Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-23

let up on either interest or rent. Ipay nv
debts, do, and other folks has got to paw
theirs. Well, here's home at last, and
suppose I'll have to kindle fire again,
though it does seem a shame to waste so
much wood. Here-hullo-here-l''
He slipped on the icy step as he mounted
to the door, threw out his hands in vain
effort to save himself, and tumbled heavily
to the ground to lay stunned for three or
four minutes When he came to he at
tempted to get up, but his head swan and
there was a terrible pain in his side. His
heart chilled at the thought of being so
badly injured that he might have to call a
doctor, and he crept into the house, saying
to himself:
"It's nothing but fall-a common fall
| nothing to hurt me, I'm just a little dizzy,
and this pain is all imaginary
But he could not long deceive himself
His head had struck the frozen ground with
great force, and as he fell his side hit the
corner OF the step, and the collision broke
two Of his ribs. He tried to start fire, but
the pain was so great that he staggered to
the bed and threw himself upon it. gasping
out as he did so:
g Ny stars but really believe I'm hurt
The pain is almost as bad as when the rail
road run over my leg and cut it off, and
made 'em pay ten thousand dollars for it.
Ii any things broken this time can't sue
nobody nor nothing, and likes not the doc
tor bill will be two or three dollars. I'll
lie still awhile and mebbe twill go away"
A quarter of an hour later his mouth was
dry; hot and cold flashes ran over his body.
and old Scarvins began to call for help. He
heard the merry jingle of sleigh-bells and
the laughter of children, but they could not
have heard his voice thirty feet. He had
lived alone in that gloomy old house for
twenty years, and this was the first time he
had raised his voice in pleading to the out
side world. This, also, was the first time
the coming of night had seemed to increase
his loneliness. He realized that he was
badly injured. and that the setting in of a
fever was making him Tightly, and he
screamed out:
''Help! help! helpl I'll give anybody a
shilling who will come and help mel"
'"That's meP' replied hearty voice, and
old Scarvins turned his eyes to the door to
behold queer little old man brushing off
the fresh snoW-hakes and removing his
outer wraps.
Il didn't say a shilling, or if did it was
mistake" groaned Scarvins 81 said I'd
give siXpence, but a siXpence is an awful |
lot of money to poor old man like me-"
We'll have fire. remarked the stran-
ger, without deigning a reply to the old
mans whine
But don't put in over two sticks, and be |
sure one of 'em is small one,n said Scar |
wins {" Half the poverty in this country
comes of burning too much wood.'
The little old man cackled and laughed to |
himself as he worked and in a few minutes
he had the stove red-hot and the chill taken
off the room. Then he went to the shelf |
Or fool md 1inh thn
as he turned his back to the fire and rubbed
his hands in a brisk manner, he chuckled:
"Ah this is better-much better"
Man alive, but what do you mean?"
shouted Scarvins. I" never had that stove
so hot in my life and you'll burn out all
the oil in that lamp afore daylight They
are charging three cents a pint for oil, and
it's hard work to make pint last a week!''
The queer little old man never moved
He chuckled and cackled again, and he
looked at Scarvins SO queerly that the old
man all at once felt alarmed and asked:
"Who be you?''
ooh, just dropped in to have chat
with you"
"But don't know you; never saw you
before. Did you hear me boiler for help?n
81 hear most every thing" chuckled the
stranger, as he folded his arms behind him.
Ugh! how the wind blows outside This |
is going to be a terrible night -terrible on
the poor"
eff you have come to help me-" said the
old man, after long pause, 'hand me a |
drink of water. I seem to be burning up" |
'sWhat nonsense!' ~ exclaimed his visitor. |
'ELast summer, when the widow Sabin's
little boy had fever and was crying for ice,
and the widow asked for piece from your
great store-houses, you refused her with
the statement that nobody had any bust
ness to have fever. Now, take your own
medicine ~
The little old man dropped another stick
of wood into the stove, rubbed his hands
and chuckled, and old Scarvins tried to