Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-05-20
I know" said she to herself.

I 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, peer
ed out into the darkness. There stood
JOSIAH, wet, sheepish. sorry. Once be
started to go in, but his moral courage
failing, he fingered in dubious hesitation
on the doclstep.
why don't you come in, Josiah?" ask
Nabby.
II didn't know as you'd want me, Nab
by" replied Josiah, with all the meekness
becoming returning prodigal.
"Want you? Of course 1 do" said
Nabby heartily. 'sCome right along in
IN going to have good griddle cakes for
supper, and you must tend them while |
set the table, Griddle cakes were one of
Josiah 8 weaknesses, and Nabby knew it.
Josiah came in If ever he gets into
heaven probably his sensations will not be
one whit more delirhtful than they are
now, as from the forlornness of his
wretched wanderings he came into the
cozy brightness of the kitchen, and felt he
was home once more. How good the tea
smelled. The fire roarad and snapped, the
tea-kettle boiled and bobbed its lid up and
down, and from the griddle the savory
odor of the cakes assembled like homely
incense. Josiah g face, shining with MIN
gled heat and happiness as he turned the
griddle cakes, was something worth see
ing.
Nabby stepped briskly around, getting
supper ready. 1t seemed so pleasant to
see the table for two again, to have one to
praise and appreciate her cooking. The
November wind might howl it's worst now.
Its hold on Napby was gone. In place Of
all the bitter sadness that had hung heav-
lily round 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 knobby bun
die.
GIVE brought somethin' for you, Nab
by,' he said.
The ''somethin'" undone proved to be
very handsome brittanla teapot. The
teapot must have known that it was
peace-offering, with such preternatural
brightness did it shine and glisten. Some
thing in Nab3y's eyes shone and glistened
too, although she had winked hard, and
scorned the weakness of pocket-handker-
chief.
''Thank you, JOSIAH" said said; sits
regular beauty, and I shall set lots of store
by it,
Which, so long as they understood each
other, was perhaps as well as if Josiah had
made long wofded speech of repentance
and reformation, and Nabby another of
forgiveness.
I wish l could say that Nabby never
colded Josiah again. But can't. How
ever, she ''drew it mild,' and there was
general understanding between them that
this was only sort of exercise made. ne
cessary by habit-a barking by no means
involving biting. And Josiah was so ac
customed to it that he would have missed
1T, and not felt natural without being
wound up and set going for the day by
Nabby.
One day, later in the winter. Nabby was
washing for Mrs. Hosley.
so you've taken Josiah back again,
after all, said Mrs. Hosley.
''We]l, yes, have,'' said NaboY. giving
the last twist to sheet she was wringing
out. Josiah mayn't be very much to
brag of; but then, you see, he's my own
and all I've got We're getting to be old
folks, Josiah and me, and we may as we'll
put up with each other the little while
we've got to stay here.'
''How has he been doing since he came
back?'
''First rate. He's walked as straight as
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 it comfortable. 1 tell you what
it is, Mrs. Hosley, we've got to make
'lowance for folks in 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 best on't.''
''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 l expected 'em to; but lately I've
thought a good deal about it all, and I've
made up my mind that there's considera-
bic comfort for every one in this world,
after all. We mayn't git just what we
want, but we git somethin'.''