Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-07-21

| eyes, there would be less want AND
suffering by far" Farmer Raynesford
pretended not to hear, he was busy
helping little Mary out,
"Set on them blackberries, Hannah, y
said he toward the close of the evening
meal; the little girl is so tired she can't
eat nothin' solid"
II WIS calculatin' to keep the black
berries for the donation party to-mor-
row." said Mrs. Raynesford, rising with
rather an unwilling air.
Nonsense. cuoth the farmer, with
broad laugh. "I'm having dona-
ton party of my own tonight Here,
little one, see if these berries don't put
some color into your cheeks"
All the evening little Mary sat by the
hearth with her hands in her mothers
and her large, blue eyes fixed earnestly
on the farmers face.
"What are you thinking about, dear?'
asked Mrs. Ellsworth once. She drew
long sigh and whispered: "Oh, NAM
ma, he is so kind to u.s."
The tops of that far-off eastern woods
were turned to gold by that wondrous
chemist, the rising sun, when Mary
Ellsworth and her child set out on her
long walk to Brockton. Job Raynes-
ford went with them to the gate, FUN
bling uneasily in his pocket and glanc-
ing guilty around to make sure that
Hannah was not in seeing distance.
When Mary extended her hand to say
a grateful goodbye bank bill was
thrust into it.
"Ten dollarsw calculated Mrs. Ray
nesford, who had witnessed this little
episode from behind the curtains of the
milk room windows. els Job Raynes-
ford crazy to give $40 to a poor, stroll
ing vagrant? If he don't get piece of
my mind" And she fastened out,
her cap border fairly standing on end
with horror. Job waited the coming
tempest with philosophical GOODNESS
his hands in his pockets and his lips
parted in good-natured smile.
"She means WELL" he said to himself,
when volley of wrath had been dis
charged on his luckless head, and Mrs.
Raynesford had returned to the butter.
making, 'but she'sgo the greatest fac
ulty for scoldin' of any woman | ever
saw"
The years fitted by, sprinkhng the
steep old farmhouse with the crystal
drops of April showers, and matching
it with the dazzling ermine of January
SHOWS, many and many time. Gray
hairs crept in among the raven locks
Of Farmer Raynesford, care-worn
wrinkles began to gather around his
mouth and brow. Alas Those swift
footed years brought troubles to the
kind old man.
Twenty years" unused he, one
bright June morning, sit don't seem
possible, Hannah, that it was twenty
years this very day that l caught that
ugly fall from the hayrack and got
lame for life" And he looked down
at the crutches by his side. Hannah
stood in the door, throwing corn to a
forlorn colony Of chickens. Twenty
years had not improved her in any re-
spect-she was guantier, bonier and
more vinegar-faced than ever
eyes," she said, slowly "and per-
haps you don't know that it was twen-
ty years ago this day that you threw
away $40 on that woman and her child.
| told you that you'd end your days in
the poor-house, and don't see but my
prediction is likely to become true.
Didn't say you'd repent it?"
81 won't deny, Hannah" said the old
man, "but I've done many things I've
been sorry for--but that is not one of
them. No, never for moment re-
pent being kind to the widow and the
fatherless."
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, but
made no answer. Didn't you say
you were going up to see the lawyer
about that $4,000 note to-day?" she
asked.
Eyes, but l don't suppose it'll be of
much use. If he'll wait little I'll do
my best to please him. Jones says
he'll be sure to sell the old place over
orr heads, however; they say hes
hard man. mean to tell HIM just
how matters stand now"
81 told you how it would be, long
ago." calculated Hannah, unable to
restrain her vexation. "Whatever
possessed you to sign fer Jesse Fair
wether?"
81 supposed he was an honest man
and wouldn't see an old friend wrong
ed"
"Fiddlesticksl That's just your cal
culations Job. There, Zeke has
brought the wagon, do start off, or
you'll be too late for the New York
train" And Job meekly obeyed. only
too happy to escape from the endless
discord Of his wife's railing tongue.
The rays OF the MONDAY sun stream
ed brightly through the stained glass
easements Of Mr.. Everleigh's superb
gothic library. The room was decorat-