The Cecil Whig., 1884-09-06
THE FINAL TEST.


When from her doorstep Sally Burt
looked wn the turnpike way.
No one i'll sight. Why, yes, there is! and
narrowing her eyes,
She see, that Farmer D,bSon's nag is com
ing mp the rise.
Straghtway within the house she Slipped
and from the window spicd
(rhe little window by the sink, that vines
III summer hidc)
The horse turn M and halt, then John iriln-
self get slowly out.
And tie the stcel 80 She should have a Wis
it"r, no dnuh:.
Sally was younger once, but still her cheek
with health was bright;
Plump As Il partridge was her form, her
eyes as dark as night.
Those keen orbs twinkied as she marked
the Sunday coat and hat
| She guessed his errand, and she thought,
81 soon shall settle that
For Dobson'S wife six months before was
laid in church yard ground,
Glad To he through 1T last, poor soul, with
life's unioyous round.
\ feeble woman, o<erworlled, as all her
nrighburs knew,
With little help or cheer from him who
thought her toll i!Is due
| Within that rustic hurial-pacn full many
mound was seen
With glossy myrtle overTnn, or growing
fresh and green;
And somewhere on the narrow marge a
loving hand had set
y rose bush, or among The grass the purp,
ling violet.
But underneath. her ragged heap of bare,
unsightly clay
hours away.
The crimson dawn, the fitting birds. no
longer bade her rise
To work relentless work-till night crrpt
slowly down the skies.
No more the flash of summer eve from out
that quiet grave
To barn yard, pail, and milking stool could
summon forth their slave.
One might have fancied that the breeze
sighed softly As it passed,
The weary creature lying here is finding
rest at last"
And she was missed within her home we
may be sure of that:
Missed at the wtSh-tub and the c!.urn, the
cheese press and the vat;
Missed when the mowers wanted lunch, the
poultry needed care;
At ironing table biscui, board AL day and
everywhere.
And missed within her husbands heart
Well, no; never heard
Among his assets there was aught that
answered 10 that word.
Her patient labor, cheaply paid, twas try
in 10 foregn
''iIired help don't take no interest, and
waste and idle SO"
| That Sh" should lie 50 much al ease through
all the hurrying work
Seemed very strange indeed, almost as if
She wished to shirk
Bar since. twas clear that sh,. had come and
core, alas to stay,
| fhc urNr thing was to Till her place wi; hnut
And much he i'ond"red, morn and ryr, AT
work upon his land,
hat maid o: widow might deserve the
| honor of his hand
This "a1 to" Old, and that too plain, a third
was poor and proud,
fur'h hat children who might hang ON
~ ''''' '''' "','' f,''| ''''''S l'a"HeH' an"
S',"'l S''''''' 60"
| '''''' ''' '"''''''H'' 'he "'"tf H'io
VI '"""'
- 57'"'' '''''A''5 Woman '"a' ana
'" '''' ~ "H' nave ''''"'
VI "''''''' '''' ny ""'N'''S a.
+. -, ,..,
''''''' '''' GUN '"S sun 'h''
| P''S''I ""'"l'ih cay
An" toward 'ie lady "l his c:'"i :" logged
SOW! "h HIS way
' !' '''
"""' e""' ""tA OF more
ilad i"hd'd h'iii' IFS We have seen, III safety
y 'IeF' III "elc'''e sally gave ana set the
"""S 'i''"'
An" chiIltd "i The crops aud roads with
sweet ana gracious "If.
,'bni' "biitS We're lew, ana SLOWLY said, |
n"' All tha time his eyes
Were travelling round til" coy room, then
hohe-made carpet decEr3 the floor with |
roi"rs fresh and gay
Ahd Wl"e, pIump-cnShioned rocking chairs
invited guests to stay;
va 'he clean hearth the ire was bright
bright We're the windows 100
lhe a"dlr"nS and candlesticks all shone as
And much on SallyS comely shape his eye
approving dwelt;
ii@f Wholesome hue and active micn, the
1rlm iHt III her belt.
roo: Mrs. u ts'n's waStcdcheek, bent form,
ana ia"' !" 1r
h"Ae up III IL. " &hh he felt how great
One Spiot there WAS upon the scene, where
sally mother sat,