Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-04-11


education of practical farmers daugh-
ter. He seemed to care more about my
being wOmanly than anything else. And
I'm glad of that quality, for l lind that
determination to be self-reliant helps
me over many a rough place IN real lie.
Don't you see, Dimple, what little per-
severance does? | am learning to milk
cutie we'll now, and | only began trying
this spring, because Will was away so
much. | wish he would stay at home
more and work steadier, don't you,
Dimple? 1t seems as though man
must work in Dakota, for there's the
rible cold winters to contend with.
Our threshing ought to be
done, Dimple ,-maybe its bet
ter to leave it until there's snow on
the ground if the steamer comes-but
last year we hadn't any grain to thresh,
and I'm very anxious to see this safe.
Will doesn't worry about it as / do. 0
Dimple This is secret | ought not
to have told it to you [ wouldn't tell
it to human being for all the world,
for it's blaming viii, it's blaming him
in my heart, and nobody shall ever
know that blame him pray God to
help me not to blame him! We will do
all we can ourselves, won't we, Dimple
I've been so very babyish this afternoon
so very weak But we will grow
strong again now, won't we? Supposing
we hadn't Will, at all 0 how much
harder that would be-and how terrible
how terrible God forgive me that
I overlook my great blessing and think
only of my little, little trials See, here
come the tears, Dimple-a whole flood
of them-and they are glad, glad tears
because I see things right again.
An hour after, when Will came home,
the shanty looked bright and CHEEKY,
and the little table spread for a late sup
per. There was a sweet patient quality
in PEARLS smile, too, that Will quite
liked, but did not at all appreciate.
Il thought I should be back by sun
down." he said. Then / fell in with
Lewis, and knew you weren't bit of
coward, SO [ staid and talked with him
long time"
mo, wasn't at all afraid, Will, ;" the
brave little wife replied. And the blithe
words which helped him to enjoy his
evening meal, and to find the hour in
which she was preparing the prairie
hens for breakfast short and pleasant
one, gave token of more courageous
spirit than be knew.
But PEARLS ''seeing things right
again" could not stay the destructive
prairie fire a fortnight later, and their
grain was burned in the stack. 1t
seemed almost a miracle that their
mightiest efforts had availed to save the
shanty, and the little sod barn and
stock. By dint of much persuasion and
many an hours work by his side, Pearl
had succeeded in getting VIII to gather
in the product of their garden. And it
was we'll, for now nearly their whole de-
pendence for subsistence lay in their
abundant store of potatoes and other
vegetables. Fortunately they had rick
of hay which had been secured near the
barn, and could get through the winter
safely, though not comfortably. A little
corn had been packed away on some
boards overhead in the shanty.
This was light affection, however,
compared to the one that followed. The
tiny garments that Pearl had fashioned
with such tender, reverent hands, were
laid ready one November night, and be-
fore morning the little babe for which
she had waited so long lay beside her
dead. Pearl would have it there Her
husband and Mrs. Lewis both wished to
place it on little table across the
shanty, but she had said:
"Put it here by me little while. /
cannot have it any more after tonight.
Let me look upon its little lace and
touch its tiny hands before you take it
from me-"
A little pine box was made-as neatly
made as possible-the tiny form was
prettily robed, few old, old verses,
sweet and comforting, were read from
the Bible. three or four hearts were
bowed in grief and prayer, and then that
frail, broken bud Of humanity was
borne from this Dakota shanty to Goods
Acre" on the Dakota prairies.
Afterwards Mrs. Lewis went home,
night came on, the wailing November
wind rose high, and pitiless rain set
in. But VIII was there Pearl looked
up into the depths of his tender, yearn-
| ing eyes, and saw that at least he held
| her sacred, when there was danger that
she might slip away from him Any
little expression of pain or WEAKNESS
| fitting across her features now appeal
| ed to his sympathy Every want was
anticipated and every wish gratifed, SO
| far as lay in his power. No woman
could have handled her half so tender
| ly, it seemed to Pearl. And this new
revelation of her husbands nature was
| blessed balm to her soul.
80, Will, why don't you love me so
| when [ am well?" she asked, raising
| her feeble arms and folding them about
| his neck.
81 do" he replied with sudden dis
may. Don't you think [ love you
when you are well, Pearl?"
"But you don't look at me like this,
Willard you leave me alone so much, ;"
| she returned.
''Do I? Well, l hadn't thought about
it; but I'll try and be better to you after
this" said he.
cit seems as if losing the baby ought
to draw us nearer to each other; it. s
our first sorrow together" she contin-
ued.
VIII did not reply. But his fine eyes
| filed with tears and he leaned forward
and kissed her tenderly. Something
had rendered his intuition very swift
and unerrlng tonight.
Time went on, however. Pearl was
about the house again; corn-bread had
grown monotonous; the fire in their
small cookstoye needed almost constant
repienishing with hay; Prince, Billy,
Dimple, the two pigs and the chickens
must have regular care; and Will had
become as thoughtless and as careless