Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-04-11

pam IudJ JHe Old man TRENDS would
feel a sense of relief if he got well. 1t
was about this time that my grand
mother declared with sigh that,she had
great respect for Mr., Rogers.
He's borne up under affliction like q
true Christian; but rather shiftless-
rather shiftless. / don't know how TO
reconcile his virtues with the dirt and
disorder he lives in. [ don't wonder his
wife took to her bed
''They say she was perfect shrew,"
said my mother, placidly threading her
needle. 4" Half crazy-so I've heard.
Mr.. Appleton thinks there's no use in
MI. Rogers trying to stay by himself
this winter. He'd much better go to the
poor house and be taken good care of.
Mrs. Slmons the woman over the shop,
says he's hardly a cent left, and she can It
be expected to provide for him. [ sup
pose the thought of it will berather hard
for him at first, but he'll be much bet
ter OF. Lucy, dear, won't you hand me
my SCISSORS 2"
L gave my mother her scissors, but
felt that by the act [ became a conspir-
ator in this plot for the degradation of
my poor old friend. ] sat by his bed
next day, when who should appear at the
door but my father. felt that the plot
was thickening.
/" Well, how are you, Mr.. Rogers 4"
said my father in his hearty voice.
Z" Are you feeling pretty smart to -day?"
Yes, I'm pretty smart, thank we. [
hain't got those boots O yourn quite
ready yet, though. I'll try and take
hold of 'em tomorrow. I'm sorry you
had the trouble of coming after 'em for
nothing. | can send 'em by your little
gal. l dunno's you know what good
little gal she is to come and see me.
81 like to come," said.
My father seemed in no hurry to go,
and said, at length:
"Rather lonely here by yourself, isn't
it, MIR. Rogers ?"
Well, dunnos I've much to COM
plain of. Mrs. Simmons, upstairs,
looks after things, and [ tell her to spend
the money in the black teapot. There's
other folks worse off. I"
My father looked puzzled.
" | declare, Mr.. Rogers, you've known
what trouble was, haven't you? See!
How many years was your wife laid up {?
And you've lost about all your children
and now here you are yourself"
Yes, yes" said the old man. 'But
those amt the sort of things [ try to let
my mind dwell on while I'm a-laying
here. [ try to count up my mercies.
Ny father looked desperate.
" Well, now, Mr.. Rogers, [ think,
and my wife thinks, that you ought to go
somewhere else. .
" [ amt got nowhere else to go, sir.
I'm all alone in the world. It's true what
you say"
''But, Mr.. Rogers, to be plain, you
know I'm one of the selectmen, and I'd
see that the town took care of you-bet-
ter care than Mrs. Simons does"
" / dunno's [ quite catch your mean
ing, sir. Does anybody find fault with
Mrs Simons 2"
No, no. don't mean that. [ mean
we think you'd better go down to Mr..
Miles to spend the winter. He keeps the
town-farm, you know"
E" You mean to the poor-house, sir !
warn't very bright ter see.
The old man turned his faded ewes i'm
ploringly up to my fathers face.
"Well, yes, that what they call it,
though must say / never quite liked
the name
The old cobbler's face seemed to grow
white and aged before our very eyes.
The tears rolled slowly down his cheeks.
With the instinct decently to hide his
trouble, he drew up the old bed-quilt
with tremulous hand and turned his
face to the wall.
50 dunno but I've asked too much, :"
he said, in broken voice. GIVE sort
o hung onto the idee that [ should die
before l come ter that If the Lord 'ud
only give me something l could die
of p
Lucy" said my father, didn't l
hear somebody III the shop? Go and
see."
Two strangers had just entered the
door-a tall young man, dressed in a
suit OF plaid and accompanied by pleas
ant-faced young woman in white bon
net.
"Mr. Rogers is SICK" 1 said. He
can't mend shoes now"
"Sick, did you say he was? Where is
he ?"
"He's in there. [ don't believe he
wants anybody to come IN.
The young man gave me a queer
look.
"I guess you don't know who I am. I
guess he'll be willing to see me-"
By this time he stood in the door be-
tween the two rooms. Mr.. Rogers face
was turned away, and my father was
locking intently into the back yard. The
stranger glanced uneasily about, and
said not a word. am sure it must have
been a relief to him, as well as to me,
when at last my father turned suddenly
round, and said:
why, who's this ?''
" It's somebody to see Nj. Rogers, [
answered, family.
"Don't you know me: Don't you
know me. father ?" The stranger burst
out. Its Jim come back. And out
there's my wife. Come home to enjoy
Christmas with you"
I laugh now to think of tbs absurd
sense of relief this last revelation caused
me.
Jimmyl Come home!' the old man
in a dazed, scared way. CT
amt out of my head. I'm awake. I
know what you are going ter do with
me: you're going tn take me- To the moor