Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-10-20

him go, Nathan, tor it would only do
him good, he's always so happy when
he's singing, and God knows sorrow
comes soon enough to most folks.
Mary wants to go to school SO bad that
the boys and girls 60 by. | know l
couldn't do all the work, out hired help
is easy got, and you'd never miss the
money that would pay girl her wages.
Now, as to Willie's going to college.
l don't want to appear contrary, Ma
than, but I've wanted it right along, and
do think the boy ought to go. It's my
notion he'll never make farmer, he's
too set on his books; not but what a
farmer can be as smart as anybody, but
it's not in nature to do one thing, and
do it well, when your whole heart and
soul are hankering after something else.
"No! I say let Willie go to college,
and let Mary go to school, and Thomas
to the singing school, if they want to go.
It'll do you good, for there's none of
our children going to be any of the ig-
norant stock, let me tell you that.
"N course you can't do the work, no.
body expects you to but you've got the
money that'n hire it done, and it's a
great deal better to be few dollars out
of pocket and have the love of your chh-
dren, than to leave it all to them after
awhile, and mebbe have them feeling
glad when you're gone.
s. / think, sometimes, perhaps if ye'd
been little more kind and gentle like
to Elizabeth, she might "a"
"Mis' Heyworth! Hannah!'' ex-
claimed the husband, with suddenly
awakened dignity. 81 hope you'll not
attempt to blame me for what that sim
full girl may have done; me, Deacon! -
And he clasped the chairs arm firmly,
while his feet took an amazed jump
from the fender to the floor.
"Being a Deacon doesn't help the
matter a bit, and it won't help you,
either, when it comes to the last, and If
you've not tried or done anything to
make anyone else happy, I'm afraid
there will not be much happiness for
you; folks can sin in not doing what
they ought to do as well as in doing
what they ought not; and Wen be
Judged for what we have not done as
well as for what we have. No, Nathan,
make your children happy, and no mat
ter if it does take little money to do it,
you'd far better leave them without q
cent than to have your memory mold
and rot because you denied them these
favors. 1t takes mighty little, some
times, to make another one happy, but
I've a notion it goes long way with
God!"
Deacon Heyworth could not sleep.
He was, to say the least of it, surprised.
This was not Hannah's usual way OF
talking, and he could not imagine what
in the world possessed her now. IF she
had spoken angrily, he could have re-
piled, but her language had been SO
calm, SO dispassioned, so straightfor-
ward, that he had not the least oppor-
tunity for anger.
For while, he could think of nothing
but the strangeness of his patient, gen.
tle-voiced wife talking in this way to
him; then gradually her words came
back to him, and the more he remem-
bered of them, the more they troubled
him; but not that he thought she
''looked at things in too strong a light,
for what need was there for Willie to
go to college? he never went, never
wanted to go, even; the boy knew too
much now for any good; then as fol-
Mary, she's better scholar this very
day than l am, and there's no more
need O. her going to school than there is
of Hec there!" and the Deacon very
complacently eyed a great yellow and
white dog lying behind the stove, and
decided that it was all humbug, that
he had ssset his foot down." etc. ssBut
then it was kind of mean to say they
shouldn't, when Hannah had set hel
heart on it; faint often she crosses
me; she's been a powerful good wife
and mother, Hannah has," unused the
Deacon, with a remorseful twinge
sWonder what did possess her, though,
to say what she did about Elizabeth?''
and just then the Deacon's little devil,
self-conceit, stepped in and spurted al
such rate about mans controlling
his own house, and deacon's knowing
what was right and best for his family,
/ of course, that he turned over in his bed
and closed his eyes even more firmly,
and with feeling of conscious superb
GRITTY. Of course he knew what was
best!
But he could not sleep; over and over
again he determined not to think any
more about it, but over and over again
would the words recur to him: Il
you've never done anything to make
others happy, I'm afraid there II not be
much happiness for you when it comes
to the last.'' He could not get rid OF
them, try as he would, until, in desper.
alton, he determined to end them by
determination. He ransacked his
memory, first carelessly, then eagerly,
then anxiously, and with great won
dering if it really could be, and if his
children might not possibly be glad
when he was dead; the thought was
horrible, yet turn whichever way he
would, it only grew more intensely Ger.
tain, for from among all the years, the
days, the hours gathered from the past
he could only single out pitiful selfish.
ness and greed.
81 jest wish Hannah hadn't said any.
thing about it," he groaned, as, rest.
lessly tossing over and over, he found
himself unable to stifle his awakening
conscience. ell not be fit for lick o