Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-23

nor anybody else-allays thought So
but then L never thought as you'd ask
me-"
"Then it's q bargain?" asked Bill.
"Well, might do worse. But mind
you, not a word to anybody about it, or
over you 90. l amt a-goin' to have
folks a-talkin' about me.''
"Not word, Bess. Bless you, old
gal"
The three months passed away, and,
all preparations having been secretly
made, Bess and Bill were quietly mar
ried, only two particular friends being
informed of the affair before it came off,
and they only on the morning of the
ceremony.
There was great excitement at Black
Regis when the marriage was made pub
lie, and all determined on giving some
testimony of their goodwill. A private
subscription list was opened at once, and
as Bess had kept her love-affair such
a secret from them, they thought it only
fair that they should keep their inten-
lions secret from her. There was some
thing rudely noble about this arrange
ment. When the money had been col
lected, the difficulty of providing a suit
able present arose. What could they
give her? Some one suggested giving
her the money, and allowing her to
spend it as she thought proper. But
this was Indignantly negatived. They
knew Bess too well to think she would
accept gift of money from them. It'll
a strange but wholesome characteristic
of the English people, that the smallest
present of manufactured goods is thank
fully accepted and gratefully acknowl-
edged, while a gift of money is rejected
as an insult. After much consultation,
it was decided to present her with tea
service and-a cradle! The latter arti-
Gle is generally considered by such peo-
ple-and not always them alone-as an
Indispensable article of domestic furni-
ture, and therefore suitable thing to
present to q person newly married.
The presentation was made at night,
and for once Bess was speeches.. Good,
simple soul, the possibility of such an
expression of regard from her rough
neighbors had never occurred to her.
She could only mutter demurely her
customary, "l never see such fools as
some folks isl and then hide her face
in her hands and burst into tears. So
kind herself, the kindness of others
usually so rough and emotionless. was
too much for her.
Bill thanked the friends for their gift,
and pointing to the weeping Bess, said:
"You see, boys, she amt used to this
sort o. thing, an it's kind O. knocked
her over. [ know you means well, an
shan't forget it. But if it's all the same,
perhaps you wouldn't mind leaving Bess
an me alone bit till she kind o gets
over it. You see, [ don't want YOU to
think as l don't think enough of what
you've done; only, you see, she amt
used to this sort O. thing, an it's kind
O. knocked her over"
The audience kindly left the newly
married pair together.
Six months had passed away since the
marriage, when 1 once more stood in
the hut of BeSs-now Mrs. Thomson.
AS entered, she looked up with smile
of recognition, and hearty: t'Hullo!
here again, sir? Why, what on earth
do you see here, to make you come back
again?''
sc Not much, Mrs. Thomson, truly"
L replied, laying great stress upon her
new name. She blushed crimson as she
replied: "Ah! I thought as
they'd tell you as soon as you set foot in
the place. [ never see such born idiots
in all nay days.
"Well, 1 must congratulate you on
your marriage; and I hope you will be
happy together
"NNell, you see, Bill was such fool,
an couldn't take care of hisself. You
know had to fish him out O. the water
once. But he amt tasted drink since,
an he promised as he wouldn't if I'd
marry him. An you see it was pity
to see fellow like Bill goin' an maxim
such a fool of hisself; so thought /
might as well take care on him, as leave
him to somebody worse than myself. l
amt bad sort, if 1 am bit rough;
but men is no good if they amt got
to look after 'em."
Then, as if suddenly remembering
she threw down her hammer,
and bidding me ''Come here a minute"
hurried out of the hut to little one -storv
house that stood close by. Opening the
unlocked door, she babe me enter, and
then with the air of a duchess, threw
open little cupboard door, with one
hand, and pointed to a prettily furnished |
cradle with the other.
"Oh! Your wedding presents?' 1
exclaimed.
Les, SHe Tepueu Will SoLle pTlue, |
and with the shadow of a tear glistening
in her bright eye. "They amt much,
sir; leastways, they don't seem much |
to you, s'pose; but you know we're
poor folks about here, an has to work
hard for all as we get, an it was all they
could afford; an it soas good of 'em,
wasn't it?''
At the recollection of the presentation
episode, the truant tears overfiowed the
of feeling, and trickled down
he dusky cheek. l am not ashamed to
confess that the water stood in my own
eyes as 1 huskily replied that sit a0as
good of them.''
think never realized so fully before
he true worth of genuine, though
humble gift, and the sunshine of graft
;ude and joy it will shed upon the heart
md life of an honest recipient. There
vas more robust joy in that heart of
Bess's over that cradle and those cups
md saucers than is felt by the majority
If richly-dowered brides, any one of
whose presents would be modest COM
1etence to such as she.