The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-09-07

Patsy.
BY FRANCES ]. DYER.
Il Vife | dnnno ~


kept on knitting in prudent silence.
After a few minutes spent in poring
over the letter in his hand, Farmer Jew
EFT broke forth again:
'.It's kinder resky takin' these folks
from Boston. There's the Spillers, now ;
they had that hifalutin' set two years
ago. Mis- Spiller she nigh went crazy at
the way they smashed things bout the
house, an Joe he's grumbled ever senco
cos them young ones spilled his medder
patch. But if You say 50, wife, we'll try
'em a spell. faint as tho t was all
summer"
I'll do Jest as you say, father" meek
" responded Mrs. Jewett
AN III do jest as yon say. Come,
now that's a fair bargain said the big
boned, big hearted farmer.
"W ell s'posin' we try it =
So it was decided that the Jewetts
should take summer boarders. This
point settled, the farmer set about the
no less difficult task OF framing a reply
to the letter which lay spread on the
table The hands that had guided
the plough, making stra light turroWs in
which he took an honest pride, We're
somewhat clumsy in handling q pen.
"Ihere's one thing" he said, dipping
his quill into the ink, "thc young woman
writes cz plain $ a copy book She don't
use none O them crooked e'S Shouldn't
wonder if she was a school -marm.
For nearly an hour he labored over the
epistie Of two pages. carefully sanded the
same. read it aloud to his wife, and then
"harnessed up to carry it to the post
office The missive conveyed the pleas
ant intelligence that Lydia Storer and
her child could be boarded at the farm
house during August for the sum Of six
dollars per week, and if She would send
word at What hour She would arrive,
some one would he at the depot to ''tttch
along her trunk.
one hot afternoon some two weeks
later Farmer JcWett came putting into
the cool kitchen where his wife sat pick
INC over berries for tea, and said:
II guess, wife, it's time to slick up an
go to the depot. | Declare he continu-
ed, sinking into chair and moppng the
perspiration from his face, 81 hope She
won't have one O. them everlastin' big
trunks But she viii. if she's school
marm," be added in detected tone, an
t will be chock fun o books an heaviern
Il grindstone."
"Well, wouldn't worry, father, said
Mrs. Jewett in a soothing tone. Prhaps
she amt a school -marm, after all. Lem
me give We a drink o butter milk to cool
Ne off,
She disappeared in the cellar-way and
brought forth bowl OF the delicious
m hn
lips, and then made ready for his trip.
There We're several passengers to alight,
beside the usual crowd Of loaters always
seen at Il country station, and Farmer
Jewett was wondering how he should
ever pick out the 'scho0l- -marm," when
he heard voice at his side, saying:
II think this is Mr.. Jcwett :"
He turned and saw slight, dark eyed
woman holding a mite of Il child by the
hand.
"Sartin,' said he, ''an' is this Miss
Storer? Where's yer trunk 2"
81 haven't any" She replied ''therc is
only a good-sZed valise and a carpet bag.
They are strapped together, and here is
the check"
The baggage attended to, he came
standing, and led the way to the wagon.
AS he stopped to lift the child in, he eN-
claimed:
"Bless my soul what a puny little
creetur, There amt 'nutf of her to
make a shadder"
"She is torlorn looking object" ad-
mitted the lew boarder, us they drove
down the shady street "That's why
took her. 1t is dreadful to think Of the
children who are stitled III our great cities
during the summer. Oh, how delicious
this air ~ she added, us breath from
the ocean swept across the hayteldS and
touched her check. GLOW do you like it,
Patsy 2" she asked of the child who sat
between them.
ooh, | don't never want to 90 back, "
said the little girl slowly, drawing in her
breath. Her large eyes glowed with eX-
citement, and the wind that toyed about
her thin temples lifted the hair and re
vealed the usually bloodess veins throb-
bing with the quickened pulse. The
droning of insects, the smell of new
moWn hay and the sight of green fields
were almost Intoxicating to one whose
senses had never before been touched by
Natures loving hand. A silence fell up
on the group which was at length broken
10y Farmer Jewett inquiring
Glow in creation did We know t was
me, Mis- Storer ~
''Because You looked 50 benevolent,
was the reply. Il knew the heart that
matched such a face would open to re-
ceive me even with the child. You see
will tn tnly
The tanner gave an impatient grunt,
jerked the reins to quicken the pace OF
old Fan, and blurted out:
"Wa'al, some folks is heathens even in
the land of gospel privileges. Now there
couldn't be more inherent lamb than
this little creetur,' he added, giving Pat
sy mighty hug and smiling broadly at
her.
"You are mistaken there, Mr.. Jewett,
SAID the guest earnestly 1T is because
she knows so much Of sin and misery,
young as she is, that | have brought her
| away from the filth and shame for little
while hoping that her soul as we'll as her
body may grow in this blessed sunshine
The farmer cast a look at the woman
by his side. Somehow these words sound
ed strangely to his ears. He pondered
them full five minutes then turned square
ly round holding the lines loosely in one
hand, and asked solemnly:
"Mis' Storer, be you a school marin y
mo, sir" she calmly answered, "'m
a woman of business in Boston,
"IOu amt Il wOman's righter?' he
questioned in alarm.
\ merry laugh rang out upon the sum
mer breeze which startled squirrel on a
stone wall by the roadside and set him
racing along its top with his bushy tail
high in the air. Patsy screamed with de-
light, and shouted;