Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-05-06
THE DOORSTEP.

broom, and looked out from the low
kitchen door across the wintry fields
and ice-glazed streamlet which lay be-
tween her home and the village of
Greenock, with its one tapering spire
and sloping roof and blank white walls,
bare now of the summer verdure. She
had done her household work, polished
every article capable of polish, and
soaped and sanded all the rest. At the
last she had swept clean her door-stone,
and now felt free to do what she chose,
to rest or gossip or sit down to needle
work-a thing impossible to her while
spot beneath her roof was out of order.
Just now she felt neither like gossiping
nor sewing; her heart was very full, and
she found it necessary to stand still and
think awhile. Only that she was not
used to it, she would have cried, she
was 50 very sad. It seemed to her that
the happiest people were those who lay
in their green graves in the churchyard,
with crossed hands upon their bosoms,
and feel quiet from all earthly going to
and fro for evermore.
Not that Hannah Gneldt was tired in
body or weary with the toll of house.
hold duty; for she was strong in frame,
and her health was perfect, as her hands
were willing. It was on her humble
heart the burden lay, her spirit that was
worn with earthly travail and care.
'Twenty-three years to-day I've been
his wife, she muttered, "and I've loved
him well, and worked hard and faithful
to keep things decent, and it has come
to this at last. Things had been better,
says he, IF he'd married Miss Lester PSI
Yes, that was what Farmer Gneldt,
harassed by toll and debt, had said that
very morning; and it seemed to Hannah
like the confession of long repentance,
forced from her husbands lips at last.
"Poor mani I wish I could help
him." she sighed, leaning on her broom
beside the door. 81 doubt he's right
about Miss Lester"
With that her eyes fell and rested by
chance on the doorstep.
81 can mend that, anyhow" she said;
sand I have time, for my work is done.
So she hung the broom up and peep.
ed into her oven and set the kettle on,
and then, hooded and shawled, crossed
the fields to where the farm joined that
of Simeon Gray.
On one spot were men at work break.
ing up the stones lying about. Hannah
Gneldt nodded to the old farmer and he
came to meet her.
81 want smooth stone," she said
'May have one?"
II wish you'd take 'em ALL" said the
farmer; lot of rubbish. You see Tn
clearing away what they call the ole
graveyard at last. Wife talks to me O.
sacrilege and disturbin' bones. Bles.
yOuy UAOIo dlu Ooou uOuo lOT yohrS duC
years; and these hard times man CAM
let land go to waste. I tell wife she
don't know nothin' about it. What de
you want to do? Have bit around the
we'll ?"
mo, want a step" said Hannah
''That great white one is just the
thing" And she pointed TO slat
hard by.
"Ike shall bring it over tonight,
said the farmer.
"No," said Hannah; 81 can roll il
along. wish 1 could tell what that
was," she said. "Some ones age and
name. Ahl there were sore hearts when
that was new. I hope when L die
Oliver will have written over me that
was O good wife. I've tried hard to be-
ought to know that big letter. Wait
bit. I believe it's z.
Then she turned the inscription