Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-07-01
The GOVERNORS WIFE.

''Sakes alive, Caleb Mortonl Brought
home two people to eat us out of house
and home, and you in debt already up
to the crown Of your head, as body
might ssyl Well, if ever / heard the
ikei When you have got the roof off
from over our own hesds, perhal you'll
be hsppyl We shall live to come to
want through your doingsi Nov, you
just mark my wordsl"
The speaker was a little, thick-set
woman, with q haid. wrinkled face,
thin, tightly shut lips, and two fierce
little light blue eyes that glared with
all the sharpness Of an angry hawks
glance, first upon the stout, comfort
able-looking, white headed farmer, who
was shifting une8sily from one foot to
the other in front of his oHR door, and
then at the pale, scared countenances
of delicate woman and child who sat
in the wagon from which he had Just
dismounted.
Such pleasant looking home it had
been to those weary wayfarers before
its mistress appeared
A square, old-fashior ed farmhouse,
gray with the storms of sixty years or
more; but with broad, flat door stone,
and an open door overhung with lilac
blossoms door that led straight into
tbs neatest ofkitchens, where long rows
OF glistening tins, in q corner cupboard,
shone like silver as the evening fire
blazed upward from the open hearth.
But Mrs. Morton spoiled it all. Her
sour, withered, misery visage and her
sharp, hard voice made the poor woman
who had come to seek her charity shud-
der and grow sick at heart.
Don't mind us, sir. We will go
back and sit beside the road where you
took us up" che said, family, to the
farmer. 81 am not beggar, and my
child must never be one. Let us 90,
sir. We would both rather starve than
stay where We are not welcome"
She reached forward to touch the
farmer on the shoulder, but even that
effort was too much for her wasted
strength.
She sank forward, and would have
fallen unker the horses feet If the
farmer. warned by 4 cry from the little
girl, had not turned and caught her in
his arms.
"Well, I'm sureP' began Mrs. Morton,
spitefully, to the child, whose great
blue eyes were fixed upon her with q
look of fear and dislike. "Your ma
makes quite free for stranger"
"For shame. Sarah" said her hus-
band, severely. "At least we have
enough and to spare for the present,
and the future must take care Of itself.
Tnlks are not going to perish 70 death
--snt here at my door when I can pre-
vent it"
"There's the poorhouse for such as
her." said Mrs. Morton, viciously.
Alook from her husband silenced her
at last. He bore the fainting woman
indoors, and laid her down in the spare
room. 'On my best bed" Mrs. Morton
used TO say, Indignantly, for many .
month thereafter. With his own hands
the kind old man carried in \ plentiful
supper and breakfast to the wanderers.
And when, after that next mornings
meal, the poor woman bade him adieu,
and. with grateful tears, prayed that
God might bless him, he patted her on
the shoulder encouragingly, and slip
ped hve-dollar bill into her hand.
"Take that, my dear, for you and the
little one TO live, till you get stronger"
he said. "Now don't cry over It, my
dear, but keep . good heart, and heaven
will send You friends as you journey
along. Good By, little one. Will you
give an old man q kissT
"Yes, l will" said the child, spring.