The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-10-23
SUSY'S BEAU,


only gave Joe kinder word and a
sweeter smile. ..
She was the orphaned daughter of a
country clergyman, whose sole legacy
to her had been the best education his
own profound learning enabled him to
give her. When she was but little
girl her mother died, and she had been
her fathers housekeeper, scholar and
companion until her nineteenth birth
day, when the Rev. Stephen Coyle was
likewise taken from his child to his las t
long rest. The good people of the par
ish knowing Susy's advantages for study
had put her at the head Of the district
school, and her old home being the par
sonage, she had removed her personal
possessions and taken up her abode al
Farmer Collingwood's, he having fol
years "boarded" the school ma'am.
It was merry, happy farmers house
hold where Susv lived. Julia and Mol
lie Collingwood were strong-ar med,
blooming damsels, full of coquettish
grace, and with loud voices and active
habits. Charlie and James, the sons,
were fine specimens of young farmers,
and the old man and his wife were kind
hearted, homely countrywide.
But the young, girl brought up in her
fathers study, his companion for years,
had developed more mental than phys
ical strength, was shy in manner, re-
served in speech, and craved intellect
ual food entirely out of her power to
obtain. She was slight in figure, with
large black eyes, delicate features, a
pure, colorless complexion, and masses
of nut brown hair. The parsonage
having always had a servant, Susy's lit
tie hands were unspoiled by rough
work, and beside the rosy checked,
blue eyed Collingwood girls, she looked
like a little pale nun, her deep mourn
ing ontrasting strongly with their gay
attire, with all the colors of the rain
bow struggling for supremacy.
She had been but little time in her
position as lnstructress to the tow head
ed youngsters of Brent Hill when COM
ing up the road from school late on a
summers afternoon, she heard wailing
groans in one of the cottages, where Of
ten before she had heard the same
sounds.
"Poor Joel" she whispered pitiully.
For she knew deformed idiot was
being beaten by cruel task master.
But on that afternoon, as she drew near
the cottage the door suddenly flew open,
and the idiot limped, bowling and speed
ing as fast as his infirmities allowed out
at the opening, while following him a
strong, brutal man, half drunk, -four
ished an immense cowhlde.
The man, cursing and swearing, held
the whip over the covering, shrinking
lad, but when it fell it struck not Joe,
but Susy, who bent over him, one arm
raised to ward off the blow. Brute as
as he was, the half-drunken wretch
stood aghast when the heavy lash cut
across Susy' 8 slender arm and shoulders.
II beg your pardon, ma'am," he said,
II did not see you was in the way"
Chow can you?" she cried, her pale
cheeks crimson with womanlv indigna-
Gon-"how can you, a strong man,
strike poor boy like that-a boy
whose infirmities should appeal for pro-
lection to any man who was not an ar
} rant coward?"
swell, come now, that's pretty strong,
said the man. "Don't feed and lodge
him for what he does, and amt got a
right to beat him if he does everything
wrong? He don't earn his salt, he don't
Don't keep him, then"
IT guess you're right. Iwon't. Joe,
you may go to the mischief, but don't
come here again." =
So saying, the idiots tormentor turn
ed on his heel and re-entered his house,
shutting and noisily boiling his door.
Susy stood half terrified at the result of
her we'll interference. Joe was
a waif from the alms-house, lame, de-
formed, idiotic, and she had deprived
him of his only refuge.
"Oh, Joe," she said, crying, II am so
sorrv! What will you do?"
But Joe was only able to realize that
his brutal taskmaker had ceased to
beat him, and that long. red welt
across Susy's hand had fallen there upon
it's way to his covering shoulder. He
only pointed to the mark. half crying
''It was better for me to take it as
you!" he said, whimpering: 'the pretty
white hand! Oh, Joe is so sorry you
got before him. Joe don't mind beat-
ing!"
All the chivalry in the poor dull
brain asserted itself in that speech, for
Joe did mind a beating very much.
''You can't stay here in the road all
night" said Susy. "Come with me
and will ask Mr.. Collingwood to give
you place to Sleep"
The good folks at the farm looked
rather astonished when Susy appeared
followed by the STOPPING, imping figure
of the village idiot. But the farmer
broke into hearty laughter when she
told Of her interference and begged a
shelter for the boy.
"Stay here? Of course he can stay
here" he said. we'll find something
for the poor beggar to do. But to think
of you spunking up to Bob Garter in
that fashion, Id ha' given my best COW
to see it. A little white bantam peck
mad bull would he nothing to it. And
he run off. Well! Well! Here, Charlie,
show Joe the room over the barn. He
can sleep there, and he'll soon learn
where to come to meals"
So the idiot found his bed on the
hard floor replaced by the cosy barn
chamber; his scanty food exchanged for
generous plenty and for blows kicks
and curses, hard work everlasting his
brain, he had kindly words and light
labor suited to his comprehension.
And under this treatment he bright
ened visibly, performing his simple task
willingly and we'll.
When winter came, Susys herself al
tered suit and overcoat of her fathers
to clothe the boy comfortably for the
cool weather, and knit him scarf, cap
and mittens. She never passed hin,
without word of encouragement and
kindness, and in his darkened mind the
fair, sweet face stood for a religion,
something to be worshipped, poor Joe's
special Providence.
He never forgot the falling of the
cruel lash upon her slender f%ure bent
to protect him, and he understood per-
fectly that Susys intercession had pro-
cured for him his happy, comfortable
home. ,'' =. -.
And his gratitude expressed itself in
such offerings as were within his reach
bouquets Of wild flowers, clusters of
delicate ferns he knew she loved, bask-
cts of wild cherries or nuts, and an ca
nor nffor RI lift anv obstacle from hnr