The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-07-16
SIDDY'S ADVICE.
I. WHEN IT WAS GIVEN.

You could not find more notable
woman in the fishermen's quarter of our
pretty seaside town than the wife of
Joel Sims. He might work hard in his
boat, but he spent all his hours on shore
in lounging about or sleeping, whereas
Siddy Sims was never idle.
The four fat little childfen who called
her mother were as rosy and healthy as
plenty of Tubing and wholesome food
could make them; and spiders avoided
the queerly-built tenement on the cliff
side, that might be known as Siddy
SiH0S' by the whiteness of the rough stone
&the door and the redness of the pots
of flowers that filled the windows.
Yet, with all her occupations at home,
Siddy was sure to be one of the first on
the beach in the early morning, when
the boats came in; first TO help sort the
fish; first to take her place i'll the mar
ket. where her bright smiling face and
civility attracted many a customer. And
who, when business was over there,
tramped away more undauntedly with
her basket, to sell her whiting and soles
at the doors of the smart villas on the
outskirts of the town; coming home not
unfrequently to mend nets or make
creels; and if help in the sick-room were
needed, to take her turn at sitting up
as readily as if it were pleasure instead
OF toll.
Siddy was the best of mothers, after
the rough fashion that thinks love may
be as truly expressed by slap or shake
as caress; but it is doubtful whether
her children were nearer to her heart
than younger brother of Joels, who
occupied her spare bedroom, and had
called her mother ever since she nursed
him through dangerous illness.
That Ned Sims had recovered at all
had been due-so said everybody-to her
untiring care; and now that ne had de-
veloped into a great, broad-chested,
handsome young fellow, half foot taller
than Joel, and endowed with three times
his industry and energy, Siddy was
rather apt to take all the credit to her
self and to be proud of him accordingly.
She very often planned his future as she
sat making his new shirts or mending his
Jacket. He was no drinker, thank
heaven and so his savings were mount
ing up, and he would soon be able to buy
himself share in one of the boats. And
then, he must marry. ''It would be
more 'spectable-like to have wife than
to be sauntering about with first one lass
and then another"
Yet it gave her a smart shock when,
instead of ''keeping company" with some
girl ''to the manner born, " some fisher
mans daughter like herself, she met Ed
ward, flushed with pride and happiness,
by the side of one of the best looking and
best dressed of the chambermaids at the
huge hotel lately erected at the top Of
the cliff.
1t was Sunday morning, and Siddy,
coming out of the tiny fishermen's church
with her baby in her arms, stopped short
and frowned disapproval Yet it would
be hard to say what fault could bC
found with the pretty little creature who
listened to the young fisherman.
"Take my advice" said Siddy the fol
lowing day, land break with her. She's
too fl a lady for you"
"She don't think So" Ned retorted
''She didn't show no airs nor graces, die
she, when she walked home with you
from the church, but praised your cold
pie, and talked to Joel as nice as nice
And didn't you see how the children
took to her2"
''An' KEEP me in fidge TO my fingers
ends that they'd spoil her fine clothes.
she's going TO walk with you, Eddard