The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-04-14
LITTLE RUTH.
AN OLD MANS STORY

know was selfish old idiot, now,
when look around me and see tho mer
cies given me in my helpless oldage, feel
the warm love around me on oil sides,
and realize the desolation my own hand
reached forth - grasp; but ! was hlind
TO the future III those days when %
nearly wrecked all it, happiness.
This was how 1t happened: After Mar
tim died-my wife, mean, with whom
forty happy years Of my life were spent
and all my children were dead or mar
ried, excepting Ruth, there fell upon mo
the heavy misfortune that has chained
me 10 this chair. or my bed, for fifteen
weary ye,rs. l had been Woodworking
man I'LL my life-a wheelwright by trade
with large family to rear, to clothe.
to feed, to educate, and, ah ME one by
ono to bury in tho old chnrclyard. till
only Mary, James and Ruth. our baby,
were left to me. Mary married. and
went with her husband 10 tie far West.
James took his small fortune Of 4 few
hard. earned dollars, and left US for the
golden land Of promise, California. and
only little Ruth was left III. Then the
angel Of death came for Martha, aud
only six months later l was stricken lelp-
less with paralysis.
am reconciled now to my hard fate,
and can sit here happily. glad that my
eyesight is still good, my right hand free.
and that have learned in my old age to
love books, 10 enjoy reading, and even
writing. Is never did in the hari-work-
ing DAYS Of my youth. But III those drst
months Of helplessness, when even 10
toss and turn in my nervous torture was
denied me, my sufferings were simply
horrible. No agony II pain, no torture
Of flesh or bone. could equal the dread.
full pressure upon my strong imbs, that
held them motionless. dead. in spite of
my efforts to move them one little inch.
l have tainted with the irightfnl efforts
have made Just TO lift once tho feet that
had carried me mies in q day with IN.
wearied ease.
But even in that time Of rcheliona
murmuring, of bitterest rcpining, there
WAS sumo consolation. First. there was
the house and Ave acres Of land, my very
own, free cf debt or mortgage, aud !
ANAL sum in the bank, the interest Of
which lifted us above actual want Then
! had Ruth.
She was just twenty when her mother
died, and others beside her father
thought her face the f,irest one for miles
around She had the Lluest eyes. like
tho little patches II summer skv, and
hair that was the color Vi corn silk. and
nestled in little baby cnrls oil over her
hcasl-s,ellions hair. that would never
lie stroGte under any coaxing, hut kinked
up IN 4Angaes that were full Of sunlight,
Her akin was white as milk. with cheeks
like tho heart Of blush rose, and he,
smile showed the rret,iest rows Of pearly
teeth / ever saw.
She coaxed from me my wicked NJ
pinings b. coming 10 me for directions
making me feel that my head was still
needed IL direct the work. though N,
feet Menld never more carry me over Iii,
door-sill. Then she fitted up for mo
large back room that overlooked most q
the farm, and had Silas, our head man
lift me up every morning and put me i,
a deep-cushiened chair by tho window
where could see the barn. the poultry
yard, the well. and the fields Of waiyin,
corn and wheat. She made me feel my
telf Of importance by giving me thus til,
mastery over my own little domain: an,
she brought up her own meals to "a
with me in the room where my nfirmit,
held me prisoner.
You must understand what Ruth VA
70 me. or you will never understand III
simple story have set myself to tellin,
YOU. She taught me to use my rich
hand without my left: and II You want /
appreciate the difficulty. tie your lei
arm down for ono single hour. and tr
how often il will unconsciously strain 1
the corda She brought me hooks froa
the village library, and opened 10 M
old eyes and brain I field II pleas0r
never before explored. had read m
Bible and the newspapers all my liz.
but never even knew the names I
books, now my greatest treasures. Ii
Ruth thought reading would be CON
pany" for me. Little Ruth. even al
does not know the world she peopled 1,
me IN her loving care for my Loneliness
When she was busy about her hous,
work. her baking, her washing and iro,
ing. she left all tho doors standing one,
that ! might still hear her CHEEKY vote
- she Gang or talked 10 me. The,
when al her work - done, she woul
put clean white aR4Qn over her blae
dress. and sit close. 6eside me, stitchin
busily on tho h0useA1ld linen, while
read aloud whatever had most please
me in my morning studies.
She devised little dainty dishes
tempt mo TO eat; she put sauoers /.
flowers on my table, that might che
myself into fancying was ont doors, /
their perfume crept out on The air; Oh
assured me, pctted me, loved me, Il
even my misfortnnos seemed blcsaino
drawing N nearer together.
And whom she waa All the world ID me
al that saved mo from misery, job
Hayes asked me % give him Ruth Tor hi
vile. / cunld hAy0 a4zAHOk hiM A..