The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-30

|
lust then, at turn of the country way, she
came on trim little cottage. 81 declare, Pm
e'en most tuckered OUT" she painted. ssrll
| lest 90 in an see the wilder Holmes spell
am git rested. She'd be good one for Joseph
if he WANT sot aginst widders. But there l
amt a. goin' to ask any more folks to have him
Jest yet"
pathetic remnant of lost beauty in her faded
cheeks. She had been left alone in the world
| five wears before, with only this little home
between her and starvation; but by stitching
| in winter, and city boarders in summer, she
pieced out a narrow living for herself and her
| only child. The little house now was full to
OVERLOOKING, and she came to the door hot and
| flushed from the kitchen. But her greeting
was as cordial as heart could wish. "Why,
| Pm real glad to see you, Mrs Smith. Do
come right in. I've had to give the parlor up
to boarder but there's no one In this room,
and you look all beat out with the heat"
swell, am considerable tired" admitted
Mrs. Smith, as she sank into the old-fashioned
rocker the widow brought forward, and took
great turkey-feather fan from her hand.
| ''I'd no idee it twas so hot, or | wouldn't "a
come out. But now Pm afraid Pm disturbin'
you. You was doin' suthin' out in the
kitchen, want yousn She glanced as she
spoke through the open door into the little
| lean-to that served at once as dining-room and
kitchen. The sitting-room was cool and
| pleasant, and though small and poorly fur
nished, was in perfect order. She had seen
| that as she took her seat, and her respect for
the widow rose as she noted the same spotless
neatness in the room beyond. Cant jest
go right out where you area You're putin
up fruit, s'pose!
"I'm just through" answered the widow,
obeying the hint by leading the way out.
''There it is; hushel of blackberries and not
berry lost, if / did do it. And | want you to
see the apple Jelly made yesterday. Not tha-
| it's any better than other folks NAV be, but
had uncommon luck, thought"
'Well, now, that is beautiful, beautiful Mis-
Holiness" said Aunt Phemy, regarding with
high approval the row of glasses in the win
dow, and the cans of fruit beside them.
"You've had good luck, l should say. 1 cal
culate Pm pretty good hand at jelly, but this
beats me. Is it half and half!''
"Only thirds | can't afford halves for
boarders," she added, with tired little laugh.
''Why, it's good enough for the fair"
Aunt Phemy added, after she had tasted.
'Youd ought to send it, Mis- Holmes, and
git prize"
SIT will be all gone by fair-time, Unanswered
the widow. "My boarders are going to stay
through October this year, they say, and
they're all so fond of my jelly"
''Well, you have your hands full" Aunt
Phemy said, as they went back to the
cool sitting-room. "Ain't it pretty tough
work to manage all alone! I've heard city
folks were so uppish an hard to suit.'
"Mine are pleasant enough this year." an
swered the widow; "and if they wasn't-well,
you know, Mrs. Smith, a woman can't afford
to quarrel with her bread and butter. Pm
thankful to have health and strength to do all
that's asked of me-"
" An hats good deal make no doubt"
answered the other, sympatheticaily; but
you do do wonderful, Mis- Holmes. We was
a-speakin' oft only the other day, an was
sayin' to brother Joseph, what smart woman
you was to turn off work.
The widow laughe1-a forlorn little laugh,
sadder than tears. She had had a hard strug
gle these years to get living and pay off the
small mortgage on her home She was like
many another of her type, slight but wiry,
frail but tenacious, and she had carried heavier
burdens than people knew, being much too
proud to tell her neighbors her troubles. 'The
Lord helps them that help themselves, you
know" she said.
Yes, that is a comfortin' thought, Aunt
Phemy said, heaving that pous sigh with which
some persons always refer to the Deity, " an
no doubtyou'ye found it true. But you deserve
turn of luck, Mis- Holmes. Now, if you was
to think of marryin' agin? Of course it's a
solemn matter. dunno as l ever could make
up my mind to 1t if 'Lias was to leave me; but
there! you're Young an pretty yet, an of
course you could have chances if YOU was dis
growing diplomatic. and though, inspired by
all the signs of ''cleverness'' she saw about
her, she felt sure that here was just the one
for Joseph, she moved to her object with eau
ton. But dark flush rose to the widows
pale cheek at her words. Her married life had
been singularly happy, and her husband was
the one love of her life.
81 should have to forget a good deal before
l could think of marrying again, Mrs. Smith, u
she said, with simple dignity, land | don't
think that any worldly prosperity would make
up for what I'd lose. I'm thankful there's no
need of it either. The mortgage is paid now,
and next year Pm thinking OF putting little
addition to the house. | had more people
offer this year than l could take, and you
know thing like this always grows. It's
hard work, but don't mind that, and no one
shall ever say John Holmes widow forgot
him for another man. There's widows, and
there's widows, indeed, you know, in Script
ure, and l hope Pm one of the last And
then, you see, | have my Matte, and she's
growing to be such comfort to me. She's
her father all over.''
Mrs. Smith congratulated herself, as she
changed the conversation, that she had held
her peace. And yet as, a half-hour later, re-
freshed by glass milk and a piece of
pound-cake, she left Widow Holmes, she was
like the Queen of Sheba in one thing: there
was no spirit left in her. Nothing but the re-
Election that if she gave it up, that would be
tne end OF IL all, urged her to perSevere. She
was sure that, left to himself, Joe would never
find a wife, and she was benevolently deter
mined to give the farm a mistress and her
brotherin-law a housekeeper before winter
storms threatened him with another attack of
rheumatism. She remembered only too well
the last one, and the cares it had laid upon
her. But it took her a couple of DAYS to re-
cover her spirits, and it was her husband who
started her on a fresh quest.
81 declareO she had said IN him In va o,1a
confession of her perplexity," at seems as if
when you didn't want them old maids and wild
ders were as thick as blackberries. AM to be
had for the askin'; an then, when YOU do want
them they can't be had no wav."
''If you're thinking of Joseph,n answered
Elias deliberately, "why wouldn't Priscilly
Watrous, over in East Canton, be the ripht
one for hims She's wilder, but she hain't
got any children, and she's Young and good
looking, so to speak. And she is forehanded
too, and nones so comfortable to hum with her
younger sisters but what she'd be glad of a
change"
"Why, she's the very one !"cried Mrs. Smith.
can an old friend of Hetty's eldest, too, an
| she's visited there time an time again an
was prime favorite with all of them | shall
| jest have you hitch up an drive me over there
tomorrow, 'Lias. l don't let grass grow un-
der my feet when I've got an idee. AM il he
| gifts her," she added, devoutly, 81 shall thinl;
it a clear providence that the Others didn't
want him. She's worth the whole lot OF
Them
Alas for Aunt Phemy's hopes! When next
day she alighted at Squire Watrous' door, her
welcome was cordial, but there was an air of