Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-06-08
PRTYCTP4L AND INTEREST.


hand
But the child hung back sobbing with
WEAKNESS and exhaustion, and the pale
young mother, bending over her in the
vain endeavor to soothe the hysteric ex-
citement. did not hear the rumble of adj.
vancing wheels until they passed CLOSE
to her and a rough, hearty voice ex.
claimed:
what ais the little girl? Amt sick
is she?'
Mary Ellsworth had not seen Farmer
Rainesford before, yet the moment her
eyes rested on that wrinkled, sunburned
face, with the shaggy brows oershadow-
ing kind eyes, she felt that he was a
friend, and made answer, promptly:
Not sick, sir, but very tired, we have
walked long way
Got much farther to go?'' asked the
farmer, tickling his horses ears with his
whip.
ITO Breckton.
Mr.. Rainesford gave a low whistle.
That is four miles off, and the little
gal is putty nigh onto used up a ready. .
II know it, " said the woman, "but |
have no money to hire lodgings any
nearer. In Breckton | hope to work in
the factory
Farmer Rainesford gave the seat a
blow with the whip-handle that made
old Bonney drop the bunch of clover he
was nibbling and prick up his ears in
establishment.
II wont hear of no such thing" said
he energeticaliy, "Why, that child can t
60 two rods farther. Here, get in along
with me. You won't be none the worse
tor bit Of supper and good night 3
rest. know Hannah II scold,' he NUT
tered, but | can't see folks perishin'
by the wayside and never offer to help
en-, don't care if she scolds the roof
off
He drove rapidly along making occa-
sional interjectional remarks to his horse
while Mrs. Ellsworth drew her shawl
around the little golden head that al
ready dropped drowsily on her shoulder
and thought with q deep sense of graft
tude upon the shelter heaven had pro-
yided her in her sorest strait.
1t was an odd-shaped old farmhouse,
gray with the storms Of nearly half a
century, with broad door overhung by
lilac bushes, and a kitchen where even
IN the blooming month of June great
hire roared up the wide-throated chin
ney and shining rows of tins winked and
glittered at every upward leap of the
flames
Mr.. Rainesford jumped out of the
wagon, threw the reins over a post,
and went in to conciliate his domestic
dcspot.
Look here, Hannah. said he to a
tall, angular-looking female who came
from the pantry near by, her face near
~ or quite rs sour as the plate of pick
les She was carrying, jest set couple
more plates on the table will YOU I've
brought home a woman and little gal
found a piece below cen most tired
to death. They wasIa calculatin' to walk
ON to Brcckton, but | thought it would
not hurt us to keep EN- over night"
m astonished n you, Job Raines-
ford, said his better half in tone of
indignant remonstrance, I'VE might as
well hang out il tavern sign at once and
be done with it. You're always bring
ing home some poor, miserable creature
or other and
There, there Hannah, I'm always
willing to listen to you when YOU are
anyways reasonable, but it goes clear
agin my grain to see poor folks suf-
in and never stretch a helpin' hand to
save 'em. faint scripture nor faint
human natur -
"Well, 90 your own gait, job Raines-
ford. Only mark my words, if YOU do
not end your days in the poor-house it
won t be no fault o. yourn .
She shut the pantry door with a bang
that made the Jelly cups and milk pans
rattle, while job, with an odd glance
went out to help his guests to alight.
Don't mind my old woman, he said
alphabetically, shes kind O sharp spo-
ken, but She means well after all We
amt all jest alike in our notions, you
know"
If all the world were like you, SIR
said the young widow, with tears in her
eyes, there would be less want and
suffering by far
But Farmer Rainesford pretended not
to hear, he was busy lifting little Mary
out.
''Set on them blackberres, Hannah
said he toward the close ofsupper, 1.-THE
little gal so tired that she can't eat
nothin solid"
Il was calculatln' to save them for
the donation tomorrow said Hannah,
rising with an injured air
NONSENSE I'm having a donation
party of my own tonight Here, little
one. see if those berries don't put a lit
tie color in your cheeks. .
All the evening little Mary sat by the
hearth with her hands in her mothers
and her large, blue ewes fixed earnestly
upon the kind farmers face
"What are YOU thinking about, dear
est?' asked Mrs Ellsworth, once. She
sighed and whispered;
80, mamma, lie is so kind to us.
When Mary Ellsworth and her little
girl set out the next morning on their
long walk To Breckton, Job went down
to the gate, fumbling uneasilv in his
pocket, and looking around to see if his
wife was in speaking distance. When
Mary extended her hand to say good
bye, to her establishment 4 bank bill
was thrust into it.
Don say nothin' muttered job in
a Shecpish manner. Ten dollars amt
much to me, and If YOU don't chance to
get work in the factory right away, it
may be a good deal o use to YOU. You
needn't thank me You're as welcome
rs flowers in MAY"
He bent over and kissed the child's
fair forehead and stood watching them
until their Slight forms disappeared in
the west aud the golden sky and moving
crests Of summer woods remained
Ten dollars calculated Hannah.
who had witnessed the episode from be-
hind the curtains - 4v. mi)k-room win
dow. lis job RaineSford crazy? To
give ten dollars to poor strolling va
grant! Now, if he don't get piece of
my mind -
And She fastened out. her cap border
fairly standing on end with horror, Job
awaited the tempest with philosophical
GOODNESS, with his hands in his pockets
and his lips parted in 4 good-natured
smile. 1t was not the first piece of her
mind that had been bestowed upon him
nor did he suppose it was likely to be
the last
''She means well. :" he said to himself
when the vollcy of wrath had been dis
charged on his luckless head and Han
nah had returned to her butter-making.
"hut she's got the greatest faculty for
Scolding Of any woman ever saw.
The wears fitted by, Sprinkling the
steep old farmhouse with crystal drops
of April showers and thatching it with
the dazzling ermine of winters snow.
GRAY hairs had crept in among the