Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-01
Gales ano Skstfbts.
FARMER eREGoar-s REFORM.
Confined from Yesterday. J

his curly hair and sets out 10 gun sifnpic-
tons into buying those gathering tread
mill things, My mother never heard tell
of such thing in her day She was sat
isfied to do her work with the tools mater
provided for her. She cut and made, and
spun and knit tor US all with her own
hands, and she wasn't too stuck up to do
her own scrubbing and soap making
either If she'd lived she could show you
what it is to do good honest work"
"Perhaps. Giles, she would have lived
longer if she hadn't worked so hard. You
know she was still a young woman when
she died.
81 don't know. Mary, l don't know
about that. I reckon the good Lord don'f
take none of Us Till our time comes. She
was a good woman. mother was, and
things didn't 90 well with us boys after
she died." and Mr.. Gregory rose with
sigh, knocked tbs ashes from bis pipe,
and depositing it on the clock shelf in the
corner. seated himself in silence.
For long time nothing more was said.
The jogging of the cradle kept time to the
monotonous .'tick-tick" OF the clock, and
back in the shadows sat Giles Gregory
entertaining an unwelcome and unwonted
visitor. He was arraigned before the
bar OF conscience, and memory was
reading To him the bitter things recorded
10 the book If the past. She whispered
him to look back to the days Of his boy
hood, to call to remembrance the quiet,
patient life that had, indeed, gone out
early in its day. only because the hearts
best food-love and sympathy, were with
held together, or grudgingly given by
those to whom she had, as wife, and
mother. the best aud holiest right to look
for it, All, how like sad. accusing an
gel, that mothers face came up before
him at the tribunal TO which his awakened
conscience had summoned him.
Memory reminded him of the dreary
wears that followed her loss-years filled
with carelessness and neglect on the
fathers part. and utter indifference. if not
positive dislike on the part OF the mother
less children She said 10 him: "What-
soever a man soweth. that also shall he
reap" and asked him if he was not SOW
ing the seed tor like harvest in the hearts
of his own children. Then she whispered
to him to look at the thin, weary face be-
fore him; face loving and patient, but
scanned with the sadness of care and pre-
mature age and contrast it with that of the
pretty. rosy checked, bright-eyed girl
whom he had promised before God to
cherish, love snd comfort SO long as life
lasted and she asked him how he had re-
deemed his pledge. She held before his
eyes a mirror, in which he might see him.
self in all his repulsive selfishness - his
willful, stubborn ignorance - and he
shrank from the picture. Oh, faithful
conscience-blessed memory-well were
you doing your work
Slowly and gently the hand of the an
gel of repentance is feeling the way to
the blessed fountain whose waters have
so long been sealed. Softly the stout bar
rers are withdrawn. and it is warm, tides
wash over the world-calloused heart like
healing flood, melting all the hardness
and bringing up from the stony neglected
soil the late but sweet blossoms of tender
Mt IS and love.
Mary" said he, suddenly-there was
a strange huskiness in his voice, 1.-The
children are all quiet s'spose we go
over to neighbor Green's a little while. ="
why. Giles" said she, with a sur
prised. gratified look, I'D like ever so
much to go, but don't see how can.
must get Tommy's pants done to night"
LET it 60 this time visit will do
you good. You look clean tuckered
out with your work.
Wondering greatly at her husbands IN
wonted mood, and with a confused idea
that there must be a mistake somewhere,
she quickly donned her bonnet and shawl
called Hetty from her nook upstairs,
where see was reveling in the stories
that were to her so many glimpses into a
veritable fairy land babe her mind the
little ones, and was soon cordially well
coined and comfortably seated in the cosy
parlor at Mrs. Green's.
The sharp contrast between their cwn
bare living room and this pretty little
nook gave another twing to the already
smarting conscience of the awakened
penitent. Here her books, pictures,
games and toys for the children-an open
melodeon, with music box on the rack,
stood on one side of the room-upon the
table lay goodly supply of solid and
miscellaneous reading for the older heads,
in one corner, carefully covered. stood the
pride of Mrs. Greene's heart-the sewing
machine.
After the weather and farm matters had
been duly discussed. politics touched upon
and various items of neighborhood interest
interchanged. there came pause, which
was broken by Mr.. Gregory. who said,
with shy chances at his wife and little
awkward hesitation:
IL say, Green, I've come over here to
make sort of confession. I've been hav
ing little experience meeting with my
thoughts tonight; been looking at myself
as suppose others look at me. in a sort
of looking glass, as it were. and am free
to confess that had the pleasure of max.
ing the acquaintance of cantankerous
old curmudgeon--so to speak. I've been
a-going on, year in and year out. tramping
on the hearts and feelings of my wife and
children. keep still. Mary, you've nc
call to deny it, it's just the truth I'm tell
ing); hardening myself. too. until seem
to have forgotten. somehow. that the good
Lord, when he made me, intended me &c
be a mani don't know what it means,
but seemed to be Just turned all about
| reckon maybe it Was thinking of nv
mother that has melted me, SO to speak
You can just mark this down, neighbor
Green. Giles Gregory has looked at hi:
own heart to some purpose tonight. I'm
going to begin over sgain and try TO have
home like yours, here NV children
shall have books and toys. and jimcracks
too. and my wife is going to have sewing
machine, yes, sir, two of 'em if she saws
so. There. there Mary. (sho'. now If il
amt q curious thing, that woman will