The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-06-30

pean household. OF course they dealt
At Mr. Norman's store (people of ex-
cellent appetites they appeared to beg,
and as 10 carried the orders home
rather than the store errand boy, Mrs.
Badgers information came direct.
From ..Mother Deans frequented
seat in the bulk window she could not
fail to note, among other things, the
attention Joseph gave to business; and
sions when he was asked in. at her
low-voiced suggestion, with the basket.
The Deans had moved some of the fur
,niturs into the store part and made q
snug sitting-room of it. 10 would have
rather that Miss Dean had extended
the invitation on her own option, but
the same end was gained, as she invari-
ably remained present during those too
Aeeting moments. :.
"Ah, Joseph!' said the venerable
lady in her thin, uncertain voice, on one
occasion, chow you remind me of my
eldest son when he was about your age.
He was good boy, good boy. The
first time I saw you I-ahr' She
shook her head and relapsed into 81
lence, and over her knitting seemed to
forget that 10 was present. But when
that young man was about to rise and
take his emptied basket back to the
store, she spoke again without looking
up:
Jennie" she said, softly Jennie,
my dear, Joseph is fine young man.
Have him to come in whenever he comes
to the door, if it's only for a minute;
for it does me good to look at him.
Jennie dear, if live TO see another
grandson l hope he will be like
Though Miss Deans back was turned
toward 10 when she called "Grand-
mother'' with such peculiar emphasis
that she caused the good lady to inter-
rupt her remark and glance up in that
slow way of hers, he imagined that Miss
Jennie's face was rosy with bushes.
~ thought you were gone. JOSEPH"
said the venerable lady, sadly. "My
attention wanders sometimes, I'm
afraid; but l said nothing, hope, that
need be recalled"
''It's one of her poor days." whis
pered Miss Jennie. as she let 10 out.
"You mustn't mind her."
1.-THE dear old ladyr' said 10, much
pleased.
Sometimes Mr.. Dean, a middle-aged
gentleman, would happen in while 10
was making these semi-social business
calls, and turn the conversation to the
subject with which 10 was best posted,
the town and its people. Mr.. Dean
was rarely seen about the town, being
closely engaged with his literary la
bors. But at these moments of relax
alton there was nothing too trifing
for the amiable MIR. Dean to listen to,
from the marriage of the Mayor to the
number of tons of pig-iron worked in
the rollipg-mill. Any question that 10
failed to answer one day he took care
to be posted on before his next visit,
and no doubt Mr.. Dean picked up some
little facts of value to him in his work,
aside from being very much amused.
10 was highly flattered at the attention
paid him; and though his praises at
home took Mother Dean chiefly for
a subject, they were repeated by Mrs.
Badger, embellished by astute COM
ments.
When the Deans had been settled in
their new home about three weeks,
project was started for holding an an
nual fair in aid of the Orphans Home.
charity once very popular in the town,
but. unfortunately, plunged into tinan-
cial difficulties. A public meeting was
thought the best method to bring the
subject properly before the towns-peo-
pie. and the lessee of Renton Assembly
Hall rendered its commodious lecture
room rent free for the occasion. The
evening of an approaching local cele-
bration and holiday was fixed by gen.
eral committee as most favorable time
for holding the meeting.
On the evening appointed the hall
was well filed with Renton's foremost
and best, socially and monetary; the
feeling of local pride had not been APP
pealed to in'vain. At a point in the
proceedings, ''enlivened by selected
orchestra" as the News reporter put it,
Mr.. Ruddiford rose to announce certain
pledges of contributions that, unsolicit-
ed, had been sent in to the committee
by persons who could not be present,
and heading this list was Mr. Charles
Dean, annual contributor, fifty dollars,
an announcement that caused the Nor
mans and other worthless Of Nerraw
street to call loudly in applause: .'Hear!
hear'' Having finished reading the list,
Mr.. Ruddiford proceeded to say:
"A venerable lady, who has recently
become resident among us, has con-
tributed to the fair seven pairs of hose,
knit by herself, and this valuable silk
quilt. which I hold in my hands, con-
tanning thirteen hundred and forty
nine different pieces of silk"
He then held up the quilt for general
admiration. 1t is more than doubtful,
however, if at the moment any one
would have offered five dollars for it,
though the name of the donor was in
quired and whispered about the hall.
But young Lawyer Carter, who knows
with the best when to improve an OPP
portunity in an assembly, stepped up to
Ruddiford, took the quilt in his hands,
and with it mounted on chair. Ladies
and gentlemen" said he, 81 propose to
auction this unique and valuable dona-
ton to the highest bidder for the benefit
of the Home. 1t is the work of one of
the noblest of women, whose pious life
stands glorified to-day with browning
wreath of snowy locks whitened BY
winters" Carter went ION
in a similar strain for five minutes,
making the touching sentimental appeal
suited to his purpose, and then offered
a personal bid of twenty-five dollars to
start with.
"Going at twenty-five! twenty-fiver'
Fortyr' bid Stow, Carter's law
partner.
"Fiftyr' said Norman, Senior. (The
elder grocer had been given no cause to
change his good opinion in regard to
the youngest OF his new neighbors. 10
had invited Miss Dean in the morning
to accompany him to the hall, but she
had pleaded in excuse, as usual, her
duty to her beloved grandmother
"And ten morev' called director of
the fund.
"Make it seventyr' added the presi-
dent, in generous rivalry.
just at this point there was some
near the hall entrance,
Carter TO exert his voice, while
the bids ran on at about five dollars a
call. Carter's friend Stow being on the