The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-05-18
RggsIsEAKE GARNET MADE.

4s .'sIor -.
R~lA little, low-broS Us S.Ssse !. yellow cottage.
sleepily nesting meath q canopy of
branching hemlocks. Here dwelt Mrs.
barley, or the Widow barley, as she
was commonly called by the inhabitants
81 Linden. Here, since the departure
OF her niece, Garnet, her brother Rob
erfs child, for the city to learn the
dressmaker's trade, which event occur
red couple Of years ago, she had lived
alone, subsisting on the produce she
raised on the few acres of ground at
tached TO the cottage, which she man
aged to sell or barter away for groceries
al n thriving town three miles distant.
Day was fast verging into dusk. In
deed, for some time twilight had lain
gray upon the scene, and only silver
line kissed the purple tops of the dis
tant mountain. The Widow barley sat
10y the window busily engaged in darn
ing wretched-looking stocking over a
mammoth mock orange, bemoaning
with her every stitch her recent attack
of rheumatism which confined her to
the house, when she was thoroughly
conscious of the fact that her services
were needed out doors. Now was the
time to dig her potatoes, now the time
to gather certain apples, and-do
Everything in fact; and here she was,
hot only unable TO get about, but so
heavily trammeled by debts that she
found itimpossible to secure the assist
hnce so much needed.
"Well, 1 declarew
This exclamation was caused by the
jrumbling old stage coach, that daily
passed her house, stopping at the front
gate, from which alighted her niece,
who ran lightly up the walk and into
the house followed by stronglv-built
man, bearing on his shoulder good.
sized trunk, which he deposited in the
hall ere making his exit.
"How d'yedo, Aunt Susan ?" with &
Y hug and kiss. " Not slave to rheu
matism, hope ?"
yes" replied Widow barley, who
by the way, was a tiny woman of fifty
with face not unlike the wrinkled ap
pies that grew on the tree in the garden
'sthe monster has me again in hi
clutch But, whatever brings yol
y home? You haven't surely been sen
adrift ?"
"Yes, aunt, a tremor of pain thread
ing her voice in spite of her efforts t
appear unconcerned, " times are dull
and Madam Brown has so little wor
that she deemed it expedient to dispens
with the services of those girls VIII
proved the most incompetent. 1, bein
y the least sl1illful of all her apprentices
was discharged without regret. Mos
summarily she dismissed me, withhold
ing the few quaint words of commendi
4 tion she grudgingly bestowed upon I'll
1 others. l have no taste for dressmakinl
and am termed a regular botch. Not
very good recommendation to help S
2 cure another situation, eh j.? But, new
mind, aunt 1 see 1 am needed
home How are things prospering +"
" Not at all" in her most dolorol
tone; the place is fairly weighed dow
with mortgages, and, for aught knC
to the contrary, Mr.. Lincoln may fo1
close any day. Yes, any day may fiji
us without shelter. Our larder is abo
unpty and there is no money to reple
it all Of the -four has been scrap
r "a the barrel, and to-day / was oblig
D1rrow a pailful from Jane Ora
hen, too, there is not a tea-leaf in [
-, assa 7 % not know how 10 =