The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-01-04
J0AB'S RUSE.

Der night. The frozen boughs of the
buttonball-tree ratified in the keen
blast. The ground was tight-fettered
in cruel black frost.
Now and then the sickly moon
struggled through the bars Of cloud,
Illuminating the dreary landscape for
an instant, and then, as if discouraged,
vanished once again into the black,
vaporous masses.
Joab NIillson sat before the fire,
looking into its blazing heart. A
feeble candle burned on the table, but
otherwise the farmhouse kitchen was
quite dark.
There was tall, wooden clock in
one corner, garlanded with the bitter
sweet berries which had not yet lost
their autumn splendor. and monster
Jerusalem cherry tree, studded with
tiny scarlet globes, occupied the win
dow.
And honest Joab had Just laid aside
the last week S paper, with his spectacle
case on top Of it,as his wife came down
stairs.
He looked up.
"Well," said he, show is shey'
"She's dead !" said Mrs. Millson.
"Dear, dear !" said the kind-hearted
old farmer. "Dead, is she? And poor
little Iris--what is to become of her!'
"I think you'd a great deal better
say poor me-" exclaimed Mrs. Millson
founcing into chair. in extreme irri
tation, "with three weeks board un
.paid and not cent left p
"Not a cent, eh?" repeated Mr.. Mill
son.
"She told me deal Just before sht
died." said the farmers wife. "She raj
away from her friends to marry Iris
father, and he died and left her wheI
Iris was a baby. And then her folk!
wouldn't have nothing more to say d
her. And she has supported the chilt
ever since, the best she could"
"Poor thingw repeated Joab who's
heart was as gentle as hismanners
were uncouth. 81 might ha' knowet
from the haggard look in her face tina
she had seen trouble
"Three weeks board, to say nothin!
of the medicines l paid for, and th
doctors bill p said Mrs. Millson
"Folks oughtn't to be sick if they can
pay their way! It's what call down
right swindling!"
Where is Iris? ?" asked Joab.
"Asleep, upstairs"
"Don't she know her mother is dead.
Nor snappishly retorted Mrs. Mil
son. Where was the use OF callin
her? Amt there trouble and conf
sion enough ready
= "Poor dear p said Joab, mechanical
! rubbing his knees-"poor dear 1T
be blow to her"
81 shall see Mr.. Griggett up at tn
asylum, tomorrow" said Mrs. MillsoI
"Of course, the town viii bury Mr.
Brooke"
) "That's most pity, amt it, n
) dear?" said Joab. "She was prou
sririted creeter, that Mrs. Brooke"
Poor folks hain't no business to
proud" said Mrs. Millson.
; "Rebecca," said the farmer insinua
ingly. couldn't We
: mo, we couldn't sharply inte
!. rupted his wife. 1--WE, indeed wit
that thousand dollars you owe to Mu
> son Miner, and the mortgage on Il
u farm eating up our means as fast
:, ever it can. Haven't we done enou:
IS for this woman a'ready?'
If "She paid her board as long as s
could" mildly expostulated Millson.
"Then she'd ought to have left I
p livin' when she couldn't pay her W
IS, no longer" said Mrs. Millson.
Id "Yes, but"
'Tve made up my mind" shori
enunciated Mrs. Millson. "This ht
- house amt free charity. shall s
CD the selectmen tomorrow. and }
zee Griggett into the bargain. / do
m suppose I'll ever get that board mon
.lr hut / don't mean to throw anotl
"a cent after it."
At that moment little, shiveriI
O white-robed figure appeared at
nd door-the figure of child of ten, W
nd auburn gold hair streaming down
,OO back, large blue eyes, and cheeks cri
,rv soned with grief and terror.
mamma p she cried. Il dream
that mamma called me l-and Il
CA won't let me into the room. Oh, \
Millson, is she dead?"