Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-10-15
TIE BIG Z.

NlNt' AZ tNaHNh hNA
and looked out from The low kitchen d or
across the wintry fields and ice glazed
slreamlet which lay between her home
and the village of , rcenock, with It's one
taperiug spire and soping roof and blank
white walls, bare now Of the summer
verdure. S had d ne her household
work, pol shell every article capable OF
polish, and soaped aud sanded all the rest
At the last she had swept clean her door,
stone, and now felt free TO do what
she chose. to rest or gossip or
sit down to needlework, thing
impossible to her while spot be-
meath her roof was out of order. lust
now she felt neither like gossiping nor
sewing. her heart was very full, aud she
found il Necessary 10 sand still aud think
awhile. My that she was not used 10 II
she would have cried she was so very
sad. II seemed 10 her that the happiest
people were those who lay in their green
graves in the churchyard, with crossed
hands upon their bcsoms, and were quiet
from all earthly going To aud fro for ever
more.
Not that Hannah Gneldt was tired in
body or weary with the toll Of household
duty, 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 travaii and care.
"Twenty.Ihree years TO day We been
his wife, she muttered, and I've Loved
him we'll, worked hard and faithful
to keep things de ent, aud ii has come TO
this at last Things had been better,
says he, if he d married Miss Lester.
Yes, that was what iarmer Gneldt
harassed by toll and debt, bad said that
very morning. and il seemed to Hannah
like the confession Of long repentance,
forced from her husband lips at last
Poor mani ] wish could help him, T"
she sighed, leaning on her broom beside
the door Il 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
-and have time, for my work is done.
20 she hung the broom up and pCeped
into her oven and set the Kettle on, and
then, hooded and shawled, crossed over
the teds to where the farm joined that
Of Simeon Gray.
On one spot were men at work break.
ing up the stones lying about. Hannah
Gneldt nodded 10 the old farmer aud lac
came n meet her
81 want smooth stone, " she said.
MAY have one
Il wish you'd take 'em all, said the
farmer "a iot Of rubbish. You see I'm
clearing away what they call the old
graveyard at last Wife talks t. me o.
sscrilege aud disturbin bones. Bless you
there amt been none for years and years.
and these hard times a man can't LET land
20 10 waste tell wife she don't know
nothin about it What do you want TO
do: Have bit around the well!"
No. | want a step" said Hannah.
That great white one is ust the thing. /"
And she pointed TO slab hard by.
ike shall bring II over tonight, said
the farmer
NO." said Hannah, Il can roll il along
! wish ! could tell what that was, she
said. ONE ones age and name. Ali
there were sore heats when that was new.
bops when die liver will have writ
tea yer me that was a good wife I've
tried lard to Ne ought to know that
big letter-wait bit: believe it's Z.
he IN, ught the slab TO the door,
turned the inscription downward. washed
the other side c.ean and white, aud fitted
IL into place
She received little credit for her work
Oliver only muttered:
0u needn have published the fact
couldn afford a porch to the place
And no one noticed the step afierward
save Han all when she scrubbed aud
swept II
Matters were very bad at the Gneldts
Oliver hrooded over the fire In specifies
sorrow and grew grayer aud balder will
each passing day. Hannah kept ruin O |
little by making a home of the humble
fare by her housewives skill She NIGH
even have been cheerful but for the mem
DRY of that luckiess speech.
" OrkiDg in her garden one day, when
the first spring grass was growing green.
Hannah heard footsteps. and, lifting her
head, saw two gentlemen beside her, and
arose precipitately. with womanly anx
iety about her ankles, not strictly Gov
cred, perhaps, by her cotton gown Tn,
nearest gentleman, an elderly man, witt
bright. dark eyes, addressed her.
Mrs GneIdt, presume
Yes sir.
She asked him to walk in and he did
50. the other following. In the little
parlUr they sat down.
You are Mrs Hannah Gneldt. Oliver
Gneldts wife
Yes, sir. il is about-about-e Excuse
me. you look like lawyer, and fear Il
Is more trouble for poor Oliver
teassure yourself, ms1am. said th,
gentleman; ~reassure yourself, madam
Your husband is not concerned. saw,
through YOU, and that, hope, pleasantly
Your name was Burns before you wer,
marriedg"
Yes. sir. Hannah Burns
DO you remember dates wellY"
mo sir
you have, perhaps, a record Of famil,
events, your own birth, your parents
marriage your grandfather dvathYn
Haunah nelut wOnderugly replied, ii
have fathers Lille, and they tell me III
all there.
chow ar back?r
"To grAndfather's birth. believe
! Grandfather Burns He had one child
and am the only one my parents eve
had. oliver set down our wedding da,
aud our Two boys birthdays.
"And your great grandfather-th
record Of his death Is therel"
II don't know; you may see Wait
I'll call nv husband
Going 10 the door, Hannah took dow
horn, used for that purpose. and uttere,
a call. which brought oliver Gneldt HON,
from the field at once
He also felt alarmed, but explanation
quieled him. Almost as astonished us hi
wife, he brought out the Bible
"The death Of my wifels great grand
| l.lh.. nI..Ll.... Hn.rnn |. ...I - % a