The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-06


into the house. Mr.. Norman was
proud to help the driver with the bag.
gage, and though Mrs. Dean had been
much fatigued by the journey, her
whispered thanks for his Kindness
sounded in his ears like blessing.
That Ne'rs paragraph was furnished
by that warm-hearted man, the Rev
Mr, Buddiford, who, accompanied by
Mr.: Norman, had made an early and
edlfylng visit to the aged head of the
house. Though her physical strength
seemed frai, forcing her to speak at in.
tervals. and with considerable effort
her remarks were so excellent that Mr.,
Ruddiford begged permission to make
a note of some of them.
For few days following the appear
ance u me Neacs parag graph the side.
walk traffic on Nerraw street was per.
ceptibly increased. They favored that
side of the street which would take
them past the bulk-window, and none
failed to try to catch a glimpse of that
white haired, bowed form of Mother
DEAN, who, among a multitude of
wrappings and a quilted hood, sat be-
hind the chintz curtains constantly
reading or knitting.
On the occasion of the only visit that
Mr.. Norman, for prudential reasons,
allowed Mrs. Badger to make across the
street, she was presented by "Mother
Dean" with a beautiful knitted hood:
and it was from that cheerful gossip
that the good people from Nerraw
street and adjacent parts became so
quickly cognlzant of the enviable status
of the Dean household. OF course they
dealt at MIR. Norman's store (people Of
excellent appetite they appeared to be),
and as 10 carried the orders home
rather than the errand boy, Mrs,
Badgers information came direct.
From .Mother Deans" frequent seat in
the bulk-window she could not fail to
notice the attention Joseph gave to
business; and she commended him on
various occasions when he was asked in
at her low-voiced suggestion with the
basket. The Deans had moved some
of the furniture into the store part, and
made a snug little sitting-room of it.
10 would have rather that Miss Dean
had extended the invitation on her own
option, but the same end was gained, as
she invariably remained present during
those too tleeting moments.
"Ah, Joseph !" said the venerable
lady in her thin, uncertain voice, on
one occasion, chow you remind me OF
my eldest son when he was about your
age. He was a good boy. The first
time l saw you I-ah ~ She shook her
head and relapsed into silence, and ov-
er her knitting seemed to forget that 10
was present. But when that young man
was about to rise and take his emptied
basket back to the store, she spoke
again without looking up:
Jennie" she said softly, Jennie,
my dear, Joseph is fine young man.
Have him come in whenever he
comes to the door, if it's only for a
minute; for it does me good to look at
him. Jennie, dear, if 1 see another
grandson | hope he will be like"
Though Miss Deans back was turned
toward 10 when she called "Grand-
mother !" with such peculiar emphasis
that she caused the good lady to inter-
rupt her remark and glance up in that
slow way of hers, he imagined that Miss
Jennie's face was rosy with bushes.
II thought you were gone, Joseph, y
said the venerable lady, sadly. my
attention wanders sometimes, Pm
afraid; but | said nothing, l hope, that
need be recalled"
cts one of her poor days." whis-
pered Miss Jennie, as she let 10 90 out.
"You mustn't mind her."
"Ihe dear old lady," said 10, much
pleased.
Sometimes MI. Dean, a middle-aged
gentleman, would happen in while 10
was making these semi-social business
calls and turn the conversation to the
subject with which 10 was best posted,
the town and its people. Mr.. Dean
was rarely seen about the town, being
closely engaged with his literary
labors. But at these moments of re-
Taxation there was nothing too trifing
Tor the amiable MI. Dean to listen to-
from the marriage of the mayor to the
number of tons of pig-iron worked in
the rolling mill. Any question that 10
failed to answer one day, he took care
to be posted on before his next visit !;
and no doubt Mr.. Dean picked up some
little facts Of value to him in his work,
aside from being very much amused.
10 was highly fattered at the attention
which was paid him, and though his
praises at home took "Mother Dean"
chiefly for a subject, they were repeated
by Mrs. Badger, embellished by astute
comments.
When the Deans had been settled in
their new home about three weeks,
project was started for holding an an
nual fair in aid of the Orphans home,
a charity once very popular in the
town, but, unfortunately, plunged into
financial difficulties. A public meeting
was thought the best method to bring
the subject properly before the towns
people, and the lessee of Renton AS
sembly hall rendered its commodious
lecture-room rent free for the occasion.
The evening of an approaching local
celebration and holiday was fixed by
general committee as most favorable
time for holding the meeting.
On the evening appointed the hall
WIS well filled with Renton's foremost
and best, socially and monetary the
ceiling of local pride had not been APP
fpealed to in vain. At a point in the
proceedings, "enlivened by a select
as the Ne'cs reporter put it,
Mr.. Ruddiford rose to announce certain
nj aaexan Il,