Smyrna times., 1882-07-12

CuOOChiy OAdheLiy ShtClOAi OCelil lhS
steaming potion in each hand.
"Go away!" shouted the frantic
mother. go away, you ignorant
creature! yon will kill my beautiful
boy ~
"You'd better let her. said gentle
Mrs. Woffray, touching Mrs. Bitter
mans arm persuasively. Dianthy's
real good in sickness"
"The trouble is" said Dianthy SEN
tentiously, "he's been a-eatin' too
many O. them green Porter apples.
see him come in with his pockets full
and know he'd be jes' so. My YARDS
III cure him. If they don't right off,
I'll start for the doctor"
"Well, WELL" cried poor Mrs. Bitter
man, ringing her hands, anything
anything?'
Dianthy poured her tea down the
boys throat, and then began to rub
him vigorously with her hand, which
she dipped from time to time into
another hot preparation beside her.
In five minutes he breathed more
easily, and his contortions ceased, and
in half an hour, after a second dose of
Dianthy's magic tea, he lay sleeping
like baby. Then she swarthed him
in flannel wet in the stramonium water
with which she had been rubbing him,
and the family dispersed. In the
morning the boy was up and about.
and in a day or two was quite himself
again.
A wonderful change came over
Dianthy during the progress of the
scene. Her face, usually vacant and
impassive, was all alight. Her square
chin quivered, her touch was soft and
her ponderous step grew quick and
light. But Mrs. Bitterman did not
seem to notice anything unusual about
her, nor did she eyer show any further
appreciation of the important services
Dianty rendered her on that somewhat
momentous occasion than the grudg-
ingly, "Good night, I'm sure I'm
obliged to yOu," with which she had
dismissed her when the scene was over.
, But to the other boarders Dianthy had
become an interesting character.
: There were, however, very few Op-
| portunities for studying her, for the
r poor woman's "lack of calculation" as
r Mrs. Woffray called it, made her toi
r last all day long, and it was not unit
e several days after that found her un
y occupied. Then she was sitting an thl
{ doorstep as we drQye up from ride
r to the village.
r ''YOu look tired, Dianthy," l OBJ
f served
n Eyes l be-" she responded quietly
81 genally be-"
e "But you sleep well?'' / went on
n wishing that l could think of some
i thing to say.
y "Law, yes" said Dianthy gravely
shut somehow I'm alters behind; can
l. seem to ketch up, no how, Cam
IS ketch up with my work nor nOthir
er else, hurry's fast as kim"
:: "It's too bad Dianthy," ] said SYN
pathetically.
of She edged up little nearer to m
ut on the doorstep, and spoke more col
st fdentially.
ar "NO," she continued, | can't keto
n up with the world anyhow. No tain
Il, but "a little while ago they were a-sayin
ey Pierce was president, but now it's
ed man named Grant, amt it? But
must go and strain nay milk! y an
nd Dianthy hurried away.
ng One afternoon my nurse had bee
re drawing my little Bessie in her carrias
nd up and down the level sward in fro
er of the door, and carelessly left her
er go up the hill for a moment. w
nd sitting by the window sewing wh'
d. the carriage began to move down Il
~ inclined plane into the rye-field. II
er- child gave little shrek, and I look
ale 4p. She was alreadY q rod away, al
Ter had acquired considerable momentu
ed in her journey down the hill.
ks My eye took in the situation at
OF glance-the long slope of the rye-fiel
me the jagged rocks at the end, then t
,ut steep descent into the brook.
an 1 sprang after it, but stumbled
the moist earth and fell. The hOrr
led the despair of that moment ! sh
never forget, when suddenly th'
,on rushed by me the gaunt figure Of pif
ng, thy. With tremendous plqnges S
gained upon the little carriage, whi
t a was now and then delayed by striki
rti- against some obstacle, till just as {
rocks hegan to rear their broken hea
,ep- above the shaggy underbrush Il
bounded the rye-field she caught q
her held 1t, Then the child, who had bt
len, paralyzed by fright, began to c
IAN, Mrs. Woffray, the nurse and | were
was hand, and Dianthy sank almost to
as a ground.
dea knelt beside her and embraced
Fray again and again, while the tears cour
ave down my face. The gratitude,
4 in ecstasy of that moment were ennobl
ack, forces. / am better woman for b
my ing known them.
1t sounds a simple thing enou
ugh this deed of Dianthy's; but to m
was exalted heroism. She had sa
my child, and throughout the rem
Amt der Of the summer, which was ~
PEN happier by the early departure Of
nIqs- Bittermals for some more congo
ives, abiding place, the bond which
vhen formed by the brook that day betv
a. I Dianthy and me strengthened cont
'em. ally, till l felt for that homely, sim
minded old woman a tenderness
the love that was almost sacred.
H. faII x.to ~ak,.rnaI IN nsrtl