The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-03-31
nail. he slowly shufied out Of doors and

from the black pot on the crane. The
kettles merry song he heard; upon the
hearth the gray cat purred; while, by
the chimney-corner snug, the house dog
dozed upon the rug. Among the Chin
ney-piece of wood an idle row OF flat
irons stood, two candlesticks in bright
array, a pair of snuffers and tray. The
time-worn clock licked slowly on; it
struck the hours forever gone. Forever
gone" il seems to say-"Forever gone"
from day to day, in its tall case oI
sombre hue-'twas fifty years since 1t
was new. Between the windows, small
and high, the looking glass was hung,
near by; a brazen bird with wings out
spread, perched on the scroll-work over
head; beneath, q shelf, the common home
Of family Bible, brush, and comb; above,
from iron hooks were hung long frames,
with apples thickly strung, and, fixed
upon the wall to dry, were wreaths of
pumpkin kept for pie.
Forth from the buttry, to the fire,
came Aunt Rebecca Mcintyre, swallow
spinster. somewhat old, whose mellow
ace was seldom told; her hair was gray,
her nose was thin, it nearly touched her
toothless chin. Life's weary work ana
constant care had worn o face that once
was fair.
Each Sabbath morn, from spring 70
snrino. within the choir she used to sing,
in ancient bonnet, cloak, and gown, the
oldest relics in the town; beside the
chorister she stood, and always did the
best she could, and, while with tuning
fork, he led, she marked his movements
with her head, her nasal voice rose sharp
and queer above the deep-toned viol
near.
She took the black pot from the crane,
removed the kettle from the chain, and
made the tea and chicken-broth, drew
out the table, spread the cloth; then,
from the table, bright and new, brought
the best china edged with blue.
The chores were done, the feast was
spread; all took their seats and grace
was said. They ate the savory chicken
stew, so juicy and SO well cooked
through; before them, rich round dump
hngs swan, on .steaming plates,
with cold boiled ham, with feathery
biscuit, warm and light, with currant
jam and honey, white and crowning all
a good supply of yellow, neatly pump
kin-pie. Where such bounteous feast
| is found, who would not teach and
"board around?"
The supper done, the father took from
off its shelf, the sacred Book, and read of
one who stilled the sea one stormy night
in Galilee; then, kneeling down before
his chair, he asked the heavenly Shep-
herds care.
Soon from the group, with drowsy
heads, the children started for their
beds; took off the little shoes they wore,
and left them on the kitchen floor; then,
bidding all fond "good night" with
pattering feet, they passed from sight.
Dear little feet, how soon they stray
from the old farmhouse far away; how
soon they leave the family fold to walk
the shining streets of gold, where every
hope is real and sure; where every hear
is kind and pure; where every dream is
bright and fair,-Ol may we meet our
loved ones there!
The farmer left his cozy seat, with
Gathering slippers on his feet, went to
the cellar where he drew mug Of cider,
sweet and new, and from his broad bins
brought the best and ripest apples fol
his guest. Then, by the warm fires rud
dy light, they fingered until late a
night, strange legends told, and tale'
that made them all feel nervous ani
afraid.
But "Aunt Rebecca " watched in vail
the curling smoke above the crane /; sh
nodded, dozed, began to snore, sh
dropped her knitting on the floor, awoke
her eyelids heavier grew, arose and 81
lently withdrew.
Along the creaking stairs she crept, t
the lone chamber where she slept, an
close the window-curtains drew, to scree
herself from outward view. She stoppe
the key-hole of the door, she set tn
candle on the floor, looked meath tn
valance-half afraid to find a man
ambuscade then sitting down, asid
with care she laid her garments on
chair, slipped ON her ghostly robe {
white, took off her shoes, blew out tn
light, then, in the darkness, from he
head removed her wig and went to bee
curled up, with chilly sobs and sighs, an
quivering shut her drowsy eyes.
Poor single souls who sleep alone, th
night wind hath dismal tone I
your lone ears-you start with fear ,
every midnight sound you hear, whe
late at night with weary heads you cree
into your weary beds. The nights seer
long, your lips turn blue, your feet gro
cold-you know they do
, She slept at last she heard once MOI
, the ripple break upon the shore agai
, she sat upon the strand, and some on
clasped her fair young hand, and wor6
were whispered in her ear that long ae
she loved to hear, and, starting up, 81
cried in glee 81 knew you would com
back to me-" She woke. Alas 4
love was there. Her thin arms claspe
, the vacant air. Twas but q dream. Sh
J, lived alone. Without she heard the nigl
wind moan, while on the window-pane
: the snow was wildly beating. From b
, low the smothered sound of voices can
2 when still with Busby's social dam,
! Their guest sat by the fading fire al
watched its feeting flame expire whi
she listened, but no word they uttert
, could be clearly heard but soon reco
|, lection came that sent a shudder throue
Q her frame-the sausage to be fried
morn, the breaksast table to adorn, WI
in the bedroom where their guest woul
7 soon betake himself to rest. The cloc
struck ten, she softly said, "In get
ere he goes to bed"
= The spare bed stood within room {
: chill and humid as a tomb twas new
= aired, twas seldom swept; in its dam
= corners spiders crept; they built the
!. bridges through the air, and no rue
broom disturbed them there. The rail
} that fell on roof decayed, dripped throug
i the chinks that time had made, and {
70 the whitewashed walls ran down in wo
,e drous frescoes tinged with brown IL
a window-panes, with frost o'ersprea
to were warmer than that icy bed. Co
IA was the mating on the floor cold BILE
l the breeze beneath the door cold we
le the straightforward chairs of wood co
TX was the oaken stand that stood on spin
N ling legs that looked as chill as lone, ba
ID pines ON some bleak hill high rose tn
IN bed DER things below, like some tall ic
e. berg capped with snow. Here eve
" highly 6onored guest, when bedtir
to came, retired to crest"
q, Within its large and moldy press hui