Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-01-05

real costly, an pomperin' the flesh Is
sinful. III git another Goldfish next
!, time | go to the store; that's nour-
ishin' don't hold to Grant, idees
entire; besides, 'twa'nt nothin' what
he said; he come as a friend
The poor woman burst into tears
Indignation gave her momentary
strength she did not hear the shed
door open behind her, but she rose in
her chair like spectre, and looked at
him with burning eyes.
'Amasy Flint, b'lieve you'd a
| sight rather I'd die than live; | hain't
had decent vitcals since took sick,
nor no care whatever You re loud
prayer an reader, but if 'twan't for the
name of it b'lieve you'd kill be with
the axe instead of starvation I've a
! good mind to send for Squire Battle
and swear the peace against you
Deacon Flint at this moment saw a
shocked face behind his wife's chair
it was Poly Morse. His acuteness
came to the rescue. She's little
OUT be said, nodding to the uneI-
pected guest Come right along,
Polly
This was too much for the weak
woman to bear She fell back and
tainted Her Indignation had over
borne her weakness for moment, but
exhausted it also. And when she
awoke to life. Polly was rubbing her
and crying over her. but her husband
had gone. Those tears of sympathy
were more then she could endure ST.
lently. She put her arms round Pol
ly's neck, and sobbing like child,
poured out the long list of her sorrows
into that faithful ear.
Bless your dear coul y said Polly,
wiping her eyes, you can't tell me
nothing new about him Dind't
summer and winter him. so to speak
afore you come here? Don't | know
what killed the fust woman? 'Twan't
no fever if they did cali it so; was
livin' with him-want o. food an fire
an lovin- kindness. Don't tell me
pitied We afore we was married, an |
hain't stopped yit'
But Polly's words were not words
only, from that day on Many a cup
of broth, vial of currant wine, or bit
or hot stewed chicken found it's wav
surreptiousiy to Mrs Flint and her
strength of mind and body returned
fast, with this sympathy for one and
food for the other. She made up her
mind at last that he would leave her
husband. at least for time, and in
her own house endeavor to find the
peace and rest necessary to her entire
recovery If she could have seen
Mindwell and Sari, and taken counsel
with them, her course might have
been d tferent, but the roads were now
well-nigh impossible from deep mud,
and she could not get to Colebrook.
and in sheer desperation she resolved
to leave her present home as soon as
Hiram Smith moved from the farm
house Fortunately for her, the dea-
con had to attend town-meeting, three
miles off, on the first Monday of April,
and, with Polly and Israel to help her
Mrs. Flint was established in the
other house before he returned and
found her flown. His wrath was
great but still he said and did moth
ing; never went near her, and for
very shame's sake, did not speak to
her-for what could he say?
Perhaps in that solitary house,
whose silence was like balm to her
weary and fevered soul, she might
have starved but for the mercy of her
neighbors. Polly Morse had to que
of swiftness. and it never wagged fast
er than in Mrs Flint's behalf. DR..
Grant sent half barrel of -four to that
destitute dwelling, and Israel bushel
of apples. Polly, out of her poverty,
shared her kit of pork with the poor
woman, and Hiram Smith brought in
barrel of potatoes and bag of meal
which he duly charged her account
with the farm. But there were many
who dared not help her, for the deacon
held notes and mortgages on many
house and of many a man in Bassett
who could not afford to offend him.
And old Parson Roberts was just then
shut up with an attack of low ferer.
so he knew nothing about the matter
However, the deacon was not long
left to be nursing his wrath Food
and fire are not enough for life some
times. The old house was leakv.
damp comfortless. and in few weeks
Mrs Flint was taken again with dis
ease of the lungs, and Polly Morse
found her in her bed, unable to speak
loud, her fire gone out, and the rain
dripping down in the corner of her
bedroom. Polly had come to tell her
that Israel was going to Colebrook to
buy a pig. and would take any mes
sage She did not tell her, but, step
ping to the door, called to him across
the yard to tell Sam Pratt he must
come over to Bassett directly. This
done, she hunted around for something
to make fire, and then looked for the
tea; but there was none Nothing
like food remained but half loaf of
bread and some cold potatoes, so she
had to make the bread up in some hot
water, and feed the exhausted woman
slowly, while she chaffed her icy feet,
and covered her closely with her own
shawl The next day Sam and Mind
well came over, shocked and in
dignant, their wagon loaded with pro-
visions, and the old house was soon
filed with oders of beef broth, milk
porridge, fragrant tea and toast, and
the sharp crackle of the fire iL the two
rooms, while best of all, truder hands
fed and soothed the poor woman. and
soft flial kisses comforted her starved
soul
Mindwell cuuld not stay-there was
a little baby at home-but Sam would
be left behind while old Israel drove
her back to CClebrook, and fetched
Mabel Eldridge to take her place.
Nab burst into passion of tears
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