The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-12
CYRUS' WIFE.

", but with sullen determination and
doggedness. The sky was leaden, and the
wind blew about the house in stormy gusts,
driving before it flocks of wet, reluctant
leaves from the elms and naples. From
the rain-blurred window nothing could be
seen but wildly tossing boughs, flying
leaves and one old man crossing the or
chard in the tall drenched grass.
"Look, Lorraine" said 1, "here comes the
odd little old man who behaved so strangely
in church."
Lorraine left off striking aimless chords
on the piano, and came and looked over my
shoulder.
"What odd little old mani" she queried;
so, yes; it is poor old Uncle Cyrus. |
was going to tell you about him. 1t is
quite a story"
For moment we watched the man in
silence as he came toward us, his head bent
against the driving storm, his arms swing
ing heavily at his sides.
g He is coming here" Said Lorraine. 81
suppose he wants some opium. You have
no idea, Nell, how these country people
use opium. 1t is really horrible. We will
have him in here by the fire. You like odd
characters, and you never knew anybody
like poor Uncle Cyrus"
A moment after, the door was opened
timidly, and a high-pitched, quavering
voice said:
mar IL UOle me TO walk r1SlU IN. Hope
don't discommode nobodyW
"Come in" said Lorraine, kindly; 1--WE are
all alone"
He came in, a little, thin old man, with
restless pale-gray eyes, and way of walk
ing as one walks in the darkness, moving
his feet ahead in an uncertain way, as if
expecting every moment to plunge into
some horrible abyss. His skin like cracked
yellow parchment, the prominence of his
hOnpc tho ctr Hraxr 1oO1y IF IA
ures, the glassiness of his eyes, all were
signs of the confirmed opium-eater- signs
far too often seen among New England
country people. His arms were of unusual
length, and, powerfully developed by his
toll, gave him the odd look of a pygmy
wearing the arms of giant"
doctor hain't to home, "he said, glancing
about the room in a nervous, ferret-like way.
30, no, says you, doctor hain't to home.
Come in for suthin' to ease my rheumatic.
Wanted to git leetle opium to hush the
pain bit-only fur a med'cin', we know.
You can't sell it to me, says you; hev to
wait till doctor comes, says you. Wal, wal,
I'll jest wait spell; he won't be long, says
you"
Having thus answered the questions
which no one but himself had asked, the
old man sank stiffiy into chair, and spread
his great bony hands out to the blaze.
oval, wa" he cackled, "got a fire, so We
hev; cheerin' too, it is, now; axshally it is
cheerin'. Dismal spell of weather, SAYS
OctavY, ter noon, says |, We're goin' to hev
regular tower o. weather now, an no mis-
take. Keep up good fire in the kitchen
stove, or We'll both be rheumaticky, says l
to Octavy."
"How is OctaviaW asked Lorraine.
"Octavy" replied the old man. "Wal,
now, poor critter, she's poorly mis'able,
(lofo ie.. oh. i, @o1xe
rally, what hez allied Octavy this summer.
She's ben sort o'weakly now for consider
BILE spell back. She don't pear to hev no
courage, some way, Octavy don't.
She don't take no intruss in her
garden or her bees. Worked too
hard, says you, an so 1 tell her; but, Lord
bless we, it don't make no sorter difference.
She'll drop down some day in harness.
Always was master-hand to work, says
you; an so she was"
The fire made sudden, elfish leap and
sent bold red glow over the old mans
withered face.
"a righteous, good woman" he said,
looking steadily into the flames. "a
righteous, good woman, says you; an 70
she IS, II ever there was one on the Lords
earth" He was silent a moment, then
added, " 1het's so; tibet is So"
After the doctor came home and the old
man had gone away with his opium
through the rainy twilight, l heard his
story, sitting with my host and hostess by
the fire.
He was never over-wise, poor Cyrus,
even when he was young. His heart out
weighed his brain. He was, however, an
honest, fearless, hearty young fellow, and
the best smith for miles around. Almost
every country village has its legendary
Samson, who could lift barrel Of cider
and drink from the bunghole. Whether or
not Cyrus could do this is unknown; but it
is certain that he could lift keg of nails
with one hand and carry it through the
village.
He could sing, too-a mighty, unframed
bass-and it was in the village choir that
he first met Octavia Freeman, the daughter
of farmer who lived near the village.
She sang the part called "counter'' by the
China Valley people. She stood beside
cyrus in the choir, and often shared with
him the thin, green-covered academy Col
lection" from which they sang "Hebron, y
and "Woodstock," and "Silver Street,
Octavia was what is called "a harnsome
girl" in country places such as China
Valley-large and well made, with black
eyes, abundant hair and full red lips. As
for poor. Cyrus, all the romance and poetic
fancy that existed in his slow brain cen
tered about this girl and glorifed her in his
sight. He walked often to see her over the
lonely river-road which led to the farm. He
carried her flowers and early red-and
yellow apples from the little orchard be
hind the forge. He took her to the menag
erie in the summer, and to the county fail
in the fall. He sat beside her at the weekly
prayer-meeting, and found her place in the
hymn book with rugged brown hands made
tremulous and awkward by his love.
And Octavia? She was content thai
Cyrus should adore her. She was a rest
less, ambitious girl, who fretted at tn,
farm-life and its hopeless and monotonou,
drudgery. She longed for change anC
freedom, and thought that to marry Cyrul
Spears and be mistress of her own hous,
was the best thing fate had offered her Sc
far in life. Everybody called Cyru,
''likely." They had even begun t