Richland beacon., 1881-11-26
4 1CNT !SCKIE'S LICK.

well, now, You look SORT Of sickly,
spindiing like; you amt hearty, be We,
niister?" The speaker was a tail. ga,lnt
specimen of woman, pas. middle age,
almost masculine i'll physique. Her
complexion made you think of russet
apple with the sunshine on it, so brollzcd
WAS it, and the hair was too gray for SO
young woman. At first ycu thought
she was old, but a nearer approach re-
minded you that she could not Lave
passed ~. The calico dress WAS scru-
pulously Clean, and, although not in the
mode, became her with striking Grace.
The faded shawl seemed honorcd by its
wcarer. She locked ut you sharply rs
she talked, and n shrewd smile crept To
her lips rs if she had some hidden foui-
tain Of content.
What striking and unique character
one meets in by-ways of Now England
struck out of the native granite. They
seem rough hued at first, until you find
them suifuscd with an inner grace, the
magic touch Of a divine artist. | was
waiting at little station among the
hills for the through express. 1t was
solitary place, only one house in sight,
the horizon outlined by darkened pines
and the sandy bluff, on which the DESC
late structure stood, affording one II
view of a still, flowing river, flashing
down through the evergreens. 1t was
in the month of June and the hills were
beginning to burn with strange fires.
Carmine, emerald and russet fiickerel
against stately backgrounds Of dark
blue. The robin, the blue-bird ard the
crow mingled their contcnted notes IA
the sunny air. 1 had an hour and hall
to wait, and, because had nothing bet
ter to do, l was strolling backward AMI
forward on the platform nursing my
own grief, which lay heavy on my
heart. The words Of the woman halted
me in my self. imposed task and care
less curiosity caused me to enter into
conversation. How often His angels
come to me in strange disguise.
EYES, mister, what You say is trne.
The Lord Almighty does shut US in
dreadful dark corners, expect. without
c-en star or nothing for a CLINT o
night. 1t beats all how kind O rough
He appears." "You know something
about it, auntie!" / calle.. her SO, for
although no older than she had rich
experience saw at once. "Law, YES,
| have" and her eyes took on a far
away expression, as il she were looking
into the unseen and eternal. "Iou
won. believe it, mister, nohow. You'd
think 1 was deceiving ye." "Tcll us
all about it, if you will.
We seated ourselves on low bench,
in sight of the glowing woods, the SUM-
light flittering through the clear morn.
ing air fragrant with the fresh odors OF
the year. "You see was just past i
when Josiah married me. He was in Il
powerful hurry. He had bought "A farm
the mortgage was to be worked of, hc
needed wife. They did say-yor
wouldn't believe it--that 1 was hand
some. A Boston chap had asked me to
marry him before that, and the folks
were rather anxious, for he was rich
but Josiah and had loved each othe
since We were children, and | said no
Well. we were married and the farm La'
mistress. ! knew all about work
was strong and hopeful. We didn't hav
any such fixings as that city chap woul'
have bought, but We loved each o:he
and our poverty was no hindrancc I
that. We made batter and fatted eat
tie. The next spring Josiah raised gar
den sass, aud that first year we manage
to pay 500 on the mortgage. 1t wa
hard work, and We both were littl
tired. / was not quite AS strong as tn
summer came on.
Here she stopped rs if lost in revere
her face took that distracted look again
"And how was it next year 2" l IL
quired.
She gave q sigh. Mister, my ir'
began then" and dawning smile iin'
tered On her thin lips that Is. Gale