Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-24
Gales ano Skftlbes.
W.xylH cxsLDrs DOORSTEP.

and looked ont from The low Kitchen door
across the wiptry fields and the ice
glazed streamlet which lay between her
home and the little village Of Greennook.
with its one tapering spire and slopin2
roofs and blank white walls, bare now of
the summer verdure. She had done her
household work, polished every article ca
pable Of polish, and soaped and sanded all
the rest. At the last she had swept clean
her door stone. and now felt free to do
what she chose, to rest, or gossip. or sit
down to needlework, thing impossible
to her while a spot beneath her roof was
OIL; Of order. just now she felt neither
like gossiping nor sewing her heart was
very full, and she found it necessary to
stand still and think while. Only that
she was not used to it, she would have
cried. she was so very sad. II seemed to
her that the happest people were those
who lay in their green graves in the
church-yrrd, with crossed hands upon
their bosoms, and feet quiet from all
earthly going to and fro for evermore.
Not that Hannah Gneldt was tired in
body, or weary with the toll Of household
duty; for she was strong of frame. and
her health was perfect, as her hands were
willing. It was on her humble heart the
burden lay. her spirit that was worn with
earthly travail.
Twenty three years to-day I've been
his wife," she mnttered. land I've loved
him well. and worked hard and faithful to
keep things decent, and it's come to this
at last Things had been better, says
he. If he'd married Miss Lester.''
Yes, that was what Farmer GBcidt. ha.-
assed by toll and debt. had said to her
that very morning; and il seemed to Han
nah like the confession of a long repen-
lance, forced from her husbands lips at
last.
Poor man, wish could help him, :"
she sighed, leaning on her broom beside
the door. II doubt he's right about Miss
Lester"
With that her eyes fell and rested by
chance on the doorstep.
II can mend that, ANYHOW" she said !;
and have time for work Is DONE
So she hung the broom up. and peeped
into her oven, and set the kettle on. and
then. hooded and shawled. crossed the
fields to where the farm joined that Of
Simeon Gray.
On one spot were men at work. and
stones lying about.
Hannah Gneldt nodded to the old farm
er, and he came to meet her.
II want stone,n she said. Nav
have one ?''
II wish you'd take 'em ALL" said the
farmer; "a lot OF rubbish You see I'm
clearing away what they call the old grave
yard at last. Wife talks to me o sacr
lige and disturbin' bones. Bless you,
tn, re amt been none for years and years;
and these hard times a man can't let land
20 to waste. tell wife she don't know
nothn' about it. What do you want to
do. pave II pit around the well?''
mo. | want step" said Hannah.
That great white one is just the thing"
And sne pointed to n slab hard by
like shall bring it over tonight" said
the farmer. NO said Hannah. Il can
roll it along.
And her arms, strong as most mems
went to work at once, and the slab was
rolled. and pushed. and lifted on its way.
II was toll for a laborer but it did Han
nah good. She tugged away, pushing.
and lifting, and adding women's ingenui-
ITO mans strength so that at last il was
at her own door. There she let it rest
and dug the old stone out. and atterward
brought out water to wash the slab with
white rs driven snow. for the most part.
with some little wcather-stains about the
edge, and on one side the black inscrip-
tion-a name, eulogy. and dates. Han
nah stared with the curiosity of one who
cannot read.
IL wish | could tell what that was,
she said, "Some ones name and age. All
there were sore hearts when that was
new. hope when die Oliver will have
written over me that was good wife.
I've tried to be- ought to know that
big letter-wait bit, believe it is H."
Then she turned the inscription down
ward. and washed the other side. clear
and white and fitted it into its place.
She received little credit for her work.
Oliver only muttered.
"You needn't have published the fact
that couldn't afford a porch to all the
place And no one noticed the step az
forward save Hannah when she
scrubbed il.
Matters were very bad at the Gneldts'.
Oliver brooded over the fire in spee''hless
sorrow; and grew grayer and balder with
each passing day. Hannah kept ruin off
a little by making home of the poor
house. and feast of the humble fare, by
her housewives skill. She might even
have been cheerful but for the memory of
that luckless speech.
working IN her garden one uaN. when
the first spring grass was growing green.
Hannah heard footsteps. and lifting her
head. saw two gentlemen beside her, and
arose precipitately with womanly anxiety
about her ankles, not strictly covered per-
haps by her cotton gown. The nearest
gentleman. an elderly man with bright.
dark eyes. addressed her.
Mrs. Gneldt. presume.
"Yes. sir"
She asked him to walk in. and he did
so. the other following.
In the little parlor they sat down.
"Ioa are Mrs. Hannah Gneldt. Oliver
Gneldt's wife ?''
"Yes. sir. II is about--about-excus
me. You look like a lawyer, and fear it
is more trouble for Oliver"
.'Reassure YOURSELF" said the gentle
man. ..Reassure yourself, madame. Your
husband is not concerned. save through
you. and that hope pleasantly. Your
name was Burns. before you were mar
ried ~
Yes, sir. Hannah Burns"
do YOU remember dates well -