Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-06-29
(From the Standard
HER STONY HEART.

the sewing circle, which was held that
week at Miss Keziah Fletcher's, that the
fruitful subject of Mrs. Denton's pecu-
liarities was brought up for the fortieth
time. All the members, with the excep-
ton Of the ministers wife, were present,
and every one of them had something to
say of the poor woman whose strange
ways had caused her to become quite a
curiosity in Brierville.
Its my opinion people are best left
alone" said Mrs. Prudence Randall, as
she bit off her thread little spitetully.
"She's been a disgrace to the town
ever since she's lived in it." said Miss
Paulina Cowan. 81 must confess that
/ haven't any patience with such queer
ways
"Poor thing she's seen a sight of
trouble said Miss keziah, who was
ever ready to pour oil on the troubled
waters. "First her husband died of
delirum tremens-'
"Worthless sot ! she'd oughter have
been pleased to death ter get rid O. him, -
interrupted Miss Matte Baker, throwing
her scissors on the table near her with
considerable noise. "You won't get no
pity for her out O. that, Miss Keziah."
"Then she lost her two little girls
with scarlet fever" continued Miss
keziah, unheeding the interruption,
"and only year later her second boy
died of the typhoid. She'd only one boy
left, and that was her Oldest boy. She
set SO much store by him! remember
SEEM her look at him onct as if she
worshipped the very ground he trod on,
and
"That's it," interrupted Mrs. Bliss,
whose husband was one of the "pillars''
OF the Methodist Church. "She thought
more Of him than she did of her saliva
ton, and he was taken from her that her
hard heart might be softened."
But it seems harder than ever" said
Mrs. Randall. "She wont listen to
words Of comfort, nor anything else.
No one can make any impression on her.
Miss Cowan here went to her and told
her that were all born under the rod
which chasteneth, and that her Edgar'd
been called from the evil to come.
What dye think Miss Denton did? She
rose up in fury, and told Paulina she
preferred to be left alone"
ically. "s SeI rather have my room
than my company any day. Howsome-
ever, don't bear her no hard feelings.
I done what I could for her.
"The minister's wife didn't get no
better treatment" said Miss Baker.
"She sat in Miss Denton's shanty most
an hour talkin' of the mysterious ways
OF Providence, and everything bein' for
our good, an all flesh being grass and
A,,3 Il,
spoke word from first to last, but lay
on the sofy an shet her eyes, an never
even said goodbye when Mrs. Bounce
went away. Such impertiuce! An I
went there, too. didn't want to be be-
hind the rest in doing my duty. l told
her about these affections being sent for
our good; an she must bow her neck to
the yoke an bend her back to the bur-
den. She laughed at me! yes, she done
just that"
"She would't even see me-" said Mrs.
Peckham, a tall, sharp-featured woman
with shrill voice. ~ saw her at the
window, but she wouldn't open the door,
no matter how loud I knocked. But
scattered tracts all down the front walk
and hope they did her goed.''
"Miss Kcziah, you amt been, 7 be-
lieve, said Miss Baker. Well, don't go
it's time wasted. Her hearts as hard al
stun.'
"No," said Miss Keziah, laying dow
her work as she spoke, 81 haven't beer
to see her. You know 1 was away t.
Helmstone when her Edgar had thu
fever, and since I've been back my rhe1
matiz has been that bad I couldn't go any
where. But now I'm trifle better II
take my turn"
"What is the use }? What can you do
Haven't we done everything ?" choruset
the other ladies.
II think I shall ask her to tea,' sait
Miss Keziah, thoughtfully.
"Ask herto tea !" repeatedhalf-a-doze,
astonished listeners.
eyes; none of you tried that, be
lieve," answered Miss Keziah.
"She won't come" said Mrs. Bliss.
"Perhapsnot; but all the same it won
do no harm to ask her,
II hope you'll try to soften her heart
and bring her to the prayer-meetin
Thursday night" said Miss Cowan.
Miss Keziah made no answer; but
peculiar look crossed her homely, good
natured face-a look Miss Paulina di'
not quite understand.
"Miss Keziah'l be wise to make n
promises" said Mrs. Bliss. cit stand
to reason that she won't succeed wher
all the rest of us have failed. On
might as we'll talk to stone as to Mrs
Denton"
Miss Keziah sighed, aud bent her eye
upon her work. She bad known wha
suffering was once, and she knew tina
while sorrow and pain softens some ma
lures, it hardens and embitters others
Mrs. Denton lived entirely alone o.
the outskirts of the village, in little
old weather-b beaten house she had bough
when she first came to Brierville, fe,
years before. Weeds grew tall and ran
in the yard, the sunken steps leading t.
the door were half buried in vines. tn
well-curb was broken, the gate fallen t
the ground. in fact, everything abou
the house spoke q ruin and decay.
"Not a very cheerful place, certain
ly," muttered Miss Keziab, as the da
following the meeting of the sewing Gil
Gle, she drove up to the Widow Denton
and hitched her horse to the tumble
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