Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-20

muir which the deacon drowned. 1Ou
can speak fo- her all you want to, Mrs.
Carey,h said be. I'VE amt got any OBJ
sections to hearin' it. An we didn't
know bot what she was home. Do you
know what she does with these birds and
thingsf"
Does with 'emf Well, I'll tell you
what she does with 'em. She picks 'em
up in the woods when they're starvin' an
frsezin' an half dead, an she brings 'em
in here, an takes care of 'em an feeds
'em till they git well, an then she lets EN-
go again. That's what she does You
see that rabbit there? Well, he's been il
trap. Somebody wanted to kill the
poor little cretur. You see that robin !?
Somebody fired gun at him an broke
his wing.
That's What she does. dunno but it
mounts to jest about as much as senGin'
money 70 missionaries. / dunno but
what bein' a missionary TO robins and
starvin' chippies an little deaf an dumb
children ia jest as good as some other
KINGS, an that's what she is.
II amt afeared to speak; I'm goin' to
tell the whole story. | dunno what folks
mean talkin' about her the way they do.
There, she took that little dumbie ont of
the poor hou3s. Nobody else wanted
him. He don't look as if be was abused
very bad, fairs l can SEQ. She keep6 him
Jest as nice an neat as che can, an he an
the birds has enough to eat, if she don't
herself.
II guess l know bout it. Here she is
gOin without a new calikes dress, SOS to
sit somsthin' for them birds that can't
git at the trees, cause there's so much
ice Oh 'em.
'You can't tell me nothin'. When
Jonas has one of his tantrums she can
giS him out of it quicker'n anybody l
ever see. She amt goin' to be talked
about, an spied upon, il can help it.
They tell about her bein' love. cracked.
Hin, dunno what riley call love -cracked.
know that Anderson fellar vent off an
married another girl, when Jenny Jest as
much expected TO have him az could be.
He ought to have been strung up. But /
Know one thing ii she did git kind of
twisted out of the regular road of iovin'
she's in another one, that's full OF little
dumbies an starvin' chippies an lame
rabbits, an she amt love cracked no
more'n other folks"
Mrs Carey carried away by affection,
and indignation, almost spoke in poetry.
Her small face gloved pink, her blue eyes
were full OF fire, she waved her arms IN
der her shawl. The little meek old woman
ives verjtabls enthusiast.
The two men looked az each other. The
deacOn's handsome face vas RS severe and
grave as ever, but he waited for the mini
ster TO speak. When the minister did
speak &c was spologeticaly. He was a
gentle old man, and the deacon was his
in matters of parish dlci
pliue. II he failed him he betrayed bow
feeble and kindly pipe WIS his own. H
told Mrs. Carey that he did not doubt
everything was as il should Be; he apollo
gized for thor presence; he praised
Christmas Jenny. Then be and the
deacon retreated. They we're thankful TO
leave that small yociferous old woman,
who seemed TO be pulling herself up by
her enthusiasm until she reached ths air
over their heads, and became SO abnor-
NAL that she was frightful. Indeed,
Q everything out of the broad common
track was q horror to these men and TO
many of taeir village fellOw5. Strange
shadows that their eyes could not pierce
lay upon such and they we're suspicious.
The popular sentiment against Jenpy
Wroyne was originally the outcome of
this characteristic, which was a remnant
OF tho old New England witchcraft super
stition. More than anything else, JennY's
her possible uncanny devia-
ton from tho ordinary ways OF life, bad
brought this INQUIRY upon her. In actual
although not even in self
ackuOwlndge is was witch hunt
that vent up the mountain road that
December afternoon.
They hardly spoke on the way. Once
the minister turned 10 the deacon. 81
rather thinF there is no ocoasi On for in.
reference" he said, hesitstingly.
II guess there Amt any need of it," ad-
sWered the deacon.
The deacon spoke again when they
had nearly reached his own house. i,
guess III send her up a little somethin,
Christmas" said he, Deacon Little was a
rich man.
Maybe 1t would be good idea," re
turned the minister. am see what l can
do"
Christmas was one week from that day.
On Christmas morning old Jonas Carey
and his wife, dressed IN their best clothes,
started MP the mountain road to Jenny
Wrayne's. Ola Jonas wore his great coat
and mad his wife's cashmere scarf wound
twice around his neck. Mrs. Carey wore
her long shawl aud her best bonnet.
They walked along quite easily. The ice
was sli gone now; there had been light
fall of snow the day before, but it was
not shoe deep. The snow was covered
with the little tracks of JeDny's friends,
the birds and tho tield-mice and the
rabbits, In pretty zig-zsg lines.
E.Jonas Carey ard his wife walked along
comfortably until they reached the cart
path, then the OLD mans shoe.striug be
came loose, and ne tri1ped over i. He
stopped Gnd ted it laborously; then ue
went on. Pretty soon he stopped Egain,
His wife looked back. Whats the mat-
terri said she.
'"Shoe string united" replied old Jonas
in a half inRrJieuiat- grun5
DON'T You want me 10 SIC II, Jonas?'
jonas said nothing more; he tied
viciously.
They we're in sight Of Jenny house
VIXEN ne stopped again, ana sal down on
he ssoue wall beside the path. "Oh,
Jonas, what Is the matter?'