Daily Honolulu press., 1886-03-17
THE BIG z.

Hannah Gneldt leaned upon her broom
and looked out from the low kitchen door
across the wintry fields and ice-glazed
streamlet which lay between her home
and the village of Greenock, with its one
tapering spire and sloping fOof and blank
white walls, bare now of the summer
verdure She had done her household
work. polished every article capable of
polish and soaped and sanded all the rest.
At the last she had swept clean her door
stone, and now felt free to do what
abe chose to rest or gossip or
sit down to needlework. thing
impossible to her while spot be-
meath her roof was out of order. Just
now she felt neither like gossiping nor
sewing; her heart was very full. and she
found 1t necessary TO stand still and think
awhile Only that she was not used to 1t
she would have cried, she was so very
sad. 1t seemed to her that the happiest
people were those who lay IN their green
graves In the churchyard, with cro ossed
bands upon their bosoms, and were quiet
/. from all earthly going to and 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
burdel lay, her spirit that was worn with
earthly travail and care
twenty three years to day I've been
his wife, {" she muttered. "and I've loved
him we'll, and worked hard and faithful
TO keep things decent and it has come to
this at last. Things had been better,
says he, If he'd married Miss Lester.
Yes, that was what farmer Gneldt
harassed by toll and debt, had said that
very morning. and It seemed to Hannah
like the confession of long repentance,
forced from her husband S lips at last.
Poor mani wish could help him,
she sighed. leaning on her broom beside
the door II doubt he's right about Miss
Lester
With that her eyes fell and rested by
chance on the doorstep.
II can mend that, anyhow" she said
sand have time, for my work is done.
she hung the broom up and peeped
into her oven and set the kettle on, and
then, hooded and shawled, crossed over
the fields to where the farm Joined that
of Simeon Gray
II one spot were men at work break,
ing up the stones lying about Hannah
Gnedt nodded 10 the old farmer and lie
came to meet her.
Il want n smooth stone, she said
May have one
II wish you'd take 'em all, (" said the
farmer, "a lot of rubbish. You see I'm
clearing away what they call the old
graveyard at last Wife talks to me O
sacrilege aud disturbin bones. Bless you
there amt been none for years and years;
and these hard times a man can't let land
go to waste. tell wife she don't know
nothin' about it What do you want to
do. Have bit around the well?"
No, want step" said Hannah.
"That great white one is ust the thing
And she pointed TO a slab hard by
Ike shall bring it over tonight" said
the farmer.
"No. said Hannah, II can roll it along
wish could tell what thsI was" she
said. I" ONE ones age ard name. Ali
there were sore hearts when that was new
hope when die Oliver will have writ,
ten ever me that was good wife. I've
tried hard to he. ought to know that
big leiter-wait a bit; believe it's Z.
She brought the slab TO the door,
turned the inscription downward, washed
the other side clean and white, and fitted
1t into place.
She received little credit for her work.
Oliver only muttered:
You needn't have published the fact
couldn't afford a porch to the place.
And no one noticed the step afterward
u
swept it.
Matters were very bad at the Gneldts
Oliver brooded over the fire in speechless
sorrow and grew grayer and balder with
each passing day. Hannah kept ruin oil
little by making home of the humble
fare by her housewives skill She might
even have been cheerful but for the mem.
ory of that luokless speech.
Working 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 preciptately. with womanly anx.
iety, about her ankles, not strictly GOV
cred, perhaps. by her cotton gown. The
nearest gentleman, an elderly man, with
bright. dark eyes. addressed her.
Mrs Gneldt presume.
Yes sir.
She asked him to walk in and he did
so. the other following In the little
parlor they sat down.
You are Mrs Hannah Gneldt. Oliver
Gneldt's wife
Yes sir, it is about-about- excuse
me. you look like lawyer, and fear it
is more trouble for poor Oliver.
heassure yourself, madam. said the
gentleman "reassufe 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
sDo you remember dates well?n
mo sir. "
You have, perhaps, record of family
events, your own birth. your parents
marriage, your grandfathers death?"
Hannah tneldt wonderingly replied, al
have fathers Bible. and they tell me it's
all there.
@IIow far back2"
To grandfathers birth. | believe
Grandfather Burns He had one child;
and am the only one my parents ever
had. Oliver set down our wedding day
and our two boys birthdays.
And your great grandfather the
record of his death is therey"
II don't know; you may see Wait,
I'll call my husband
Going 10 the door, Hannah took down
horn. used for that purpose. and uttered
q call which brought Oliver Gneldt home
from the field at once
He also felt alarmed, but explanations
quieied him. Almost as astonished as his
wife. he brought out the Bible
"The death of my wifes reat-grand
father, Iebulon 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 hi
death?" he said 81 mean the Date O.
Il. y
ale died long before was horn sait