South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-11-25

q
Branch farm aimee colony times, and
no Tsney had ever cheated a man of
a dollar. They lent no money, and
they borrowed none; they never sat
at any name table. or asked guest to
theirs. vs,-z.~--
The fancy pew-front one-was
filed every Sunday come rain or sun.
Mrs. Taneyss mildle.aged woman.
with gray hair in q tight little knot
behind, and wearing the same rusty,
black gown and, bonnet for dozen
years, was always like the others pre-.
sent. But sometimes she was asleep.
For THE was the one. hour of the whole
week when shescould sit down on a
cushion, and fold herr hands. The
air was warm the music soft aud
sweet: no wonder sic Slept. Some.
times the words that were read stir.
red her soul |; it seemed as if her
childhood woke, as if the tears must
come to her long dry eyes. But they
never did. by the time she had walk
ed home with her son William, the
story of Bethlehem, or heavenly glory
to come, had faded into doubtful
dream, aud all that was real was the
South Branch farm, the price ofpork,
or the fall of potatoes. After church,
dinner must be ready, dipping hot. too,
on account OF the boarder), in half an
hour; then she had the sheep to look
after, and the poultry to feed then
milking. The Tancys never had kept
any help Mrs. fancy had brought
up six children, been sole cook, seam,
stress, tailor aud dairymaid yet
her husband, old Ben, always had
said; 'Sar..h's not capable.woman.
No fancy blood in her.
Ben had been dead five years, but
bis wifc went on carrying a grooming
load on the back which lacked bore.
William was harder master than his
father had been: the very oxen felt
the lash. oftener, sand their corn fell
off one half. IIo sat in the kitchen
now, with book before him, while
his mother and youngest sister, Lefty,
were cooking supper.
Take that butter off the table, he
said, suddenly. 'Molasses will do
What are You cooking meat for? It's
not necessary. Put it back in the
cellar
Yes, William. replied his mother,
submissively. Only l thought the
boarder--'
I'VE can't afford to keep him like
lord. You'll have TO exercise econ
omy. mother; l can't be always here
to look after things. How am ! ever
to pay for the meadow lots if the mo-
ney is going away III this style2'
In what way, William Mrs.
Taney's scared eyes wandered over
the spare kitchen, the smoldering coal
in corner of the CRATE, the half-starv.
eel face of her little girl.
q try to save, am sure. What
way do you mean, STRIP
'Oh, every way ? closing his book
with bang. There's n leak at eve.
ry corner. Why, l toll and slave the
year round. But with such a lot of
mouths to feed
lie glared at Lefty, who shraEk into
the pantry. She did not come out
during supper, and her mother dared
not call her. The girl was crying as
usual, and her tears always exaspera :
ted William. Poor Lefty felt the
horrible guilt Of her hearty appetite
sore upon her. She was always hun.
CRY; hungry enough to faint now.
Mrs. fancy forgot to eat her dry
bread, or drink her milk. The mea.
dow lots 1t was to buy those lots
that her husband had made their lives
bare and hard and wretched from their
wedding day. The COOL wholesome
produce from the farm, which should
have fed the children, had gone to
market, while they ate the refuse !;
the money which should have educa-
ted them had been put in the bank to
buy these lots. When her baby was
so I'll no doctor was brought, and her
child died the money saved went to
the lots; the mother had begged for a
headstOne for the grave. There was
Lefty, growing TO be a woman, half
clothed. without a sparkle of fun or
pleasure TO tighten her young life
while poorer girls dressed aud vert
out, and had company, and enjoyed,
as the girls should, days filled with
comfort and happiness. Every pen,
ny thus saved William laid by for the
lots Yes those twelve acres had
come to he the absolute God for these
people. Not happy life, nor God,
nor heaven.
After supper his mother followed
him out.
William she said, desperately,
how many years will it he before you
can buy the lots?'
Years? The lois2' in uufoigned
amazemept. how on earth can
you understand business2'
1t was the first time she had ever