The National tribune., 1882-04-08
Principal and Interest.

SOh, mother, mother, am so tired!"
"Cheer up, my child, we have not very far
TO 60. Come closer, let me brush the dew
from your curls. Now take my hand"
But the child hung back, sobbing with
we ariness and exhaustion, and the pale young
mot, her, bending over her in the vain attempt
TO 500 the the hysterical excitement, did not
hear tn rumble of advancing wheels until
they paA sed close to her and a rough, hearty
voice exciaimed:
"what 4ails the little girl? Amt sick, is
she?"
Mary EIlsw orth had never seen Farmer
Raynesford befo re; yet the moment her eyes
rested on his wriI'k killed., sun-burned face, with
the shaggy brows overshadowing kind eyes,
she felt that he was friend, and made an
swer promptly:
"Not sick, sir, but, very tired. We have
walked long way"
"Got much farther to go?" asked the
farmer, tickling his horses ear with the end
of his whip.
"To Breckton."
Mr.. Raynesford gave low whistle.
"That's four miles off, and the little gal is
pretty nigh used up already"
81 know it." said the woman, with sigh,
"but l have no money to hire lodging
nearer. In Breckton l hope to obtain work
in the factory"
Farmer Raynesford gave the seat of his
WAGON thump with his whip-handle that
made old Bonny drop the youthful of clover
ne was nibbling from the roadside and prick
~ his ears in astOnishment.
Il won't hear of no such thing!" said he
crergetically. "Why, that child can't &c
twenty rods farther! Here, get in along with
me. You won't be none the worse for BIZ
of supper and a good nights rest. know
HannahlI scold," he muttered, as he lifted
the little girl TO his side and extended his
hand 10 the mother; "but can't see folks
perishin' by the wayside and never offer tc
help EN- / don't care if she scolds the roo
of the house Off"
He drove rapidly along, making occasional
interjectional remarks to his horse, while Mrs
Ellsworth drew her thin shawl around tht
little golden head that already dropped drow'
silly upon her shoulder, and thought with {
deep sensation of gratitude upon the shelter
Heaven had provided her in her sorest strait
1t was an odd-shaped old farm house, gray
with the storms of nearly half century, will
a broad do1r in one side, oveThung by giant
lilac bushes, and kitchen where even in The
bloomy month of June great fire roared VI
the wide-throated chimney, and shining rows
of tins winked and glittered at every upward
leap of the flames.
Mr. RaynesforS jumped out of the wagon
threw the reins over post, and went in tC
conciliate his domestic despot.
"Look here, Hannah, said he, to a tall
angular-lookiDg female who emerged from {
pantry near by, her face nearly or quite as
sour as the saucer of pickles she was carrying
"Jest set couple more plates on the table
will you? I've brought home woman and
little gal found a piece below, cen q most
tired to death. They was calculatin' to walk
on to Breckton, but l thought it wouldn't
hurt us to keep 'em over night"
"Pm astonished at you, job Raynesford,
said his better half, in a tone of indignant
remonstrance ave might just as well haDg
out tavern sign at once and done with it
you're always bringing home some poor, mis-
erable creetur OF other and .
"There, there, Hannah" interrupted Mr.
Raynesford, "Tm always willin' to hear Il
you when you're anyway reasonable, but il
goes clear ag'in my grain to see poor folks {
sufferin' and never stretch out helpin' hand
'Taint Scriptur nor faint human natur'."
"Well, 90 your own gait, job Raynestord,'
responded his wife, tartly. "Only mark my
word, if you don't end your days in th'
poorhouse, 'twont be through no fault Z
yourn!"
She shut the pantry door with bang tha
made all the jelly-cups and milk-pans rattle
while Job, with an odd grimace went out Il
help his guests to alight.
GDon't mind my old woman said h
apologetically, as Mrs. Ellsworth sprang Il
the ground. ashes kind o sharp spoken
but she means well after all. We amt al
inst alike in our notions, you know"
AIf all the world were like you, sir" sait
the young widow, with tears in her eyes
"there would be less want and suffering, b.
FAR"
Farmer Raynesford pretended not to hear
he was busy lifting little Mary out.
"Set on them blackberries, Hannah" sal,
he toward the close of their evening meal
"The little gals SO tired she can't eat nothin
solid"
al was calculating to keep them blackber
ries for the donation party, tomorrow" salt