Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-12-05
AN "INCUM'RANCE."
David's Little Bequest to his Next
Of Kin.

Oh hln.
The slant rays OF the afternoon sun,
low down in tho west, lighted the
windows OF the plain farmhouse,
gilded the worn door-stone and
crowned even the faded little knot OF
hair on Nancy's head, as she stood by
the pump, In her hand was shining
teakettle, to be filled for supper, and
on her lips was Il song which was
somewhat lmpeded in its flow by the
discovery of chickens in the fower-
bed:
"Im a pilgrim, and I'm a.
"Shoo! shoe! shoor
az con tarry, can larry
"Shoo! Get out OF them Chiny-as-
tersr
-" But night
IL do b'lieve I'll have that old
speckle's head cut of i'm tho mornin'.
She's forever in the flowersp"
The last sentence was addressed to
Marcia, who had just entered the gate.
Marcia laughed, whisked her white
apron at the refractory fowls, and
sent them skurrying TO the barn.
Then she turned toward the house,
swinging on her fingers the key that
was her badge of Office us teacher
janitor also-of the schools at the
CROSSROADS.
1t was large key for so small
a building. but it meant great things
TO the young teacher. IL unlocked not
only the dingy school-poom, but the
door OF host of pleasant possibili.
ties and golden dreams as we'll; help
for Uncle Seth, Improvement in the
house, books, AN overwhelming stream
OF comfort Even while she slipped
the clumsy brass ring from her finger
and hung 1t on its appointed nail, she
was mentally rearranging the stiff.
back chairs and weighty mahogany
table Of the best room, to make room
for the piano that might come some
day.
Nancy fingered to gather up the
half-dozen blossoms snapped of by
the feathered invaders, and, when hel
kettle had been placed on the stove
she carefully arranged them in chins
mug on the mantel.
II s'pose faint right to blame ami
mails for their nature, seein' I'll,
nature" she said, not yet recovered
from her indignation; "but it doe.
seem as IL hens might have had al
much as two grains OF sense without
huntin' 'em any. Wen you've sale
eggs, you've said all the good there i,
to 'em. They've precious little gump
ton even in taking care Of their owr
chickens, and not mite of materna
affection.
Fact is there's nothin' human-liks
about poultry, unless it's the way tn,
old rooster calls up his whole broot
whenever Ire finds any thing to eat
cackles and brags about what good
pcrvider he is, an then swallers tn,
heft OF it himself That is goot
deal like some men I've seen. IL tina
back garden fence
Eyes, know. We must have a new
one there this fall" interrupted
Marcia, with the tone of one to whom
all desirable things looked hopeful.
Nancy accepted the chceriness O
voice and promise with sudden
smoothing of her puckcred brows.
"Well, faint no use TO mako mount
aims out OF mole-hills, any way" sh,
said, falling back on the provcrb tina
had smoothed many rough places
Your Uncle Seth he's gone up t,
town to-day"
This last remark had no connection
with either mountains or mole-hills
and was merely intended TO indicat.
that she had buried her grievance, an,
switched her train OF thought to an
other track. Then, while she spreat
the tea-table, her high-pitched voic
once more took up the statement tina
she was pilgrim and a stranger"
A homely picture IL was, that plail
old kitchen with its antiquated furni
ture; but 1t seemed very coy and in
viting one to the man who paused TO
q moment in the doorway, and sur
veyed it with his slow, quiet smile be
fore entering. He felt its pleasantnes
rather than thought IL, however, an,
expressed his rcstful satisfaction onl,
by comparison.
''Town Is such a crowded, nois,
place! j can't see why anyone want
TO live there" His eyes brightene
as they fell on tho erect young figure a
the window. ''IIomc agin. Marshyp
he said as II her coming were dc
lightful surprise, instead OF n daily oC
currence. Flows the school to-dayp
Marcia always had some inciden
from the days experience tucked ava
in her memery for him. Not that b
ever commented much beyond kindl
"Shol You don't say, nowp" IL wa
only the light on his wrinkled, weather
beaten face which revealed his ur
speakable opinion Of that institutio
OF learning at the Cross-Roads. Word
were not Uncle Seth's forte, though h
had once conflded TO Nancy flea
that some Of them town schools Nigh
be tryin' to git our Marshy when the
find how wonderful we'll she's doin'."
But tonight the story OF Bob Tuck
er's latest piece OF mischief was C,
short by sudden thought.
Co. Uncle Seth. did you get IN
paper / wantedP"
Fumbling In his pocket for the d