Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-01-19
Misas!!ansoas.
The Old Woman.

Ned Huntline sat at the breakfast table
and abstractedll slipped h. coffee. Ned Was
considered a great catch" among the girls
of Sleepy Hollow; not that he was either
rich or handsome. for he Was not. nor was
there ANYTHING remarkable about him. eN
cept his tidy habits and his we'll know de-
termination to take care Of his parents, who
had spent their earnings of a lifetime IN
rearing and educating their many children.
all Of Shom, except Ned, were well married
and comfortably settled IN establishments of
their own, in the far-away States, where con-
stant application to business enabled them
to live IN peace and plenty.
Ned Huutline, the senior, after whom the
junior Ned had been named in infancy, and
the worthy sire of the seven HuntliHes, was
now on his deathbed, and the wife and son
were the only occupants of the breakfast
table, where in years agone, there had been
nine chairs promptly filed at Every meal.
"Do YOU think father will live the day
out p asked Ned. sending up his cup for the
second time and speaking for the first.
''lt's doubtful, son. There has been a
rapid change within half-dozen hours"
The wife buried her face in her hands and
wept silently. She was an old-fashioned
woman, an exemplary wife. who had cheer
fully borne her share of life's many burdens
through all these wears of her union. She
had been a strong woman in her day, too,
but her step was feeble now, and her ewes
were dim and her hands unsteady.
"Don't cry, mother" said Ned, softly, as
be left his last cup untasted and went around
TO where she was sitting. We've all got
to take our turn when it comes. Death is
only transition. It's but question of
time till We, too, shall die. Cheer up, moth
er. You are TO have a valuable legacy to-
day"
MY son, know have valuable legacy
in you, and | try to be comforted. Your
father is ready and willing to die. and it
won't be many years till shall join him.
But oh, Ned, its hard What will become
of me ~
Tears choked her utterance, and Ned
placed his arm around her tenderly and drew
her head to his shoulder.
81 am your legacy, dearest mother, and
shall prove a support to you that shall never
fail. MoIlie will love you, too. Don't
worry. You shall spend the balance of your
days in ease anu contentment and plenty"
"Mollie, did you say, Ned ?"
"Yes, mother
"Not Mollie Hawkins ?"
"Yes Mollie Hawkins. We've been en-
gagged for year, and it is her wish and mine
to be married to-day, SO that father may
witness the ceremony"
"Oh, Ned, 1t seems both wicked and
cruel TO be thinking about a wedding day.
Wait year, do"
Father and | talked it over while YOU
were getting breakfast and he is glad to
know of our plan, and seconds it heartily"
"Why didn't you tell me before, Ned ?"
because there wasn't anything to tell.
Molle has always said YOU didn't like her,
and she begged me to wait till you have time
to overcome your prejudices before should
speak to you about it. Mollie watched
father with me during the after part Of the
night, and he had an easy, rational spell
toward morning, and he said, I'D like to
give Mollie to you before | die, as your