to you to hev some one
you can depend on; and Mr.. Chan
dler, if you get the right side of him, is
as easy as an old shoe. The tuneralll
come off tomorrow. Her children'n
hev to be divided round among the rela-
tives. I'll 90 home now and talk the
hull thing over with Mr.. Chandler, and
YOU come around tonight and settle
everything. There IS nothing like
striking when the irons hot. 1t don t
do to let the grass grow under your feet.
That was the trouble with your Charley
he was too slow; hadn't enough push
about him-leastwis that's what the
folks say"
Slanderers! backbiters! falsifers!
My Charley was the best, the dear
est"
"Yes, yes, no doubt; but he amt
here Just now to earn livin' for you
and the children, and you don't want
to sponge on your folks
"No, no, Aunt Maria, anything but
that"
"Well, the ways of Providence is in
scrutable. 1t seems to be app'inted
that you should take that house. Mrs.
Rogers dyin' that way, just in the nick
of time, and your hevin' row with the
folks-it's wonderful! I'll 60 home
right away, and hev talk with Mr..
Chandler before he falls in with some
body else; he'll let you hev the furni-
ture on installments, | know The
kitchen oil-cloth'll stick to the floor,
anyway. But I'll 60 home and see about
it, and you come around tonight, dye
hear, Kate?'
"Yes, ma a'am," l said, and gulped
down sigh that was almost groan as
she disappeared. The consolation had
all gone out of her presence long ago.
| suppose | ought to have been grateful.
My need was desperate, but Aunt Maria
made the proposal so repelling- the
poor dead woman, the division Of her
children, the mortgage on her furniture;
| couldn't even see much comfort in the
kitchen oil-cloth sticking to the floor.
looked upon my children as they
trooped in, shabby but rosy, from their
winter sport, and wondered how they
would fare among my hard-hearted rel
atives when my turn came to die, and
theirs to be disbanded. Charley and |
had always said we'd rather die than
board or keep boarders. Charley had
died, possibly; but the children and l
were left, and something had to be done.
1t seemed as though Mr.. Chandler was
my only hope; but 1 went around there
with heavy heart, and nearly tumbled
off the stoop when l saw a futter of
Grape on the bell handle. Inever in
the world could have gained courage
to pull it. Fortunately young man
came out. slipped in and he slammed
the door after him and went whistling
his way down the street. Icrept by the
parior floor, where some people stood
in groups, talking and laughing quite
unconcernedly in the awful presence of
death itself. The dishes we've clatter-
ing on the dumb-waiter; woman came
down the stairs, smiling and happy,
cloaked and hooded for the opera. She
carried huge bouquet in her hand, and
l wondered how she could pass the
parlor door. The people in that house
may say what they please about my
GOODNESS and assurance, but should be
very sorry to have as little heart as they.
Aunt Maria was already haggling about
the kitchen oil-cloth, and nothing would
do but we must all 90 down and see that
it really did stick to the floor
Mr.. Chandler was short stout man,
with scarcely any hair on his head, and
a short little nose that he had to keep
perched in the air so his spectacles
wouldn't fall off. His eyes were very
round, and his cheeks were fat and red,
and fringe of white beard gave him
somehow a very benevolent air that
was calculated to inspire confidence