Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-29
Miscellaneous.
BIZ FRANCIS >. DYER.

Nv minutes spent in porting over the
leeasr IN his hand, Farmer Jewett broke
forth again.
..It's kinder risky takin' these folks from
Boston. There's the Spillers. now; they
had that hifaIutin' set two years ago.
Mis- SpiIler she nigh went crazy at the
way they smashes Things bout the house.
an Joe he's grumbled ever sence cos them
youp9 ones spilled his medder patch. But
Ifyou say 20. wife. we'll try 'em a spell
'Taint ~ tho twas all summer"
IN do jest as you say, father" meekly
responded Mrs. Jewett.
.sAn' I'll do lest - you say. Come.
now, that's fair bargain" said the big
boned. big-hearted farmer.
well sp'osin' 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 reply to the let
ter which lay spread on the table. The
hands that guided the plough. msking
straight burrows in which he took an hon
ct pride, were somewhat clumsy in hand
ling : pen.
There's one thing" he said. dipping
his quill into the ink, 1.-THE young woman
writes ez plains copy-book she don't
use none Of them crooked e's. Shouldn't
wonder If she was schoolmarm."
For nearly an hour he labored over the
epistle Of two pages, carefully sanding the
same. read It aloud TO his wife, and then
"harnessed up" to carry it to the post
Office. The missive conveyed the pleas
ing intelligence that Lydia Storer and her
child could be boarded at the farmhouse
during August for tbs sum Of six dollars
per week, and if she would send word at
what hour she would arrive some one
would be at the depot to ''fetch along"
her trunk.
One hot afternoon some two weeks later
Farmer Jewett came putting into the cool
kitchen where his wife sat picking over
berries for tea. and said.
II guess. vile. it's time to slick up an
90 to the depot. Ideclare," he continued,
sinking into a chair and hopping the
perspiration from his face, 81 hope she
won't have one o. them everlastin' big
trunks. But she will if she's school
marm," he added in detected tone. '.an'
twill be chock full o. books an heavier
n 9rindstone.
"Well, wouldn't worry, father" said
Mrs. Jewett In a soothing tone. ''P'rhaps
she amt school-marm, after all. Lemme
give ye drink o. butter-milk to cool ye
or"
She disappeared in the cellar-way and
brought forth a bowl of the delicious fluid
over which the farmer smacked his lips,
and then made ready for his trip.
There were several passengers to alight
beside the usual crowd of loafers always
seen ut q country station, and farmer jew
EFT was wondering how he should ever
pick out the school-marm." when he
heard q voice at his side saying,
II think this is Mr.. Jewett P''
He turned and saw a slight, dark eyed
woman holding mite of child by the
hand.
.'Sartin" said he. IAN is this Miss
Storerp Where's yer trunk p''
81 haven't any," she replied; ''there is
only good-sized valise and carpet-bag.
They are strapped together. and here is
the check"
The baggage attended to, he came back
to where he had left his charge standing.
and led the way to the wagon. As he
stopped to lift the child in. he exclaimed.
"Bless my soul what puny little
crcetur! There amt huff Of her to make
shadder."
"She is forlorn looking OBJECT" adj
mitted the new boarder, rs they drove
down the shady street. That's why
took her. 1t Is dreadful to think of the
children who are stiaed in our great cities
during the summer. Oh, how delicious
this air isl" she added. as a breath from
the ocean swept across the hay-fe'ds and
touched her cheek. "How do you like it.
Patsy ?" she asked of the child who sat
between them.
''Oh. don't never want to go back. ;"
said the little girl slowly, drawing in her
breath. Her large eyes glowed with ex
element, and the wind that toyed about
her thin temples lifted the hair, and re-
vealed the usually bloodless veins throb-
bling 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 upon
the group which was at length broken by
Farmer Jewett's inquiring.
''How in creation did We know t was
me. Mis- Storerf"
because you looked so benevolent"
was the reply. IL knew the heart that
matched such face would open to receive
me even with the child. You see no one
was willing TO take me with her."
The farmer gave an impatient grunt'
ierked the reins to quicken the pace of old
Fan. and blurted out,
''Wa'al. come folks is heather even in
the land Of gospel privileges. Now there
couldn't be q more innercent lamb than
this little creetur," he added. giving Patsy
mighty hug and smiling broadly at her.
''You are mistaken there, MIR. Jewett."
said his guest earnestly. ut is because
she knows % 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 = look at the woman by
his side. Somehow these words sounded
strangely to his ears. He pondered them
full five minutes. then turned squarely
round. holding the lines loosely in one
hand, and asked solemnly,
mis- Storer. be you school-marm p
mo, sir. she calmly answered, ..rm a
woman Of business in Boston,"
you amt woman's Fighter ?" he
Questioned IN alarm.
A merry laugh rang out upon the sum-
mer beoese which startled squirrel on
stone wall by the roadside and set him
racing along its top with his bushy tail
high in the AR. Patsy screamed with de-