Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-07-11
MARRYING A STRANGER.

LII was lllC L lColNlhS, 1-iNSA " ~ WV
to the cabin of one of the poor brethren OF
his conference.
The walls were dilapidated, the floor OF
rough puncheon. The shingles that COW
ere the roof were so curled by the sun that
the rain dripped through them whenever
there was down pour. The hearth to
the wide, open fireplace, was made OF
rough, fiat stones, but here and there a
large crack opened almost wide enough to
take in the foot of the unwary. The poor
structure was unshaded by trees and no
flowers bloomed near its unpromising
walls. :,
"What place for human being to call
home!" he said to himself as he approach
ed the door, which stood slightly ajar.
He knocked, and heard from within a
ouerulous "Come in" He entered, and
saw a pale, thin, elderly woman, with
gray hair and sunken eyes, a forlorn,
wretched-looking creature, in the midst of
the most humble surroundings. She rose
to welcome him, and offered him chair
of rude construction, and dilapidated at
that.
There was something SO desolate in the
old lady's appearance that good Elder
Meigs felt his heart drawn out in pity.
He wanted to offer her some consolation,
but he did not know how to commence.
He spoke of the weather as an unfailing
resource said it was lovely spring day,
and he supposed Brother Howard was
busy in the field
A half-sullen, half inarticulate answer
was given.
"Well, sister, I hope you have sweet
communingS with dear Jesus. You do
not seem to have much to turn you aside
! >srs{ IUifh
dear FRIEND"
Instead of answering, she turned upon
him abruptly and asked, Are. you mar
ried again, Brother Meigs?"
Eyes, sister," he answered, wondering
at her abrupt question.
II thought 1 heard something like it.
Did you marry strange woman?"
"Why, no, sister. | had known and
honored her for many years."
"Well, Pm glad o. that" she said, with
something like interest in her manner.
II tell you, it's an awful thing to marry q
stranger. did that forty years ago, and
as nigh as I can calculate, we haint got
aThat must be sad indeed, Sister How
ard can't quite understand YOU"
Presently the old man appeared, walk
ing with a shamblirg gait. He was thin
and poorly clad, though his clothes were
we'll mended and clean.
"Good-day, Brother Howard; l hope
see you we'll this fine spring day." said
the Elder, rising to greet the man as he
approached. Howard held out an almost
lifeless hand, which he allowed warm.
hearted Brother Meigs to shake, but he
did not seem to find any words to utter
After little time, he went to the water
pail that stood on shelf in the corner
and taking down gourd dipper, sought
for water.
"Why, Phrony, there ain'ta bit o. wa
ter in the pail" he said, in a reproachtu
Tone"
"Well, you didn't bring any," was the
whining reply.
The man took the pail and went off tc
| the spring, some distance from the house
through tall grass still wet with dew
Elder Meigs had drawn his chair near the
door, and now sat looking after him.
"It's good bit of a walk to the spring
Sister Howard" said the Elder.
Eyes, Brother Meigs, and I've brung
hundreds of pailfuls of water from it
But the doctor said mustn't do that any
more, or I'd he bringing it now. Pears
like Howard never thought ont till the
doctor told him that it was my trailing
through the wet grass that give me the
rheumatic this spring, and it come nigh
cripplin' me for life"
''That was very thoughtless of your hus
band" said the Elder.
"Wall, suppose it's what one must eX
pect when you marry stranger,' she said
| in spiritless tone.
"But forty years ought to be long enough
to make you acquainted" said the Elder
"No, Brother Meigs, don't think etar
nifty would be long enough when you're
naturally strangers" she said, looking
keenly into his good natured face.
"But that is dreadful, Sister Howard
How can you live together in the same
room, sit at the same table and sleep in
the sa me bed, and still be strangers %
81 can't tell you how it is, but it has
always been so, from the day he brought
me away from comfortable home and
kind friends and neighbors, and put me
into this miserable cabin and told me this
was my home"
"And you never planted tree nor 8
flower, nor did anything to make it look
cheerful and homelike?" said the Elder
in tone that had in it sound of re-
prOach.