Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-08-12
A CLOUDED LIFE.

| They were taking down the galiows II
he Jail yard of old Henchley, one gra,
october evening. Nobody knew whether
Ohm Gedney's wife was dead or not. HI
icyer spoke OF her. But he had said, Jus
'eforc they put the black cap on his head
May God raise up friend Tor my little
| tnthf Poor little Ruth! And let hel
| always feel that die innocent"
| The kind-hearted clergyman. goine
home across the fields, thought what q
sad, bad, cruel world this Is, and remem.
| bered, too, the dead mans last words.
Poor little Ruth ] think I'll stop
and speak to her before go home" he
said. "The child knows nothing of what
mas happened to her, but it has happened,
| nevertheless. -
AID with this the good man turned down
certain street. passed certain neglected
cottages. and paused at one near which n
group of slatternly gossips had gathered.
They looked at him as he approached.
He heard from within the house the
voice OF a child, lifted in loud sharp crv
IND then the words, "You tell story r.
Ia the same voice. In minute moro n
little glrt, with her bright hair all about
1er face, rushed out of the door, followed
. y woman, who looked half-angry and
nalf-terrified.
"Slch temperv she said "But no
wonder. What can you expect?"
"Oh, Mr.. Martin. she said papa was
wicked man; bad man" cried the chill.
"Shc Said-I don't know what she did saw
about my papa. Has papa done anything
likc--lko--- Oh know it's q wicked
story"
What have you been saying to this
child, Mrs. Chalmers?" asked the min
ister. ... ..-
"Well, SIR" said Mrs. Chalmers, "she
shows her temper, and thought it was
ny duty to warn her"
Against temper2 Very proper, Mrs.
}halmers,F said the minister. ''Thele is
tothing more dangerous" ...
The woman flushed and was silent.
"Tell them my papa Is good" cried the
,hild. "You said you would see him
very day where he had to go and live.
Tell them. oh, Mr.. Martin when is papa
coming back?"
"My child" said tho minister "your
'ather will not come back, but you Shall
one day go TO him. Not yet, but In Gods
lime. A little while ago was with him."
He looked around on the group.
1--WE were alone. He knelt beside me-
and prayed as a child might. When we
parted this Is what he said:
May God raise up friend for nv
little Ruth! Poor little RUTH
"God has answered his prayer. Mrs.
Chalmers, get the child's hat and such
clothes as she may have. 1 will take her
homo with me, and keep her there"
"She ought to be very thankful Tn
sure, siP. said Mrs. Chalmers, with very
red face; for otherwise, as she has no
Kin, she'd go to the poorhouse; and little
Andy shall bring the clothes TO your house
tfter her. It's not much OF parcel.
though have cut up two whole gowns to
make her aprons, and given her cape of
ny little Sally's to keep her warm"
The ministers good, kind wife welcomed
he child heartily, and under their roo
he grow to be healthy and strong and
pretty; her principles were formed, her
aults corrected. She was at sixteen as
inc and wcll-mannered young girl as
,ould be seen in years journey.
She loved her adopted father and moth
n, and honored them, and she was friend
) and kind to all. But malice and ig- |
!oranee are nevcr to be trusted. Although |
he hest people In Henchley called Ruth |
/ lovely girl, the gossips were alTav'
'pcaking to each other OF the. fact tha'
or father was hung, and taught the |
tory to the younger ones, with the addi- |
'onal precept that such folks children |
iovor came to good-that the minister
you'd be sorry some day, and that Ruth |
iedney would not turn out we'll In the end.
Unconscious of this, good Mrs. Martin |
>fton sent the young girl to the low quarter |
" the town with glasses of Jelly or loaves |
>f nice bread for the poor old women,
= little tea and sugar, and with a charge |
20 road chapter before she came back.
Ruth Gedney accomplished her task,
out sometimes with repugnance. Moro