Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-08

Ibid You NEVER THINK WEEMEN CAR.
PENrERIN' WAS KINDER CoNTRAIRYIN'
| NArUREY'
| II there had been any bungling In her
| work Tom would have nad the wished-fOr
opportunity. But there was not: the
| heavy instrument obeyed her every mo
! ton; the shavings flew, great coils OF
them, smooth as silk, falling at her feet
Tom hitched about and then asked at a
| venture:
Did you never think that weemen
carpenterin' was kinder contrairyin' ma
turep
"Contrairyin' nature2 AS though ma
ture paid weemen's carpenter bills"
said Scarcity, with a shrewd, downward
look at her bench and litter of shavings,
after which the subject seemed to settle
itself in her mind.
Tom watched her raise the board in her
giant arms and fit 1t intOits place. Then
followed the driving of the nails; and as
each was disposed Of with a single stroke
of the hammer, Tom sighed. twas clear
that no incident or turn Of phrase was
gong to help him. He must breach the
subject boldly and squarely upon its own
merits. This he did by asking:
Don't yOuDever intend to marry?'
"Mep said Scarcity, with dry in-
creduhty.
81 nope you've got nothing agin IT,"
said Tom.
Nothing particular, only | guess its
reckOEed the place of weemen who can
hold their own agin the world to stand by
for them as can't" said Scarcity in her
matter-Ot-lact way, as she stirred her paint
in the pot.
This was not encouraging. and still less
encouraging was it tor Tom to observe
that her thought was chiefly upon the
paint brush, which she directly began to
use with striking effect.
There's men that can't hold their own
agin the world either, Scarcityp he broke
out pathetcally-"my brother 'Lijah, for
instance, who's just come up from AL
bamy with houseful of motherless chill
drenV
Scarcity stopped painting and turned
around, resting her hands upon her sides;
but no emotion varied for au instant her
habitual expression:
That's awk'ard on 'Lijah," was all she
SAID.
Eyes, and to make thinks awk'arder,
the children all took sick with the measles
and the hired girl left~ said Tom, with
still heavier pathos.
This additional intelligence called
forth nothing more than 81 guess 'Lijah
III be KEEP back heap with his plantin',"
and Tom Elkins soon walEe ed away with
dismal consciousness that his errand
had been failure.
Mothers OF Westmoor felt reluctant
| about offering attention to the stricken
family of Elijah Elklns on account OF
endangering the lives of their own little
ones, and when some imaginative neigh
Dor limited that the disease was more
likely to DE yellow fever than measles,
''siHce it had been brought from the
South" the poor wldower was Obliged to
! perform the duties OF housekeeper as we'll
as that OF nurse.
One morning while in the midst of his
i Misunderstood employment he was
aroused by a familiar voice and pres
ence.
"Them clothes want more boilin,,
'Lijah," was the brief explanation of the
visit.
A plain white apron was tied around
The large, rigid waist instead OF the blue
2in2ham one which she had worn when
she gave him his freedom at the fence
| twenty years ago; but In all other re-
| spects Scarcity looked to Elijah exactly
the same as she did then. A host OF re-
collections confused hun, and instead of
Offering his hand me yielded To an over
pOwerlng emotion, and, sinking on chair,
he began toc:Y HE a child.