Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-07-07
HER STONY HEART.

II was on the occasion of a meeting
of the sewing circle, which was held
that week at Miss Keziah Fletcher's,
that the fruitful subject of Mrs. Den
toms peculiarties was brought up for
about the forticth time, All the mem
bers, with the exception of the minis
ter's 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 curiosity
in Brierville.
ats my opinion such people are
best left Alone" said Mrs. Prudence
Randall, as she bit off her thread a lit
Tie spitefully.
"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
dclirium trcmens-"
worthless sot she'd oughter have
been pleased to death to get rid o
him." interrupted Miss Matte Baker,
throwing ler scissors on the table near
her with considerable noise. "You
won't get no pity for her out o that,
Miss Ke2iah."
"Thcn she lost her two little girls
with scarlet fever" continued Miss
Keziah, unheeding the interruption,
land only year later her second boy
died of the typhoid. Shed only one
child left then, and that was her oldes t
boy. She set 50 much store by him. I
remember seeing 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"
in 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 won't listen
TO words of comfort, nor anything else.
No one can make any impression on
her. Miss COwan here went to see her
and told her how we were all born to
pass under the rod which chasteneth,
and that her Edgar'd been called from
the evil to come. What dye think
Mrs. Denton did? She rose up like u
fury and told Paulina she preferred to
be left alone"
"Yes," giggled Miss Cowan, hysteri-
cally, "She'd rather have myroOm than
my company, any day. HOwsomever,
don't bear her no hard feelin's. l
done what | could for her."
"The minister's wife didn't get no
better treatment" said Miss Baker,
"She sat in Mrs. Denton's shanty most
an hour talking of the mysterious ways
of Providence, an everything bein' for
eur good, an all flesh being grass, and
so on. An Mrs, Denton, she never
spoke a word from first to last, but lay
on the sofy with her eyes shet, and
never said goodbye when Mrs. Bounce
went away. Sech impertinence! An
went there too. didn't want to be
behind the rest of the folks in doin' my
duty. / told her about these alllic-
tions being sent for our good; an she
must bow her neck to the yoke and her
back to the burden. She laughed at
mel yes, she did just that"
"She wouldn't even see me-" said
Mrs, Peckham, a tall, sharp.featured
woman with shrill voice. 81 saw
her at the window, but she wouldn't
open the door. no matter how loud l
knocked. But l scattered tracts all
down the front walk, and hope they
did her good"
"NIiss Keziah, you amt been, l be-
lieve," said Miss Baker. "Well, don't
go; it's time wasted. Her hearts as
hard rs a stun"
"No," said Miss Keziab, laying down
her work as she spoke, 81 havn't been
TO see her. You know l was away to
Helmstone when Edgar had the fever,
and since I've been back my rheumatic
has been that bad | couldn't 90 any
where. But now Pm tri1e better,
I'll take my turn"
"What is the use? What can you do |?
Haven't we done everything" chorused
the other ladies.
al think | shall ask her to tea," said
Miss Keziah, thoughtfully.
ask her teal" repeated half.a-dozen
astonished listeners.
"Yes, noneof you tried that, / be.
lieve," answered Miss Keziah.
"She won't come" said Mrs. Bliss.
perhaps not; but all the same, it
won't do no harm TO ask her"
81 hope you'll try and soften her
heat, and bring her to -meetin'
Thursday night" said Miss Cowan.
Miss Keziah made no answer; but a
peculiar look crossed her homely, good
natured face look Miss Pauline did
not quite understand.
"Miss Keziah'll be wise TO make no
promises" said Mrs. Bliss. at stands
to reason that she won't succeed where
all the rest Of us have failed. One