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

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.
go mother, mother, | am so tiredp'
The dewdrops quivered like imperial
diamonds upon the broad green plumes
of the cornfield by the wayside; the
grass that bent over the footpath was
heavy with evening moisture; yet these
two wanderers chung together homeless
and alone, in the falling shadows of the
night.
"Cheer up my child; We have not
very far to go. Come closer: let me
brush the the dew from your curls.
Now, take my hand"
But the child hung back, sobbing
from WEAKNESS and exhaustion, and
the pale, young mother, bending over
her in the vain attempt to soothe the
historical excitement, did not hear the
rumbling of advancing wheels until
they passed close to her, and rough,
hearty voice, exclaimed:
"What ails the little girl? Is she sick''
Mary Ellsworth had never seen Farm
er Raynesford before. yet the moment
her eyes rested upon his wr;nkled, sun
burnt face, with his shaggy brows over
shadowing his kind eyes, she felt that
he was friend and made answer
promptly:
Not sick, sir, but very tired. We've
walked long way"
SCOT much further to 60 asked the
farmer, tickling his horses ear with the
whip.
To Brockton."
''That is four miles off, and the little
girl is pretty nigh used up already"
81 know it, said the woman, with a
sigh. But I've no money to hire lodg-
ing nearer In Brockton l hope to OBJ
tain work in the factory"
81 won't hear no such thing" said the
old man, energetically. "Why that
child can't 60 twenty steps further!
Here, get in along with me. You won't
be none the worse for bit of supper
and good nights rest. | know that
Hannah will scold," he muttered, as he
lifted the little girl to his side and ex-
tended his hand to the mother; "but
can't see folks perishing by the wayside,
and never offer to help them. | don't
care if she scolds the roof of the house
off"
1t was AZ oddly-shaped old farm
house, gray with the storms of nearly
half a century, with a broad door-stone,
over hung by giant lilac bushes, and a
kitchen where, even in the month OF
June, a great fire roared up the CHM
ney, and shining rows Of tin winked
and glittered at every leap of the flames.
Such neat kitchen it was! Mrs. Els
worth's heart involuntarily warmed at
the genial sight
Mr.. Raynesford jumped out of the
wagon, threw the line over post, and
went into the house to cOnclliate his
domestic despot 'Look here, Han
nah" said he, to tall, angular-looking
female, who emerged from a pantry
near by at the sound of his voice, her
face nearly or quite as sour as the
sauce of her pickles she was carrying,
''jest set a couple more plates on the
table, will you? l have brought home
a woman and little girl that I found
on the road a piece below, tired cen
Almost to death. They was calcuiat-
in to walk to Brocton, but l thought it
wouldn't hurt us to keep 'em over
night"
I'm astonished at you, Job Raynes-
ford" said his better half in tone
of indignant remonstrance. I'VE might
just as well hang out tavern sign at
once and done with it; you're always
bringing home some poor miserable
creature or other, and"
There, there, Hannah" interrupted
Mr.. Raynesford, 'I'm always willing to
hear you when you're reasonable, but
it goes clear agin my grain to see poor
folks a sufferin and never stretch out
a helping hand 'Taint scripter, nor it
faint human natur'
well, go on your own gait, Job
Raynesford, responded his wife tartly
''only mark my worGs, if you don't end
your days in the poor-house twon't be
through no fault o. yourn." She shut
the pantry door with a bang that made
all the jelly cups and milk pans rattle,
while Job with an odd grimace went
out to help his que ts alight.
Don't mind my old woman" he said
alphabetically. as ,t.rs. Ellsworth
sprang to the ground; "she's kind Of
sharp spoken. but she means we'll after
AL We amt all jest alike in our no
tons, you know"
HIf oil tha ,.,o-ll -. D,