The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-04-02

DO You see the lady on the othor side
If the fireplace, with soft brown hair
| and mild blue eyes, whose fair COM
plexion and unwripkled brow doff ten
years from her age, and whose quiet
voice and gentle manners tell truly of a
shy, retired nature? That's my wife.
All amt proud of her, and don't /
love her? Haven't an insane desire
to run to the roof and shout out for the
benefit of the world at large that Mary
Sherman NEE Lee is my wife? You
would never suspect her of being a
heroine, but Ill tell you the story and
then Judge.
Thirty years ago when my hair was
brown and my limbs young and active,
was sent by the firm to whose service
had been devoted by my father to col
lect bills in some of the New England
villages. / was new to the country,
but had full directions given me, and
started off on o two months trip to
make the Yankees pay for the calicos,
silks and notions they had purchased
Of "Law, Stone q Co."
] had Jared pretty we'll on my errand,
and was putting up at the Bellhower
inn, when one of our customers invited
me to come to q gathering of young
folks at his house, and accepted.
There met Mary Lee, and lost my
heart instantly. / was returning home
when / met with the accident that
colored my whole future life, gave me
its greatest Joy, its heaviest sorrow.
Crossing meadow in the darkness I
set my foot upon plank which tilted,
II G.
seriousness long before 1 reached the
end of my subterranean descent. How
long lay insensible cannot tell, but
woke in bitter agony, feeling that i
was fearfully injured. / called and
groaned, but the darkness above me
was unbroken by any friendly CLEAN of
light, and the heavy silence cheered by
no succoring voice. Day dawned, find
ing me still sensible, suffering, and
alone. As the streaks of light broke
above me saw that had fallen down
long-dried well, half filed with rub
bish and covered with loose boards at
the top. One of these had given away
under the pressure of my feet. The
well, learned later, was on Farmer
Lees farm, and was being gradually
filed up with any dirt that would have
been otherwise carried away. The
customary stOne-work around the
mouth had been long ago removed for
the conveniences of backing up the
carts. How, in the dark, had strayed
from the road on the large, open field,
can only be explained by my ignorance
of the localities and my castle-building
inspired by the sweet face of Mary Lee.
Morning dawned, and 1 was lying
almost frantic In my agony, when
heard young, fresh voice singing
above me. called loudly, Help
belp"
"Where?" The singing ceased, and
| the question came in startled tone.
"Here! 1 have fallen down well. y
The boards above me were pushed
aside and the daylight, further advanc-
ed than 1 had perceived in my darken-
ed position, poured. In.
Down here Oh, you must be fear
fully hurt George! John! Come
quick!"
Hurrying feet came above me.
"Some one go down." said the first
voice again. Have you a roper"
"Ay the old rope is here; but it amt
over and above strong! 1t won't bear
a man."
"Ill trust it! He has fainted.'
For [ was too much excited to answer
any of the questions they shouted al
me. The reaction of promised RELIEF
was too great after such a night as
had passed. Before 1 realized the
purport of the last sentence, knew by
the darkening of the open mouth that
some one was descending. 1 felt the
dress of the brave woman, then 9
slender girl, touch my cheek; heard
her plying tones; L knew she raised
my head as she stood in the twilight
beside me, but could not speak. 9th
ers had hurried to the farm, and one
| for a surgeon. Wine was lowered, anC
she knelt beside me to revive me by it.
Three long hours, they told me later
passed before the arrangements were
completed to haul me up, and she never
left my side. She bathed my face will
the water they lowered; she gave me
wine; she spoke words of cheer and
comfort; she aided me when the bas
ket was at last lowered in rising from
my painful posture and almost lifted
me into the vehicle after reaching the
upper air. And when the long faintinp
fit which followed my arrival above
was succeeded by days of delirium, she
was my faithful nurse How / loved
her can not be told. When the truth
became known that my left side, arm
and leg were crippled and useless for
ever, then 1 tried to smother my love and
learned hers. Mary Lee, the pet of the
village, the idol at home, the center o.
many loving hearts, left all to follow
her crippled husband to his city home
If by my exercise of talents God gave
me have made my brain work for my
hands-if my right hand has earned q
home of more luxury than competence
If by the love of lifetime / have
endeavored to make her happy, did she
not earn all this, and more, aye, more
than can ever give her?
/