The Press., 1888-05-03
ker, giyin' him my own fathers vacant place

peslQe tne Old heaHbnstonA
 ''The past fifteen years had not used 'zekel an Annie kindly, an folks said twas pun ishment Rent on Annie an him for their treachery. The poor creatures had no chance to prosper, havin nothin' to commence house keepin' with, an good looks doesn't butter bread or put roof over ones head Their home was a cabin in 8 swamp; Zekel was poor manager. an Annie was sickly, an their children ran wild for lack of proper care an attention. ..... 5.
 'AOns mornin, after Mr. Harker had been with me a fortnight, he came in the kitchen after an hours weedin' in the garden, sayin' 'Penelopyf I've seen 'Zekel, an he's goin to leave the state s., "I kept on toastin' bread, unconcerned out wardly, though inwardly burnin' with the old anger an pain.
 i''He doesn't know jest where he's goin', but says he must go somewhere. 'Zekels re- pentin' bitterly of his mistake. Annie's lost :. ali the ambition she ever had; she hadn't the endurin' qualities which makes women a stay an comfort to their husbans, am 'ZekeEs found that their wrong doin' hasn't brought Aem trust in each other. He couldn't go without my blessin an pardon, which are his. | can't forget that he is my son, Pen elopy.'
 ' Breakfasts ready says I, settin' on the
 
 heedin' the pleadin' look in father Harkers eyes, askin' me to forgive 'Zekel.
 But I hardened my heart an carried my head higher, thanlin' the Lord that 1 warn't such an incapable', whinin' creeter as Annie. Father Harker said no more about 'Zekel, an We spent pleasant Ave years together, an was loath to give him up, when Harritt Har- ker, who had married 8 real forehanded man, came after him to take him to her Ne brasky home. Then adopted pauper boy, who proved to be a real blessin', helpin' an comfortin' me in every way.
 "I lived on in the old house, few people sought. my company, or paid me the atten- tion so dear to tho heart of most wimmen. In lookin' back can see that folks let me = alone because was so stern and unmovable. My one desire was revenge an to humble S'Eekel to the very dust, though often my fa- :ther's words would run in my head, causin' me to tremble lest shut myself out of &eaven If ye forgive not, how can ye ex- pect to be forgivenP Folks called me a Christian because gave to every good cause so literally an never missed goin' to meetin', but knew that my heart wasn't right, an dared not pray the Lords Prayer any further than the words, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors lest bring upon my own head a curse instid of blessin'.
 John, my adopted son, grew up, married an left Pilbury. Again l was alone, an made up my mind I'd alters live so, arguin' with neighbor there was no use tryin' to keep any one with me, an the partin' with lem allerS Saddened me, an the next five years had no company 'cept Bose an the eat, toilin' early an late, layin' up stores of fruit, grain an, goods that didn't need, am takin' summer boarders jest fer company, when one October morning found me not able to leave my bed; completely worn out, an no one to hand me a drink of water, though the neighbors were kind, after they found out my need
 'eDurin' my seventh week of sufPerin' I was lyin' helpless an cryin'; the future seemed so dark to me, when somebody rapped at my door.
 "'Come in says F, thinkin' twas Mis- Whipple with cup of soup, an Zekel, gray an pale, an dressed like tramp, came in.
 ''Straght up to my bedside he walked, hold i'm out his thin, tremblin' hand, sayin' in 8 timid way:
 "'Penelopyr
 "Jest then the strangest feelin' came over me; all the bitter, bad past of me was changed into peace an happiness. Says he: 'Annie's been gone years, my children are all gone, 'cept two, an I've come homeless tramp to ask your pardon fer--fer-but it's no use tryin' to tell jest hoy it came about; in less'n half an hour 'Zekel an me were agin lovers.
 "Mis Whipple was so shocked to find, as she thought, shighway robber or an escaped lunatic settin' by me, holdin' my hand, that she let the bowl of soup fall on the stone hearth, an screamed for Josiah, her husban' who was on hisway to town and had brought her to my gate: Josiah came runnin' in an recognized 'Zekel, an' had a good laugh al Mis- Whipple's mistake.
 'In 8 week was as strong as ever an busy maxim 'Zekel new suit of blue jean, as we meant to be married before Thanksgivin' Folks said that was a silly thing to take hin after he'd tilted me, an that he'd come bacl after a home, but we were too happy to minI Pilbury gossip. >|
 "Our bridal tour was a walk over to thu Harker place. 'Zekel's tears fell fast as w went over the old home. They're all gon' am Eve no chance to tell 'em of my sorrow over misspent life, an now they'll never know said he, am tryin' to comfort him whispered: One day they'll know-when thu mists arc cleared away, an we shall know a we are knoWn.k a,
 II don't think the world holds any happier couple than 'Zekel an me. I've taken him fol better an worse, his weakness with his better qualities, jest because have allus loved him An 'Zekels daughter, a young girl with \ look of Annie about her, is comin' t. brighten up the old place. Please God, shell find in me a tender, lovin' mother ''I can't say, me'm, how 'twould hev ended if 'Zekel had come back rich, an wearin purple an fine linen, carryin' his head higl as most successful men do, am he'd founC
 me strong an well. Wimmen's hearts ar strange vessels, beyond the understandin' o
 the wisest of our sex. only know that m,
 heart is filled 1witha love an content it neve knew before.
 '"Zekel's callin' me, nom, him am me hev been lottin' on takin' the early apples to tn Pilbury market, an here I've spent tn mOrnin' in talk iastid O helpin' gather then spice apples, an I can't hev him workin' il the bri1ins sun without & lunch. 'Zekel's no strong an needs good care, which he shal l hey, if RenelopY Upson Harker knows he
 own mind. "4-EIla Guernsey in the Spring
 field Republican. Whateyer may be said of Wagner's music itmust be said that the title of one of tn composers greatest works possesses pc
 tency of its own. The word "Gotterdame