The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-20

| stopped minute to speak to Emily
Beers. Aunt Jane wanted me to tel
her suthng about a-weaving of our new
rag carpet. But say, didn't we have {
fine meeting Father Williams is {
right powerful speaker, ha'nt hep And
sech a darling old man, too Didn't
you 80 up and speak to him? Thought
| seen ye.'
Eyes, | did You see, Phebe, |
couldn't stand it no longer l made
up my mind that I'd come out on the
Lords side y
"Oh, Pm SO glad ? and Phebe bent
her rosy face and gave the old woman
hearty Kiss. ''And now,' continued
Ma'am Harvey, as hand in hand they
walked along together, 81 tell you what
it is-we've both got ter pitch in and
work fur my Benjamin ! His souls got
ter be saved, child
81 know it, and a troubled look
came into Phebe's soft dark eyes. She,
too, had an interest in the young man. S
welfare, for they were engaged to be
married, and already the old woman
regarded her as daughter. ''But you
know Ben makes fun when talk, about
religion
81 KNOW know in tone of self
contrition. "Mabbe the faults mine.
P'raps | ha'nt brought him up jest
right. | never was very strict with him
but | tried to teach him to alters tell
the truth and never steal nothing what
belonged to folkses. But he alters was
kinder wild, and though | don't want
ter say nothing 'ginst them that's dead
and gone, still | tell you his pappy
want no great shucks a helping me
bring up the young 'uns as they had
orter be brunged. l had hard road
to travel. But'-here her voice grew
more cheertul-"m abbe seeing me a
member of the church will make Ben
keer more fur sech things
You're going to jine US, them
Phebe asked with pleased air.
eyes, Father Williams said he'd put
my name on the list of them that was
under probation. And l hope III live
SOS to deserve it.
"Of course you will, with a reassur-
ing pat on the brown, wrinkled hand.
81 dunno. It's hard getting out of
a rut. Pm putty old ter change. But
I'll do my best. | wanter be a bright
and shining light fer Ben's sake =
Ma'am Harvey had done many
things ''fer Bens sake 1t was for his
sake that she had made the little cabin
on the mountainside so different from
the abodes of their neighbors. For, if
the truth be told, there were noun
taineers only mile or two away who
lived in utter degradation. Their houses
were barely sheds one pot cooked the
food which was eaten out of the same
vessel with wooden spoons. At night
boards were lifted from the floor, dis
closing holes in the earth beneath filled
with straw, into which the inmates bur
rowed like squirrels. Dirt, vermin-
all that makes poverty SO pitiful-
abounded.
But at the Harneys' cabin every thing
was different There were two COM
Portable, tall-posted bedsteads, piled
high with feather mattresses and home
spun coverlets; woodwork and floor
were secured spotlessly white, and there
was a long dresser displaying goodly
array of blue and-white crockery and
pewter vessels shining like silver. The
brick hearth was brushed a clear red,
the hooks and trammels a shining
black there were two or three rocking
chairs comfortably cushioned there
was generally a scarlet spread on the
table and pot or two of fragrant gera-
NUNS blooming on the window sill.
Even the black tabby cat had plump,
sleek and respectable look. After his
fashion, Ben was proud of his home
and of the old mother who strove to
make it SO tidy and pleasant, though
he dearly loved to tease the latter and
make game of the numerous little wor-
ries she had over him.
He was a handsome young fellow,
this Ben Harney-tall and stalwart,
with ruddy cheeks, dancing blue eyes
and curls as fine and flaxen as a 2-year-
old baby's.
"Seems ter me that you've had con-
siderable concern over me sence that
'ere campmeetmg, he remarked one
morning, as he sat by the fire, oiling
and cleaning his gun, while his mother
baked corn cakes by the glowing Goals.
''It's Where ye going, Benz and How
long we going ter stay, Benz and SO
on! a body'd think l was youngster
in petticoats yet ! and his white teeth
cleaned as he wound up his remaks
with burst Of hearty laughter.
oval, it's cause l love ye,' returned
the mother, half apologetically, and
then she continued, with considerable
tirmness, ''and now sence you've men,
toned it, | may as we'll speak out my
mind. | hee got concern fur We, Ben
First of all fur yer soul want that
saved sure. And Pm praying fur ye
all the time-when Pm spinning and
weaving, cooking the meals and wash
ing the dishes-all the time And
then Pm worried about Jour body,
too. Pm afraid, solemnly, "that yer
hey GOT inter danneronS business Iue