, 1885-10-25
THE BIG Z.

Hannah Gnelat leaned upon her broom
aud looked tut from the low kitchen Il or
across the wintry fields and ice gia rl
sircamlet which lay between her hOine
and he village Of Ireenock. with is one
lapering spire and sloping roof and blars
white walls, bare now Of the .rr
yeidure. Sue had done her household
work. polished every article capable Of
polish. and soapcd and sanded all The rest.
AT the hast she had swept clean her door
stone, aud now felt free to 10 what
she chose. to rest or gossip o.
sit down to necdlework. a thing
impossible to her while II spot he
meath her roof vas out Of order. Just
COW she felt ueilher like gossiping nor
sewing her heart was very full. aud she
found II necessary 10 stand still and think
awhile My that shn was not used t. IL
slie would have cried. she was so very
sad. 1t seemed TO her that the happlcst
people were those who lav IN their green
graves in the churchyard. with crossed
hands upon their brsoms, aud were quiet
from all earthly going To anil fro for ever
more
MOI TINT Hannah Gpeldt was tired in
body or weary with the toll Of household
dutt. for she was strong in frame and her
health was perfect as her hands were
willing. 1t was on her humble heart the
burde lay. her spirit that was worn with
earthly travail and care.
II wenty- three years to day | We been
his wife. - she muttered. land I've loved
him well. aud worked hard and faithful
to keep things desent, aud It has come TO
his ut last Things had been better.
says he, ~ he d married Miss Lester. =
Yes, that wa what Farmer Gneldt.
harassed by toll aud debt, had said that
very morning, and II seemed TO Hannah
! Ike the confession Of a long repentance.
forced from her husband s lips at last
Poor mani | wish | could help him. ="
she sighed. lean-Ag on her broom beside
the door - doubt he's right about Miss
Lester. "
With that her eyes fell and rested by
chance on the doorstep.
Il can mend that. anyhow, " she said
"nnd ! have time, for my work is done. >
O she hung the broom up and peeped
INTO her oven and set the kettle on. and
then, hooded and shawled. crossed over
the Ields to where the farm Joined that
OF Simeon Gray.
On one spot were men nj work break
ing up the tones lying about Hannah
Gneldt nodded 10 the old farmer and lie
came To meet her.
Il want "a smooth stone. " she said
"May ! have one.
Il wish you'd take EN- all. - said the
farmer IA lot of rubbish. You see I'm
clearing away what they call the old
graveyard AT last Wife talks % me o
sacrilego aud disturbin' bones. Bless you.
there amt been none for years and years
aud these hard times a man can't let and
20 u waste. | tell wife she don't know
nothin' about it, What do you want to
do Have "A bit around the wellg"
No. | want a step. said Hannah
That great white one Is ust the thing. -
And she pointed 10 II slab hard by.
Ike shall bring II over tonight. " said
the iarmer
No. " said Hannah. ~ | can roll ii along
| wish ! could tell what that was, she
said. some ones age and name. Ali
there were sore hearts when hat was new,
I lop, when l die liver will have writ
lei ever me that / was q good wife. I've
red Lard to re. / ought to know that
biz .eiter-wait Il bit / believe its T."
sic drought the slab TO the door,
turned the inscription downward. washed
she ether side clean and white. and fitted
IL into place
She received little credit for her work
Oliver only muttered
You needn't ave published the faci /
couldn I afford Il porch to the place. "
And ne one noticed the step afterwArl
save Han all when she scrubbed aud
swc tit
A.Htlers were very Lad at the Gneldts
O.iyCr Drooded over the fire in speeches.
sorrow ind grew grayer and balder with
each passing day. hannah kept ruin o
u little by making II home OF the humble
fare by her housewife s skill She might
4. .. -, Iutra Loan rha.rft,I htf fnr tho mann
DRY Of thnt luckless speech.
Vorking in her garden one day. when
the trst spring grass was growing green.
Human heard footsteps. and. lifting her
head, saw two gentlemen beside her. and
arose precipitately. with womanly anX-
iety about her ankles. not strictly coy
cred. perhaps. by her cotton gown The
nearest gentleman. an elderly man. with
br. gilt, dark eyes. addressed her.
Mrs Gneldt. / presume
&" \ cs SIR -
be asked him to walk in and he did
SO The other following. In the little
parlor thew sat down.
You are .t,rs hannah Gneldt. Oliver
Gheldts wife. ~
ics. sir. it Is Northumberland
ne, you look like a lawyer, and fear it
is more trouble for poor Oliver.
ihAAo9aAR RAAAN1AA AAhAaAh nAAh AnN
gentleman. ~reassurc yourself. madam.
Your husband Is not concerned. save
through you, and that. | hope, pleasantly.
Your name was Burns before you were
married."
Yes. sir. Hannah Burns
SO you remember dates welll"
mo sir.
You have. perhaps, a record Of family
events, your W birth. YOU parents
marriage, your grandfather DEATH"
Hannah Gneldt wonderingly replied, 81
have fathers Bible, and they tell me it's
all there. "
allow lar backi"
"To grandfather's birth. l believe
Grandfather Burns. He had one child.
and | am the only one my parents ever
had. Oliver set down sur wedding day
and our two boys birthdays.
And your great grandfather the
record Of Lis death Is therey"
81 don't know; you may see. WHIT.
I'll call my husband.
Going TO the door. Hannah took down
a horn. used for that purpose. and uttered
a call. which brought Oliver Gneldt home
from the field at once
He also felt alarmed. but explanations
Quoted him. Almost as astonished rs his
wife. he brought out the Bible.
The death Of my wifes great grand
father. Zobulon Burns. Is not here. - he
said. The first record is in his hand ]
believe. 1t is the birth Of his eldest
child. -
So it proved, and the lawyer looked
disappointed.
You can not remember the day Of his
deathi" he said u mean the Gate of
tt
al. asua - ~ -. - Ill
Hannah. -and. though rich. left nothing
to grandfather. They had quarreled.
believe. He told old stories OF him. lie
must have been very eccentric. and d
servant or housekeeper had great inlu-
ence over him, she had the property,
Margery-Margery-H
"Margery WILDER. l think. = sNid the
lawyer.
yes, said Hannah, Il remember
now"
II You are quiet people, not likely TO