Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-12-13
Investment.

slopes Of the Fairhaven farm-the
river murmuring softly over its pebblY
bottom, flashed up like sheet of sill
ver-and the purple fields of clover,
nodding ready for the scythe, filled the
warm air with sweet slumbrous scents.
"Fine weather for the hayin'," said
Eliakim Fairhaven. To his material
nature, Gods sunshine and the grand
glitter of earth and sky, were but the
instruments to fill his pockets with sor-
did gain-mere' accessions to "good
crop" Alas is not this world full Of
Eliakim Fairhaven, in one shape or
another?
Miss Comfort Fairhaven set beside
him knitting and watching the cum
bersome frolics of a pair of twin lambs,
deserted by their heartless mother,
whom she was bringing up by hand"
eyes," she said, with mechanical
glance in the direction of the beamy
west. "Who's that a comm up the
path, wonder?"
Zone of the hands, / calculate"
said Eliakim, screwing up his eyss. 81
didn't gree to give 'em their supper
and board into the bargain, a night
afore the bargain begins--and Pm
blessed if there amt little gal along
with him !"
"'Tain't no haydn hand" said Miss
Comfort, rising and going down the
steps to meet slender child of nine
years old, who was leading pale bow
ed-down.man, who walked with diff
Guilty, leaning ona crutch.
Heart alive, child !" said Miss Com,
fort, whose kindly nature involuntarily
sympathized with all who were suffer-
ing or in distress "what ails you and
what do you want here?"
please maam," began the child,
eagerly. eff you could give us a
nights lodging-poor papa is so sick
and tired, and"
"No, can'tl" abruptly broke in Eli,
akin Fairhaven. "This amt no aims
house, nor yet a charity place. If We
can pay your way, we'll and good-if
we can't, the sooner you 60 about your
business the better" .rG b2
"We have no money" timidly be-
gan the child, while the man, as if
stunned and bewildered by the hearts
less fuency of the old farmers speech,
leaned up against the fence, pressing
his hand on his forehead, "but-"
"Then clear out and be done with
it~ said Eliakim, resuming his seat
with logged composure.
Miss Comfort looked appealingly at
her brother.
eff l could just get 'em a bowl of
milk, Eliakim, and"
"Stuff and nonsense" sonorously
calculated the farmer, 81 amt goin'
20 give in to this sort of thing. Once
begin and you'll never leave off, you
soft.headcd womanfolk"
Slowly and YEARLY the two poor
travellers turned and plodded their way
adown the broad, dusty road--the lan>
guild footsteps of the invalid scarce
keeping up with the tripping pace of
the child.
ooh, papa, papa!" sobbed the little
girl, turning her blue, wistful eyes to
the white, worn face, chow cruel peo-
pie arep
He placed his hand upon her curly,
uncovered head.
"Never mind, Essie," he said, with
a mournful, tender pathos in his voice,
"it will soon end. 1t cannot be for
long, as far as | am concerned, poor
child. But for you" he stopped, his
voice husky with emotion.
They had walked what seemed to
little Esther Bell weary way, when
there was rustic among the wild rose
bushes that overhung the stone wall at
their side, and voice called hurriedly
to them to "stop."
ats me" said Miss Comfort Fair
haven, reckless of her grammer. Ella
kim-thats my brother-he's gone
over to the class-meetin' at Squire
Dundas, and come down through
lots to overtake you, l tell you can't
somehow get your fathers face out of