Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-10-19
ty things. Father had no belief into

| Ohc Ody-1 was fourteen years Ol(
that very day-John Allen come again
but it didn't need a sk-sighted person
to see he was ailin'. Mother wanted t.
set somethin' right on. fur him to eat
but he wouldn't let her.
/ "I've he'd headache four days, say.
ne: haint no appetite. Fcan't sleep
don't know what's the matter
"He sat very quiet an didn't say
notnln the rest of the day an the even
In, an as he always was great talkel
an Joker the change was uncommon
Mother was worried seein' him so, an
she says, after he'd gone to bed: sI'm
just afeard fur John. 1t acts like as il
ne was goin' to hev some Sickness
"The next mornin' he did't come
full fretted. Il ought to hev bathed his
feet last night says she, san' put plas.
tiers on him. Father, I'm 80 worried ]
can't set still; just you 60 see what ails
him.
"Father said he want Johns SER
want, an mother was a fool to worry
but after he had his grumble out he went
an come back, sayin':
"' IT'S pretty kettle o. fish; we've
got sick man onto our hands,
|
very mornin', an he said John had a
fever, bad. An mother says to me ::
NO matter how it stops the work, Kitty,
we must take good care of john An
it was on us two the care of nursin' him
came. Father wouldn't stop workin', or
Civ up his sleep fur nobody, an the
boys he'd their hands full, though they
| helped nights.
| "Well, John was as sick as care to
see anybody. He went right down.
Death seemed to stand over him, fight
| in us every hour, an twas full fourteen
days before we could see any change at
| all in him fur the better. Then, one
mornin' before the Doctor come, mother
says to me: . .
"'Hitty, L do think he'll come round
all right, now;' an just ran out to
! the orchard and threw myself down in
the grass an cried, was that glad.
can sure enough, he did git better,
though twas slow enough, after that. 1
don't deny that mother an were most
tuckered out nursin' him, but it made
us feel better to see him gainin' strength
an appetite every day.
"T'm that thankful to be alive yit,
Mis- Robson he says to mother one
day, as he sot in the kitchen, where we
was to work, shat words can't tell it.
Jist to see the sun a-shinin' AN the dew
drops a-glist ming, an the leaves "a
tremblin', an to catch the song O. the
bobolink over in the medder, an to
think I'm here yit, part an parcel of it
all, is too good to even speak OFF,
"Mother looked at him kindly. But
what if you want part of it all any
more, John, would you be better off,
"He shook his head. There you
have me, Mis- Robson. Always hevin'
bin a healthy an busy man, haint took
no thought outside the just livin'.'
"sWhich MEANS says mother, "a iv-
in without God in the world Oh, John,
tits poor way o. ivin' when LIES so
unsartin!'
".Well, life is unsartin,' says he. An
then they talked about other things, fur
mother, when she driv a nail, never
kept on poundin'.
ssIt was quite spell before John was
really able to go about his business, an
when that time came, mother seen how
the doctors bill was pretty good deal
fur him to pay, an how he didn't hev'
over an above what he needed; so when
he asked her to tell him what he owed
US, she says:
"'NOthin' at all, JOHN
"sWhy, Mis- Robson says he, all
taken aback, ssich care an tendin' as
you an Hitty has given me can't be
bought; but can do suthin' in the way
of givin' money, tho that couldn't, no
how, set the matter square! Why, to
hev people Civ you their best night an
day in the way of lovin', watchful tend
in, when you lie weak an helpless with |
the grave a.yawnin' close by, so to |
speak, an yo' no kin to them-why, it's |
a kindness that can't be told, an want |
to show that do 'preciate it in the only
way that's open.'
"sNo, john says mother. sPut your
money back in your pocket; 1 can take
no pay for doin' a kindness. We've a
full an plenty here, an 1 only did fur
you what me or some of mine may need
to hev done fur us, some day; for all
human creeturs stand in need of a kind
ness from fellow-creeturs, some time or
other
"Seein' she was really sot in her way,
he didn't urge the matter. However,
be actilly cried, and said: Il ken 'lieve,
Miss Robson, after this, that there 8 SIGH
4 thing as true religion in this world, an
hat faint all soundin' brass an tinklin'
~ LII UdiS
50 Father was clean put out when he
heered how mother hadn't took no pay.
There's SIGH thing as bein' onprovi-
lent, says he, san' flynn in the face of
Providence. 1t was dooty to take pay
ur your vittles an time. You've acted
ike fool, Lizer. I've no patience with
ich a woman!'
"Mother went into the pantry min F.:
lite, an wiped her eyes, then she come &.
'ut again with loaf of bread. That ,
vas always her way. She never give t
Jack no harsh words. 1t seems she 1
ust put her ownself back behind, so to t
peak, an only looked out fur others ,
eelin's, which anybody can certify amt f
n easy thing to do.
"'Twas full six months after, when {
ohm Allen come walkin' into the house q
ne day, real f1eshy an red checked, S
ute surprisin' me an mother, as we '
at quiltin' by ourselves. He laid a L
undle in mothers lap. /
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