Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-30

set.lt IN the wagon; an then shed get up
in the wagon an empty the pail into bar
rel. l couldn't bear to see her work so,
poor thing she want moren twenty-three
or four, an was glad when / see Reuben
helpin' her one day, though she want any,
body you could take fancy TO, as you can
some folks. But after spell, noticed she
didn't come any more, an shiitless. I'M
hkely-lookin' man used to come for water.
Reuben talked to him often, an one day,
after he went away, Reuben says TO me,
Sarah, says he, the young woman that
used to come for waters sick. Can't you go
an see her to-day?'
Now, | didn't want TO go a bit, bat ]
see 'twould displease Reuben if / didn't, so
put on my sun-bonnet and went over.
Their claim was next 10 ours, so / walked
it easy. An such a sight when got there
There was that poor young thing on
miserable bed, white an sick-lookin' as
ever see anybody The little shanty was
bare an dirty, an the crops worsen ours.
put my head in the door, an she opened
her eyes an glared at me. I've come to
see you, / said, not KNOWN what 10 say,
| was 50 taken back.
- Well she snapped out. look at me,
If you want to; | amt no great sight, am
L? Did you ever, in all your life? | was
tempted to snap back, but | remembered
Reuben, and couldn't, 50 | says, | thought
mebbe l could help you You can't, she
says, a little more civil, nobody can; an
such hard, hopeless voice, / hope I'll
never hear again.
My heart ached for her, so / says. Yes,
the Lord can. Well says She mebbe
he can, but he amt done it much since |
come out here Thinks l, you're a regu-
lar heather, if there ever was one. But
then, | concluded = want 2 mite worse for
her to say il right out than twas for me to
think il hundred times, only | was afraid
TO say il on account of Reuben an me q
professor, too. didn't say any more then,
but tell you | did a lot O Ihinkin'. /
went right in an made her a cup o tea,
an fixed things up, an after that l used 10
go every day, though sometimes she
wouldn't speak to me. But Reuben heard
from her husband how glad she was 70
have me come. They sent fifteen miles for
a doctor. an he said twas malaria she'd
brought in her system from Michigan, but
| knew 'twan't anything o the kind twas
home-sickness, an one sight o. her mo
theirs face would done more for her than
pounds o quinine.
Well, in contrast with those poor peo-
pie our lot didn't seem half so hard, an |
began to see how selfish I'd been, shuttin'
myself up an pityin' myself, an thinkin'
o home, when people ike Mis- Peters was
sutlerin for little friendly aid. | didn't
feel very sorry for Mr.. Peters: he was lazy,
| thought. an shiftless, but Reuben talked
10 him good deal, an | see that his place
began to look little more ship-shape, an
better yictuals come into the house, an
sometimes something temptin' for her
but never dreamed Reuben had anything
10 do with II, more'n to advise an encour-
age him. One day when / was gettin ready
TO go to the Peterses Reuben pointed 10
our motto an says, Hadn't you bet
ter take it to the Peterses an let them keep
II a spell?i l knew he wanted it 10 be the
comfort to them that it hadn't been to me
so | took it, but that Mis- Peters wouldn't
have It where she could see il. an so there
1t stood with its face to her wall, instead O.
mine. II put me out, because Reuben
wanted me to take it to her.
Towards fall Mis- Peters began to pick
up consid' rable; she'd had good victuals
an. somebody to do a friendly turn for her.
an the malaria wore of, but still she was
hard an cold an sullen TO everybody. AM
! don't know what to make of it. Well.
come last of August, an I'd been thinkin
a good deal about provin up on our claim,
an gettin' the title 10 it. 'Twould be six
months middle o September that we'd
lived on it an done ali the plowin an
plantin' o trees that the law REQUIRES. bur
Reuben never mentioned anything about
proyin' up. So I suggested It to him one
day, an he says, quiet an tender like
Sarah says he, we'll have to wait an
other year to prove up. Pye-well. I've
had TO help the Peterses; the Lord has
helped rs, you know
An that was where most of our 5000
had gone. | just laid my head on Reu-
u
sorry, either, but | was so proud o. my
noble unselfish husband. and so sorry ia
grleyed him. We had long talk about ii
all then, an Reuben understood it all, an
OF course he forgave me. The next dav
when l went down to the Peterses, Mis-
Peters met me at the door with her ewes
full o tears, an all the hard. hopeless look
gone. oh, Mis- Ross, she says. to think
OF all you an Mr.. Ross have done for US
strangers TO you. You've Just brought US
back TO the Lord, an wen never doubt
him again. He has helped us.
Reuben did it for that, I said He did
It tor his sake, an my own eyes were full
o tears. Is, she says, know 1t now
An there was that motto on the wall
where you'd see it first thing when YOU
come in the door. We let her keep it. for
Reuben an l had il in our hearts, every
word Of ii, SO We didD'l need il before our
eyes We haven't been able TO prove 10
an get our title to the lard Vel, but we
wouldn't missed helpin The Petefses for
the whole claim
met Reuben as left my cheery friend,
and mounted my pony for the bomeward
ride. lie did not look ike Il hero. but l
think that he and his Wife Sarah are writ
ten among heaven nobility.
Come an see me again called Mis-
Ross as rode away, % an if you ever need
any help about your claim, or anything.
let us know. Reuben's a great hand to
help folks
| have told my friends story I have
been trying 10 settle in my own mind
whether her story is most about Reuben.
or Mis- Ross OF the Peterses." bat per-
haps after all, it doesn't matter.-Trbe
Standard