The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-11-07

roots and herbs; and if one should be cured
how very pleasant it would be to think
that it was without costl
"Sure enough, doctor, mebbe YOU never,
would" said the Captain. "And | suppose
the inherent satisfaction you've gof
a-makin' them medicines is as great al
you could "a got out of riches, and with
out the worry and care of riches, too.U
mot to mention the good done to nv
fellow creturs," said the little doctor.
''Jest as you say, the good done to your
fellow -creturs not bein' worth mention
in, " said Cap'n 'Kiah, with a grave sim
plicity that disarmed suspicion, "Tbere
min to the faculties"
Don't give me nothin' more strength
min than riches in mine," said Uncle Pc
ter Henchman, who boosted great wisdom
and experience, based mysteriouslv on the
possession of a wooden leg. give been in
this world up'ards of seventy years, forty
five of it awalkin' on a wooden leg, and |
hain't never seen that poverty was any
thing but a curse"
you've got a terrible mistaken pint of
view, Peter, well-meanin' as you be-" said
Cap'n 'Kiah. There's nothin' in Mater
and, | was a-goin' to say, in grace. but
what you clap your eyes on fust onto the
contr'y side, and then you're sure there
amt nothin' but a contr'y side"
L WISH COulu see SomeUnlng besides
the contr'v side or riches; but hain't
yet" said Miranda, with heavy sigh.
Little DR.. Pingree cast a sidelong look at
her, and then adjusted his cravat and con-
sidered the effect of the blue roses on his
vest Was a vision fitting before his ewes
of the wagon drawn by gayly caparisoned
steeds and bearing in gilt letters on red
ground the legend "Dr Pingree's Pain.
Exterminator, Humanity's Friend .U-of
70
fences and walls above this proud inscrip-
ton: "The Renowned Inventor Ae.
s,1 Pain-I4N 'hiuF,a IN nj
tame, the dream of a Lifetime, might now
be purchased by money. And he had
always admired Miranda.
Miranda caught his glance and, with
the suspicion which wealth bad already
engendered, OWNED his thought. Was
there, going to be another aspinnt for her
hand?
''The winds blowin' up: and what a
roarln' the sea does make" sne said, hur-
rledly, to cover her embarrassment ''The
only thing l don't like aboutthis house is
its bein' so nearthe sea. It'srainin' hard;
and Pm glad If it," she added, in an I'M
dertone, to Mrs. Bemis-"for he won't be
so likely to get round here tonight.
Courtin' is real tryin'."
1.-The ocean is a dretful disconserlate-
soundin' cretur" remarked Uncle Peter,
lugubriously; and when you think of the
droWnded folks she's got a-rollin' round in
her, faint no wonder"
"The ocean'sa useful work o. mater, and
she's fetched and carried and armed a
livin' for a good many more'n she's
swallered up" said Cap'n 'Kiah.
81 expect this world amt vale of tears,
nohow," said Uncle Peter, in an aggrieved
tone. There is folks that knows more'n
the hymn book.o
"Well, it is, and then ag'in it amt, lest
accordin' to the way you look at it, There's
a sight more the matter with folks pint
o. view than there is with the Lords world.
Now, 10, if you've got that cretur o. yourn
into shlp-shape-it always does seem to
me jest like human cretur that's got the
right pint % view, that fiddle does-iest
give it to US lively"
10 tuned up, with modest satisfaction,
and two or three couples stood up to dance.
Little DR.. Pngree was about to solicit
Miranda's hand for the dance, when there
came a knock at the door.
Miranda stuck her knitting needle
through her back hair in an agitated and
expectant manner. But it was not the
lank figure of the book-peddler, her be-
trothed, that darkened the door. 1t was a
torlorn woman, dripping with rain, with
two small boys clinging to her skirts.
come in here out of the rain" she said, ad-
vancing to the fire and seating herself with
sullen and detected aspect.
Little DR.. Pingree, who felt the arrival
TO be very inOppOrtune, nevertheless
gallantly fastened to replenish the fire.
The poor-mistress Hospitality offered TO
remove the VISITORS wet wrappings, but
she shook her head.
81 want to find the relatives of Ephrum
Spencer" she said.
You'll have to go good ways" said
Cap'n 'Kiah.
THE graveyard is chock full of 'em said
Uncle Peter
"They've kind of died out" explained
Cap'n 'Kiah. "They seemed to be the kind
that dies out easy and material"
"His uncle Hiram isn't dead, is he?"
asked the woman, with the strain of
anxiety in her voice.
"He died about a year ago."
"What's become of his money!" asked
the stranger sharply.
"Well. there want much as folks
thought" said Cap'n 'Kiah. "He frittered
away good deal on new tangled mer-
chimes and such things that want of any
account-had a regular mania for IN for a
year or so before he died; and then he give
some money to his bOusekeeper and the man
that worked for him, and what was left he
X
along of quarrelin' about where twas
to be set, and what twas to be
built of, and gittin' legal advice to set
tie the p'ints, | declare if faint most
But, la if there want such
quarrelin' amongst folks, what would be.
come of the lawyers? They'd all be here,
a-settin' us by the ears, | expect"
And there isn't cent for his own neph-
ew's starving children" said the woman
bitterly.
"Ephrum's? o, la, no! The old man
never set by Ephrum, you know; them
two was always contr'y- minded. You
don't say, now, that you're Ephrum's
wife" Cap'n 'Kiah surveyed her with
frank curiosity.
Ppm Ephrum's widow"
"YOu don't say so, now! Well, there's
wus ockerpations than bein' a widow" re-
marked Cap'n 'Kiah, consolingly.
Miranda had drawn the younger boy to
her side. She was chatting his numb hands
and smoothing the damp locks from his
forehead.
"Why, how cold your hands have
grown" the child cried. "They're colder
than mine, And how funny and white
you look"
Miranda had felt, from the moment when
she first saw the forlorn little group, that
Ephraim was dead, and yet the sure
knowledge came as a shock. But this
child was looking at her with Ephraim's
eyes: they warned her heart.
"She knew me, If none of the rest of Won
did," said the widow, Indicating Miranda
by a nod of her head. "And KNEW her,
too, just as soon as 1 set eyes ON her.
Well, you need't hold any grudge against
me, Miranda Daggett. calculate you cot
the best of the bargain EDhrum hadn't