Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-02-18

uoi Iaco noaTly OF quite as sour as tno saul
Ger of pickles she was carrying, ''jest set 9
couple more plates on the table, will you:
I've BROUGHT home woman and little ga
that found piece below, zen almost
tired to death. They were calculatin' te
walk to Brocton, but thought it wouldn't
hurt us to keep 'em over night"
''I'm astonished at you, Job Kaynes
ford,' y said his better-half, in tone Of in.
dignant remonstrance. 1--WE might jest as
well hang out tavern sign at once. and
done with 1t; you're always bringing home
poor miserable cretur or other. and"
''There, there, Hannah" interrupted
Mr.. Raynesford. Pm always willin' to
hear you when you re anyways reasonable,
but it goes clear agin my gram to see poor
folks sufferin', and never stretch out a
helpin' hand. 'Tain't Scripter; no, faint
human natur'.''
'Well, go your own gait, Job Raynes-
ford" responded his wife. tartly; ''only
mark my words. if you don't end your
days in the poor house, 'twon' II be through
no fault of yourn .
She shut the pantry door with bang
tina made all the jelly cups and milk pans
rattle, while Job, with an odd grimace,
went out to help his guests alight.
Don't mind my old woman said he.
alphabetically, as Mrs. Ellsworth sprang
to the ground; ''she's kind o. sharp spok-
en-, but she means we'll, arter all. We amt
just alike in our notions, you know"
eff all the world we're like you SIR"
said the young widow, with tears in her
eyes, 'there would be less want and suf-
fering by far" Farmer Raynesford pre-
tended not to hear-he was busy helping
little Mary out.
"Set on them blackberries, Hannah"
said he, toward the Close of the evening
meal; the little gals 50 tired she can't eat
uothin solid.''
II was calculatin' to keep the blackber-
ries for the donation party tomorrow"
said Mrs. Raynesford, rising with rather
an unwilling air.
Nonsense" 41oth the farmer, with
broad laugh. ..'I'm havin' donation par
ty of my own tonight. Here, little one,
see if these berries don put some color in
to your cheeks
All the evening little Mary sat by the
hearth. with her hands in her mothers,
and her large blue eyes fixed earnestly on
the farmers face.
"What are you thinking about, dear?"
asked Mrs. Ellsworth once. She drew a
long sigh and whispered: "Oh, mamma,
he is 80 kind to u.s.
The tops of the far off eastern woods
we're being turned to gold by tn t Won
drous chemist, the rising sun, when Mary
Ellsworth and her child set out upon the
long walk to Brocton. Job Raynesford
went to the gate, fumblng uneasily in his
picket, aHd was xlancing guiltily around
to make sure that Hannah was not within
seeing distance. When Mary extended her
hand to say goodbye, bank bill was
thrust into it.
'Don't say nothin'," muttered Job, with
a sheepish air. "Tcn dollars amt much
to me, and if you don't get chance to
work in the factory right away, it may be
a good deal o. use to you. Needn't thank
me-you're as welcome as flowers in May"
''Ten dollars" calculated Mrs. Raynes-
ford, who had witnessed this little episode
from behind the curtains Of her milk room
window. rs JOB Raynesford crazy? To
give ten dollars to a strolling vagrant. If
he don't get piece of my mind" and
she FASTENED out, her cap border fairly
standing on end with horror. Job await
ed the coming tempest with philosophic
GOODNESS, his hands in his pockets, his lips
parted in good-humored smile.
''She means WE'LL" he said to himself,
when the volley Of wrath had been dis
charged on his luckless head, and Mrs.
Raynesford had returned to the butter |
making, "but she's got the greatest facul
ty for scoldin' of any woman ever saw"
The years fitted by, sprinkllng the steep |
old farmhouse roof with crystal drops Of |
April showers, and thatehing it with the |
dazzling ermine of January SHOWS many |
any many time. Gray hairs crept in |
among the raven locks of Farmer Raynes-
ford, careworn wrinkles began to gather |
around his mouth and brow. Alas! thoss |
swift-footed years brought troubles innu |
merable to the kind old man.
'sTwentY years." mused he, one bright |
June morning; lit don't seem possible,
Hannah, that it was twenty years ago this
very day that caught that ugly fall from
fhp hoVrIak md 10 fo nd
he looked down at the clutches by his side.
Hannah stood in the door throwing corn
to forlorn colony of chickens. Twenty
years had not improved her in any respect !
she was gaunter, bonner and more vine
gar-faced than ever.
Eyes" said she slowly, land perhaps
you don't remember that it was twenty
years ago this very day that you threw ten
dollars away on that woman and her child.
1 told you that you'd end your days ip the
poorhouses and don't see but what my
prediction is likely to come true. Didn't
1 say you would live to repent it 20
I don't deny, Hannah said the old
man. :'but that I've done good many
things I've been sorry for-but that is not
one OF Them. No, never for moment
repent being kind to the widow and the
fatherless7
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, but
made no answer. "Didn't you say you
were going up to see that rich lawyer about
the five thousand dollar note to-day?" she
asked.
Yes, but I don't s'pose it'll be much
use. # head wait a little I'd do my best
20 please him. Jones says he'll be sure to
sell the old place from over our heads,
however; they say he's hard man. 1
mean to tell him lust how the matter