The Osceola times., 1881-07-23

alighted and turned TO assist us down,
slow step coming through the hall attrac-
ted us, and thought some kind neigh
Dor was staying with Ralph. The door
opened; it was Ralph himself, little
downcast looking, but alive and well.
With glad cry / sprang to his arms,
and for the first time in my life wept
historically. Ralph carried me into the
parlor while welcoming his parents and
expressing joy at our opportune arrival,
explaining his silence by saying he was
busy, but meant TO have started for his
fathers that evening. But something
was back, we felt that; soon it came out.
for mother could Ill brook suspense:
But why is your store closed, Ralph,
and everything so still? What means III"
1T means, dear mother" said Ralph
with sad smile, that your boy has
failed in the business he undertook with
such faith in his own abilities, that he
has lost the capital given by a kind
father, in fine, been sold out by the
sheriff, and to-day is penniless, nay,
worse"
"Well, declare" said his mother, as
he paused, 'if you didn't brighten me
about as much as Lizzie did when she
persuaded US that you we're sick or dead.
Well, I'll tell you the truth. Ralph,
am not one bit sorry, for since Myra has
gone the old house seems that lonely
that your father and / can hardly bear
to stay in it, and now, after Lizzie's visit,
/ don't think we could have stayed at
ALL You see," she continued, cts Just
Providence, Tor if you had prospered
here you never would have gone to the
IL nj \ 10
this Weslyille," she added, with sudden
asperity, as if the place was in some way
responsible for our failure.
Father joined in pressing our imne-
date return, and it was settled in very
short time that we were TO return with
them and make their home ours, for the
present, at least.
But mother laughed, and said: "When
we get you there see when you'll get
away again"
Dear, kind parents! not word of our
carelessness and extravaganza; no wise
saws and hints of self sufiiciency that
needed no counsel. Nothing but tender
ness, and during the years that we made
one family found no difference, For
myself, Joy that Ralph was spared to me,
made all else seem so trifing that i
could not realize it as misfortune. But
as We viewed our past life we saw many
things needing careful attention which
seemed of very little importance before,
and humbly we knelt and implored for-
giveness for all our many iailings to
duty, and while We placed ourselves I'M
der the Divine protection, and resolved
to begin new life, peace descended to
our cbastened hearts, as We determined
that none should suffer through us.
Next day being the Sabbath, we at
tended church as usual, and al
though a few were quite as cordial as
usual, candor compels me TO say
that the majority kept aloof as though
fearing some contagious disease. Eddy
grew restless during the sermon, and,
not wishing to interrupt the congrega-
ton, quietly withdrew, and, seated in
the shade of fine tree, was enjoying
the quiet, when 1 was attracted by the
sound of conversation carried on in a
low tone between two old ladies who
were also enjoying the cool air outside
the church and at the same time enjoy
ing little gossip about their neighbors.
Seated with their backs 10 me, / could
not avoid hearing all they said
''He couldn't help from breakin' up il
he was as rich as Girard," said one,
with such a wife as he has. ! believe
he tried to do ss well as he could, but
law sakes, with her silks and her finery,
to say nothing of her good -for-nothin'
lazy ways, no man could get along.
do not honestly believe that woman
went near the kitchen once month.
Hetty Marvin had full sway, and you
know whether you or me would trust
our kitchen to the Maryins. l know
what / know, though never mentioned
it to any one living. But Mrs. Marvin
had more tea, sugar and coffee in her
house nor had, and it didn't cost her
ANYTHING. either. Between you and me,
Mrs. Briggs, may say it, Mr.. Brooks
kept Marvln's family as well as his own;
but that's his affair. OF comsc," and she
waxed warmer with the subject, iii he
can afford to keep her a-sittln' in her
rocking.chair or thumpin' her piano. he
may, but he won't get rich at that, | do
knOW. Then her company well, ! like
to have them come to see me, but such
hou .efuls OF company as she'd have, the
biggest bugs in the place, too
Mrs. Perkins forgot. or seemed to for
get how often she had dropped in to tea
and seemed then to consider me a real
nice little woman. not bit stuck up"
TO use her own expressive language.
"Well," she continued, 'such goings
on amt for nothin', as tell Mr.. Perkins,
a mans wife lifts him up or puts him
down, and says |, where would you be,
Mr.. Perkins, if you had a wife like Mr.
Brooks p"
What Mr.. Perkins might do under the
circumstances | never knew, for Eddy
waking just then, cried a little. and both
ladies looking round and discovering
who their neighbor was, started to theif
feet, Mrs. Perkins remarking, 81 feel
better now, Sister Briggs, hadn' we bet
90 in ?" and both old ladies whipped
past me and entered the church in time
to join the last prayers, which | have no
doubt they did with greater gusto after
their innocent gossip, For a few mo-
ments felt too much amused TO think OF
prayers; but recolecling my self. too
entered the church and joined the
prayers, conscious Of great thankful
ness that Mrs. Perkins was not my
mother.in.law, nor did she resemble her
in the least.