Sharp County record., 1885-07-30

coming to-day, and Pve run down to
meet him. He'll be at the gate in half
an hour. The traip is due at hVe
o'clock. "
The old woman took the pretty face
between her hands careSsingly'
81 can't think how ye've so soon
GROWN up to have sweetheart, my
bonnie dearie, We that I've nursed on
nv knees and crooned to sleep this
many a time gone, till looked for ye
never to outreach the cradle. Needs
was some on ye should be grown women
in the end; and | didn't say nothing
AGAINST it when twas only Miss Meg
and Miss Caroline; but | did hope to
keen the last born for my ain. Eth! eh!
'Tis the natural way of children. Here's
nv Jem turned man OF sudden, with
a home to keep me in; him as Id held
a lad till it was no that easy to put faith
in his beard even with my two eyes upon
it. He'll be getting him a sweetheart
next, | tell him; but he says nay, he
wants no sweetheart but his mother.
NV Jem's good lad. God bless him!
And so ye are looking for Mr.. Fred, are
We, Miss Annieo And it's for him that
we're so gay in all your brave ribbonS?"
"Of course it's for him" returned
Annie, ioyously. "And am quite fine
enough, say, Nursie, dear? Will he say
he never saw me look as nice before'
"Ay, to be sure; that will he' re-
nlied the old woman, fervently.
'.Though it'll no be the ribbons he Ii
mark. He'll say as my Jem says when
| put on my smart gown Of a Sunday:
It's the face | mind, mother, and
naught besides,' he says. '4e look as
well in the oldest gown ye wears, moth
er, he says"
Il am afraid Jem is an arrant flat
terer," laughed Annie. you've pos
itively grown conceited since you came
to live with him. You had much better
have stayed on with us at the house,
"Nay, there's nothing as could keep
me from my Jem, now, Miss Annie
dear" answered the old woman,
soberly. Hes the only one left me
of all had, and my heart is set on him.
It's little ! can do for him now Pm old,
and my sight is ailing, and I'm no that
quick was on my feet; but it's all in
the way of Nature, he says. Them as
sowS in the spring shall reap in the
fall, and I'm to reap now, whilst he S
to work at the sowing. A deal of trouble
I've had in my day, but no finger S
touch will he let anear me in my old
age he says. Eh, but he's good lad.
May Heaven grant We a son like him,
Miss Annie, when ye've stepped down
out of the spring g-time yerself" "
Eyes, Jem's very good" assented
Annie, carelessly. Father says there
is not place anywhere around so well
kept as he keeps ours Oh! hark! Isn't
that the train?"
She sprang to her feet, throwing
back her head and listening eagerly,
with bated breath, raising an mperious
little hand to silence all other sounds.
1t seemed rs if, at this spoiled darling 5
bidding, the very birds stopped singing,
and the leaves forbore their rustling, all
was suddenly so still. Nurse Edwards
listened too, but less intently, and the
chirping of the cricket beneath the
piazza ledge was the only sound she
caught
"Hey, what noise he makes?'' she
said, admiringly, as Annie turned back
with a gesture of disappointment IF
it, them as is happiest sings loudest,
yon fellow has the best of us all"
"Oh! will it nerer be five o'clock?"
cried Annie, mindful only of her i'm
patience. This day has been hun
dred days long already"
Now don't ye be in haste with
Time, my dear, said the old woman,
reprovingly, "Ye'll not hurry it,
though We fret it never so. We must
just bide the time, my Jem SAYS, and
all thingsll come in turn-frst life,
then growth, then death. Things is
best taken natural as they come The
rose that ye force'll only be sooner done
blowing"
But l can't watt the girl COM
planned, childishly. Il always want
things Immediately, and l want five
o'clock this minute. What time can it
be, Nursie9 Oh! do say its five
o'clOckm
It'll be nigh upon it, sure, by the
slant Of the shadows" the old woman
answered, peering out across the lawn
eye can look at the sun-dial yonder, if
ye will
"Nonsense!' rejoined Annie, con-
temptuously. "As if stupid bit of
wood and rusty shadow kept any
count OF the time the train goes by.
I'll look at the clock inside
Then ye may spare yerself the
trouble. my dearie; for the hands
stopped at five minutes to seven this
morning, exactly as my Jem started out