Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-01-27

| gathered over Il ii years 81 toil. poorly
paid. The longing Of the shy brown
eyes haunted him.
'..I s'poss it IS like telling the birds
| not to sing to shut her up hero, . he
thought. But to give her piano!
How in the world"
Then sudden thought almost took
| away his breath. He got up from his
chair, and kissing Essie, went to the
door to think it over. The young wild
ow, warned that it was nearly tea-time
by the clock, sped to the kitchen, and
did not know when her father-in-law
! put on his overcoat and hat and went
down to the village.
He came back with some great pro-
ject in every line of his rugged, sun
brown face.
Tea was q success. The toast was
delicately Drowned. and the ham done
to turn. When the meal was over
the old man said:
'.Essie, do you remember the cross
you told me your father gave you for
birthday gift?'
my diamond cross!''
''You would not like to part with it?
Perhaps it is your only reminder of
your father?''
mo. l have many other of his gifts.
Nothing so valuable as that. The gen.
tleman who took charge OF my fathers
affairs told me I could keep all his
gifts to me-"
"You-you-would not like to give
the cross to sell, Essie? Our money is
| getting very short"
| A kiss, tender and quick, stopped
the words that came so hesitatingly.
"You are gladly welcome to it, ia
Their! wonder l did not think of it be
FORE"
So the dainty bauble lay in the far
mers horny palm. and while Essie
cleared the tea-table John Trowbridge
went once more to the village.
| DIR. Reynolds, the only physician
there, Harry's fast friend for years,
was in his Office when the farmer en-
tered.
There it is!'' said the visitor tri-
umphantly. You are sure it is worth
the money!
Perfectly sure. And Mrs. Trow-
bridge wishes me to invest the sum
I obtain in a piano?"
''Bless you, no! that's my part of it.
You see, the poor little soul tries to do her
best, but she amt fit for her hard life.
If there was any other home for her
Id send her away, though I'D rather
miss the sunlight. She's as dainty as
butterfly, and yet she has no fine lady
ways either. But she bankers for a
piano, and she shall have one, Earnest, .
and the old man eyes filled, cher own
father gave her that gimcrack, and I've
seen her kiss it often, but when asked
her to give it to me, because needed
money, she put it in my hand with a
kiss, and told mel was gladly welcome.
She's good girl, if she amt much OF
hand at work
"She is not very strong" and Ernest
Reynolds stifed sigh as he spoke.
Then, with quick change of voice, he
added: II am going to the city to-
morrow. ! will sell the cross and buy
the piano."
But when the farmer was gone
Ernest Reynolds took strange LIBERTIES
> with the jewel he held in charge. Hi
slipped'a ribbon through its ring and
hung it over his own heart. More
than once he touched his lips to the
hard, glitter;ng stones. whispering:
; ''Essie, little Essie!''
> The next day he had it valued by .
jeweler, and bought piano with tn
sum named; but the cross rested still
upon his heart as the bill of the sweet
toned instrument was paid.
I 1t would be vain task to describe
ESTES pleasure when the piano wa
brought to the sitting-room. She criet
and smiled at the same time, and he
: earnest thanks brought moisture to tn
/ old farmers eyes.
4 He knew nothing of the wonderful
power prisoned in the slender fingers
= Scared with rough work. He had NJ
3 true appreciation of the genius of tina
r tender young soul. But he did know
: that Essie could sway him as she wille'
f by the sounds she drew from the won
J, drous keys; could bring tears to hi
8 eyes or smiles to his lips; could lift hin
q to alteration by her stirring hymns, o
carry his heart to the foot of the eros
by the pleading power of her voice il
= prayerful song.
}. She knew soon and we'll that her dc
2 sire was no pain to the kind, old man
: but that, while it was rest and joy t.
+ her, it was comfort to him.
+ Rut the pressure of poverty was com
ing closer and closer upon the farm
|, Acre after acre was sold to meet actua
9 daily needs. and the wolf drew YER
r close to the door of John Trow
?. BRIDGES house. With stern pride b
:, hid bis wants from his neighbors, bu
s Essie knew of privations and sell
r denials that wrung Ecr own tende
g heart.
Like burst of sunlight there came
q her two offers. One to be organist 8
e the village church, one to take elias
:, of music scholars in the seminary, tv
IS miles from the village. Twice q wee
a carriage would be sent for her, an
a, the salaries were more than double th
,r income from the farm. Neither job
. Trowbridge nor Essie knew that D.
Reynolds. by quiet, unsupported intl'
I ence had brought about this happ
,r result. No one knew that he had drive
the principal of the seminary over on a
- evening when Essie was pouring o,
her whole soul in music, and held hi1
" spell-bound for two hours on the farm
ie house porch.
rs But they did know that a strong
armed Irish girl could be paid to q
" the work of the house out of Essie's il
come, and that trustworthy man vs.
~ found to take the teamwork on share
D. John Trowbridge began to reali7
re- that there were women of some val,
in in the world who possessed but a sms
" share of bone and muscle for actu
O. hard work. For scholars came all Il
i'd way from l., the market tow