Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-12-22
WITH FACE GLORIFIED.

A spring rain was falling gently, con-
tinuously, on Mrs. Trues garden. The
lately transplanted geraniums and petunias
lifted their heads gratefully to the warm
shower, and the fuchsias and sweet alys-'
sum frightened under it's influence.
If their mistress could have seen them
she, too, would have rejoiced, for the
flowers were her children, petted darlings,
for whom no care could be too great no
attention too painstaking. She had housed
them in winter, set them out in summer,
guarded, hung over them year after year.
Involuntary one looked for her mild
face at the window, smiling out upon
Them but she was not to be seen. For the
second time only in her life Mrs. True lay
in her chamber, too ill TO heed the patter-
ing rain, Or to think Of the plants growing
SO fast in the sweet, moist air. even
though, through the open window of her
room, both sounds and scents entered
freely, the peaceful sounds and healthflT
scents of the country.
1t was very still in the room where she
lay; very still and orderly. The old
furniture was polished and speckless; the
linen as white as snow; against the pill
lows, which hal been part of her bridal
outfit, rested the gray head, still neatly
cared for, and the face, with its pallor,
still wore look OF kindly patience.
At her side sat her husband, good
Deacon True, with bowed head and sad
eyes; and in his work ardened hand he
held her feeble one.
Presently footstep sounded on the
muddy sidewalk outside. Then the gate
latch clicked. Some one walked up the
path and tapped softly on tho house door,
and was as softly admitted.
But tho two, with their faces turned
toward each other, took no notice.
How is SHOP" said the neighbor down
stairs, who had dropped ill.,"
Palm, answered Fidelia Perkins, the
maid-of-all-worh, temporarily engaged for
the emergency.
"How's he?"
Fairly beat out with grievin'. Seem 8
II he La INT no heart for eatin' or drinkin'
OF nothin'. just settin' up there along O.
her and holdin' her hand. l never did see
folks set sech store by each other as they
do"
well, they haven't nobody else to sot
store by. you SEQ, said tho visitor, estab-
fishing herself by the fire and holding out
two substantial feet to the blaze.
mo, that's so, assented Fidelia, taking
out her knitting. Now you just make
yourself comfortable, Mis- Clapp. I'm
heai gnu W SOC oOiAsUOul. ~ uIeauLVl
lonesome here. Jest those two still crit
tiers upstairs, and me and tho cat Gown
stairs, and nothin' on earth TO do. Why,
there amt so much rs o teaspoonful of
dirt to clean up nowhere in the house. |
mover did see sech housekeepin'.
"She was n master hand for cleanin',
said Mrs. Clapp, shaking her head
thoughifully. -and. as say, there warn {
no children to make dirt.
-No, there warn't. but them plants is
about rs bad, to my thinkin, clutterin' un
tho place half the year and havin' to trail
around with n yatorin' Iot and weedin'
and stewin' over EN- tho rest of the time,
She took a sight OF comfort in EN-, though.
-She was real good woman. Mis- Trui
was, sighed Mrs. Clapp. speaking already
In the past tense.
And he's powerful good man.
There amt no better"
Queer such good folks hadn't family.
We'll. they did have one child"
DO telli I never heard Of it before.
Boy or girli"
boy. 1 believe. Law, Mis- True was
most tickled to death about it. She was
as proud as an old hen with one chick, but
ii didn't last long. Twas sent for to nurse
her, and she was q dreadful sick woman,
out Of her head, just raving about that
baby-goin' on about what she was mean
ing TO do for t. She had ID all planned
out for lifetime how she was aeoin' to
rock him to sleep nights. and how, by
sadby. he Was aeoin.. 70 act 10 The table II