The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-09

at night-fall l think, If possible, more
lightly than ever. Tor, though Hattie
did not run down to the gate TO meet
him, he saw her looking out OF the
window eagerly, and welcoming as ever;
and held up IN her arms, its golden head
shining was the sweetest oi baby faces,
i miniature Hattie IN beauty Its name
was Susie; for tender hearted Hattie,
who realized, by the mysterious knowl-
edge of motherhood, moro than ever
what it would be TO have such a son as
Walter, and lose him from any cause so,
as a sort OF silent pe2ce-otiering for hay-
.nE stolen her boy, she would insist upon
calling the baby for his mother.
Blessed was this cottage above others
after this little angel Visitant came t0
tarry with them. But one shadow
dimmed the blue sky Ct their content,
and this was a constant sorrow TO both
Walter and Hattie, the alienation Of his
father and mother. Never had Hattie
net either OF them. Walter visited them
occasionally. Hattie would make him
90. He, reSenting their treatment OF her
would not have gone nearly so often, had
t not been for her persuasive eloquence.
They are old, Walter, and have 10
"But they have 10 aeed TO Be 20 uniuss
10 you, my pet
III they are unjust, ve Toust cot be
.rucl; two wrongs never 0ato = right
vet" pleaded tender hearted Hattie.
And, after baby came, she had another,
4 stronger argument "N hat II our
precious should grow up, and become
cstranged from Us, Walter, you must go
and see your father and mother 10
morrow"
This was said upon the evening OF the
day before New-G ears I've. Walter
could not possibly have refused any re-
quest that Hattie COULD ask him; but to
D. - lr OIL I'D to al lrar
he was 10 be sent to G., on business
for the bank; he must start in the morn
ing, and should be gone two days. Hattie
was too sensible Z woman, to make any
objections to her husbands leaving her
on business, although it was the first
time he had lett her so long since their
marriage.
Walter set ont early the next morning.
And upon this very same clear, cold
morning Ncw-Near'S Eve, Walters
father and nrOther-an1 she had been
awake nearly all the previous night,
counting the peri.s and anxietIes OF the
sournry-set out tor Clayton. The old
gentleman had en idea OF getting a
pension; he had been drafted in tho
late war. He knew well what the peril
OF war WAS, lJr he had been IN an en-
gagemcnt; and he well remembered
running every step Of the way home
from the battlefield, when the enemy
appeared. He ran -twenty-iuGr miles,
and reached home perfectly exhausted,
and worn out with the ia;igUcs Of war.
tor this very active service he Was now
thinking Of getting = pension. lie had
been encouraged in the hope by q keen
eyed prusi. II agent IN CLAYTON. but he
must appear before the Justice person
ally. CI course, Mrs. Williams Vas not
goIn- 10 permit her husband 10 - alone
On such = journey, dancer lCom-d I'D
hE.fT hFr T,rre4 ~
her third cousin, who boarded with her
now, having Quarreled with al her first
and second cousins, thought There was
no need OF >uSaD's going. She was
getting old, and there was no need Of IT."
This only whetted the OH lady's de-
termination 10 go. odd, indeed Sno
guessed she WASH I so old now IN actions,
IS some who WSs = little younger II
years
a little younger, indeed ." Jemima
was tender uDOn the subject of age, and
a long and warm discussion enSued. To
tell the truth, ever since JemIma was
dOmeStlcated with cousin Susan She had
.ookcd upon her Walters refusal 10 marry
her with lenIty at first, and of late with
absolute Joy and triumph, 20 think she
was no more nearly related 10 her than
third cousin. They both had the Price
temper that tiared up on small occasions
al guSty anger. And II the daily battles
than their tongues, this story would
probably not be written, IS one or more
OF the actors would have been missing.
II was very warm alteration, Mrs.
Williams taking the ground.
That il would be altogether best for
some people 10 attend TO their own busI-
ness, and let the affairs OF other people
clone, for other people were abundantly
able to conduct their own arlairs'
And Jemima, taking the immovabln
position, that some folks needn't Get
INTO such passion because somebody
was advising them for their gooi."
For their good ~ But II = needles to
rccapltulate their wOrdy warfare. Eut
when Mrs Williams went out to the
carriage, her head was well mp in the air,
and her bonnet strings tioated out deti-
Gutiy on the keen morning air. While
iemIma, rs she made her morning toilet
tied Up her hack hair in so hard and
vIndictive knot that, 10 her after re-
yret she luosened several oi her few
locks OF hair n the roots. -
Old Mrs. Williams did not often leave
home, and she wearied and harassed her
husband with fearful prophecies and
torebOdings- Three times during the
arst few miles, did she make the old
gentleman, who was very lame, dis
mount from the high seat, and examine
the harness. Then she heard the Inch
pin break, and the aNie-tree crack; and
then the springs broke down, enc ify one,
IN her vivid Imagination. and AT last,
when midway a steep hill, the old l.dy
declared the whole carriage bottom was
breaking down, and told him 10 get out
quick and see
The old man rose in his dignity, and
declare3, That he wouldn't get out OF
that buggy again till they got to Clayton,
TO suit any body"
~ !
what fate hal in store for him, although,
perhaps he was not so far wrong, Le did
not get out TO suit anybody"
The village of Clayton lies in 4 most
sheltered little valley, with high hills
standing Ike sentIncls about IL, and il
was IN descending one OF these hills,
about quarter OF a mile from this
village, that Mrs. Williams exclaimed
again, Father do be careful ! declare
II you hain't run over every stone be-
tween here and home, and gone down
INTO every Tut- Why can't you be care
!uI ? And 10 believe one VI the while
trees Is brOke."
NO it hahn {, said her husband, calm
~ The whitiietrees are al right you
ere always imagining things
Wall, do Jest git out, and IOOk,' said
ais wife, lifting her black lace veil, and
peering down over the side OF the car
rage. You know jim never c.rh bear
anything near ms heels. We shall be-
killed Jest as sure as the world"
''NO, We shant mother; l never have
killed You Vet, and you have been ex-
Pectin' OF II Tor fifty years"
wall there hahn no need Of mans
bein' so careless"
Il hain't careless; Won are notional,
mother; wimmen always be-"
when We are both thrOwed out and
killed, guess you won't twit me OF bein'
notionsl."
Il guess not" says the old man, calm
~. Bat patience hath its limits and