Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-06-16
PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.

80, mother, mother, am so tired"
The dewdrops quivered like imperial
diamonds upon the broad green plumes
of the corniield by the wayside; the
grass that bent over the footpath was
heavy with evening moisture;yet these
two wanderers clung together, home
less and alone, in the falling shadows
of the night.
"Cheer up, my child, we have not
very far to 60. Come closer; let me
brush 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 sooth the
hysterical excitement, did not hear the
rumble of advancing wheels, until they
passed close to her, and a rough, hearty
voice exclaimed:
"What ails the little girl? Is she
sicll?"
Mary Ellsworth had never seen Far
mer Baynesford before, yet the mo-
ment her eyes rested upon his wrinkled,
sunburnt face, with the shaggy brows
Ovcrshadowing his kind eyes, she
felt that he was a friend, and made
answer, promptly:
"Not sick, sir, but very tired. We've
walked a long way"
"Got much further TO CO. 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 u
sigh. "But I've no money to hire a
lodging nearer. In Brockton | hope to
obtain work in the factory"
81 won't hear to no such thing"
said the old man, cnergetically. "Why,
that child can't go twenty steps fur
therl Here, get in long with me.
You won't be none the worse for bit
of supper and a good nights rest. |
know Hannah'll scold," he muttered
as he lifted the little girl to his side
and extended his hand to the mother
"but | can't see folks perishing by the
wayside, and never offer to help 'em. |
don't care if she scolds the roof of the
house off"
1t was an oddly shaped old farm
house, gray with the storms of nearly
half century, with a broad doorstone,
overhung by giant lilac bushes, and a
kitchen where even in the bloomy
month of June, great fire rOared up
the wide-throated chimney, and shining
rows of tins winked and glittered at
every leap of the flames. Such neat
kitchen it was! Mrs. Ellsworth'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 cOnciliate his
domestic despot. "Iook here, Hannah"
said he to tall, angular looking female,
who emerged from pantry near by at
the sound of his voice, her face nearly
or quite rs sour as the saucer of pickles
she was carrying, "iest set n couple of
more plates on the table, will yOu2 |
have brought home a woman and a
little gal that l found on the road a
piece below, tired cen almost to death,
They was calculatin' to walk to Brock.
ton, 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 a tone of
indignant remonstrance. "We might
Just as well hang out a tavern sign at
once and he done with it; you're al
ways bringing home some miserable
creature or other, and"
"Thcrt, there, Hannah" interrupted
Mr.. Raynesford, "1'm always willin' tC
hear you when you're anyways reason
able, but it goes clear agin my grain tC
see poor folks a sufferin' and never
stretch out a helping hand. 'Tain't
Scriptur', nor faint human natur.'
"Well, go your own gait, Job Raynes
ford" responded his wife, tartly, "only
mark my words, if you don't END youl
days in the poorhouse, 'twon't bt
through no fault of your'n." Sht
shut the pantry door with a bang thai
made all the jelly cups and milk PAM
rattle, while Job, with an odd grimace
went out to help his guests to alight
"Don't mind my old woman" sale
he, apologetically, as Mrs. Ellsworth
sprang to the ground; "she's kind O.
sharp spoken, but she means well, aftel
all. We amt all jest alike in our nd
tions, you know"
1f all the world were like you, sir,
said the young widow, with tears ii
her eyes, "there would be less want ant
] OH ffarino bu farv Eorr,or Rovnaafor,