The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-02-03

sihS VI iuuSus NV oAa oAh. e'hsA's, VIM
was smoking his pipe by the window,
said sharply:
Harry, lad, 1 think you ought to try
and get some more brains before thou
takest wife,"
looked appealingly at Harry, but he
jumped up in passion, snatched his
cap from peg in the passage, and went
out and banged the door.
"Ah," said old Mr.. Smith sharply.
that's Harry all over, and just what
he wanted-an excuse 10 get out.
Mrs. Smith looked sharply Mt me as
the tears gathered in my eyes, and, evil
IDENTIFY on my account, said quickly:
Don't be SO hard on Harry, father.
Hard who's hard on him?" he
cried angrily "isn't he always getting
hold of some excuse or another to shirk
what he ought to do. He might have
stopped in the night he brought his
sweetheart"
"Youre too hard on him, fatLer,
said Mrs. Smith again.
Yes-yes -yes-indeed, you are, l
cried, Indignantly, in passion OF weep
ing, for / could not bear TO hear him
speak of Harry like that. and not say a
word on his behalf You don't know
him, Mr.. Smith, as do. for he's one OF
the best and truest of men, and, If you
would only be little kind to him, l am
sure he would try so hard.
/ saw the old man flush with anger,
and shrank back in alright at what
had said, and read, as L thought, that
Harrys mother also looked very much
put out
81 don't behave half hard enough to
him." said Harry's father; land MS to
not knowing him, seeing that L nursed
him when he was BARN, and his
mother sits there, [ think, young
woman, that we ought to know some
thing about him.
felt so hurt that L got up and wanted
to put on my things and go, but the old
people wouldn't hear of it land, as
Harry's father cooled down, he lit his
pipe again, and begged me to come and
sit by him at the window, and wouldn't
let me work any more, while Harry's
mother came and sat on the other side,
and held my hand till it was time TO get
out supper, but still Harry did not come
back.
| jumped up and helped Mrs. Smith
lay the supper-table, and Harry's father
would not wait, so we had supper,
though L was so miserable could hardly
eat bit, and kept glancing at the old
man as If to ask his pardon for speaking
as had.
had to be back at 10, and there were
two miles to walk. SO Mrs. Smith begged
me stay all night.
"Oh, no, L said, :" must be back. !"
"Well, my dear, perhaps you are right, :"
she said. Father, as Harry hasn't
come, will you walk home with her ?"
Z" / was just going to offer to, mother. :"
he said, gruffiy.
"Oh, no." / cried. II can find my
way back quite right, and there's moth
ing to mind y though all the time / was
trembling with dread at having to go
alone.
eff the young fellows don't know how
to behave themselves, the old fellows
do, don't they, mother ?" he said, in
quite Il CHEEKY tone. "No, my dear,
I'm not going to let you cross them
fields alone, nor to leave You till you are
safe indoors"
/ resisted feebly but Harrys mother
took her husbands side, aud to my great
delight she kissed me warmly and af-
fectionately when l left, while the old
man took his stick, drew my arm
through his, and trudged along by my
side, chatting away pleasantly about the
changes that had taken place since he
was boy. He kept this on until we
were nearly at my mistress house, when
he stopped speaking for moment, and
then began again, talking in a very firm
aud serious tone.
1--WE didn't think much of your
coming, my dear-the wife and for
Harry's such Eighty fellow that we ex-
pected the girl he chose would be about
the same. But am glad you did come,
my dear, and | anu sorry l spoke so hot
about Harry"
And so am I, SIR, / faltered.
"Then you needn't be-" he said,
quickly. 81 like you for it, and it was
very nice, and you are good, brave,
little woman. But, look here, my dear,
don't be in n hurry. L am sorry to say
it, but nay Harry is not the man to make
a girl like you happy. Now take my adj
vice-don't he in hurry"
ooh, Mr.. smith," l sobbed, for his
words cut me to the heart.
81 can't help saying it, my dear, and
now good night and God bless You.
You're very nice and good little girl. "
He drew me toward him and kissed
my cheek very atlectlonately, just as if
/ had been his own child. Thou he
waited till he heard the side door opened
and closed, and as soonas 1 could went
to my room and cried till my heart was
ready to break.
The months went by, and Harry
seemed no happier at home, while when
/ took the old peoples part me grew an
CRY and reproached me for not caring
for him and leaning to the other side.
Old Mr.. Smith came to fetch me home
once. and Harry fetched me two or three
times, and j used to wonder how L could
have been so mistaken i'll people who
seemed to like me better every time
went.
/ know one day thet there had been a
terrible upset at home, for, as Mrs.
Smith had told me. Harry had been
neglecting his work terribly, and taken