The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-07-14
Her Stony Heart.

the sewing circle, which was held that
week at Miss keziah Fletcher's, that the
fruitful subject of Mrs. Denton's peculiar
tiles was brought up for about the fortieth
time. All the members, with the eNcep-
ton of the minister's wife, were present,
and every one of them had something to
say of the poor woman whose strange
ways had caused her to become quite Il
curiosity in Brierville.
''lt's my opinion such people are best
left alone" said Mrs. Prudence Randall,
us she bit off her thread little spitefully.
"She's been a disgrace to the town ever
since she's lived in it," said Miss Paulina
Cowan. IL must confess that haven't
any patience with such queer ways
'Poor thing she's seen sight of troub-
le,' said Miss keziah, who was ever ready
to pour oil on the troubled waters "First
her husband died Of delirium tremens-
"Worthless sot she'd oughter have
been pleased ter death to get rid o. him,
interrupted Miss Matte Baker, throwing
her scissors on the table near her with
considerable noise. "You won't get no
pity for her out o that, Miss kezah."
Then she lost her two little girls with
needing the interruption, land only q
year later her second boy died of the ty-
phoid. She'd only one child left then,
and that was her Oldest boy She set SO
much store be him remember seeing
her look at him once as if she worshipped
the very ground he trod on, and
"That's it," interrupted Mrs. Bliss,
whose husband was one Of the 'pillars'
in the Methodist church. "She thought
more Of him than she did of her salvation,
and he was taken from her that her hard
heart might be sottened."
'But she seems harder than ever, said
Mrs. Randall. "She won't listen to
word Of comfort, nor anything else No
one can make any impression on her.
Miss C0wan here went to her and told
her how we were all born to pass under
the rod that chasteneth, and that her
Edgard been called from the evil to
come What dye think Miss Denton
did? She rose up like a fury and told
Paulna she preferred to be left alone"
"les," giggled Miss Cowan hysterical-
ly. "She'd rather have my room than
my company any day. Howsomever,
don't bear her no hard teein's. done
Wudl L COulU lOI utl.
"The minister's wife didn't get no bet
ter treatment" said Miss Baker. She sat
in Miss Denton's shanty most an hour
talking of the mysterious ways of Provi-
dence, an everything bein' for our good,
an all flesh bein' grass, an 50 on. An
Miss Denton, she never spoke a word
from first to last, but lay on the soty with
her eyes shet, an never even said good
bye when Mrs. Bounce went away Sech
impertinence An | went there too. |
didn't want to be behind the rest of folks
in doin' my duty. told her about these
affections bein sent for our good and she
must bow her neck to the yoke and bend
her back to the burden. She laughed at
me. yes, she done just that"
"She wouldn't even see me-" said Mrs.
Peckham, tall, sharp featured woman
with shrill voice. II saw her at the
window, but she wouldn't open the door,
no matter how loud | knocked. But
scattered tracts all down the front walk,
and hope they did her good"
Miss keZiah, you amt been, believe"
said Miss Baker. "Well, don't go; it's
time wasted. Her hearts as hard as
stun"
NO." said Miss keziah, laying down
her work as she spoke" "I haven't been
to see her. You know | was away to
Helmstene when her Edgar had the fever,
and since I've been back my rheumatic
has been that bad | couldn't go any
where. But now fm tritle better III
take my turn"
"What is the use? What can you do?
Haven't we done everything y chorused
the other ladies.
'l think | shall ask her to tea" said
Miss Keziah, thoughtfully
ASK her to tean repeated half dozen
astonished listeners.
"Yes; none Of you tried that, believe"
answered Miss keziah
''She won't come," said Mrs. Bliss.
Perhaps not but all the same it won't
do no harm to ask her.
81 hope you will try to soften her heart,
and bring her to the prayer -meetin'
Thursday night" said Miss Cowan.
Miss keziah made no answer; but a
peculiar look crossed her homely, good
natured face-a look Miss Paulna did
not quite understand.
"Miss Keziah'll be wise to make no
promises" said Mrs. Bliss. "It stands to
reason that she won't succeed where all
the rest of us have failed. One might as
well talk to a stone, as to Mrs. Denton"
Miss keZlah sighed, and bent her eyes
upon her work. She had known what
suffering was once, and she knew that
while sorrow and pain sOttens some ma
lures, it hardens and embitters others.
Mrs. Denton lived entirely alone on the
outskirts Of the village, in a little, old,
weather beaten house she had bought
when she first came to Brierville, ten
years before. Weeds grew tall and rank
in the yard, the sunken steps leading to
the door were half buried in vines, the
well curb was broken, the gate fallen to
the ground, in fact, everything about the
place spoke of ruin and decay.
"Not a very cheerful place. certainly
muttered Miss Keziah, as the day follow
ing the meeting of the sewing circle, she
drove up to the Widow Denton's, and
hitched her horse to the tumbe-d down
fence which partially enclosed the yard.
"Now, Hetty, you sit right still till come
back, and don't start old Moll."
Hetty was diminutive niece of Miss
Keziahs, a golden haired, blue eyed child
of six years of age, who had been left to
her aunt as the sole legacy of an only
sister
Miss Keziah walked up the moss grown
path, and knocked loudly on Mrs. Den
tons door,
Before her knuckles had fairly left it,
the door was flung open by Mrs. Denton
herself, who stood silently regarding her
visitor, with an expression of resentment
and Indignation.
"How dye do, Miss Denton9 Pm Miss