Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-04-18

| knock together little wood fer the cook
stove an fireplace, an I'll ies' stop as 1 g,
long an dig yer some sassyfras Sassyfra
is most beautiful colorin'. Nighabout a
good, low, as fady calico"
Ethefs delight was unbounded as Towsle,
unfolded this ingenious plan, and she raj
hastily off to rehearse the good news to thu
| lazy tabby cat that, no doubt would hav,
preferred chickens to the most cunningly.
| colOred eggs that were ever seen
| Thus deserted Towsley strolled out int
the garden and wandered around the ia
miliar enclosure. 1t was the CONNIE nee
ment of the gardening season, albeit the
days We're yet raw and chilly-sone of then
and TOwsley could scarcely raise the ring
| ing tune with which he was accustomed tC
cheer himself.
| Even a sparrow can not fall to the eartl
thout His notice" he whispered as he hob,
| bled tremblingly about. An air you not
OF more value than many sparrows? Oh
ye of little faith!'
Then the song rose clear and full, with
only the vibrations incident to failing
voice:
T.s not war of flesh an blood:
1 fight fer Heaven I fight fer God:
kingdom, with my rights in;
On, that's the war fer me-"
The next day he visited the wood lot, and
on his return bound the sassafras roots up
with his load of sticks.
'''Twas a good idee." he cried, cheerfully,
as he deposited the burden in the back
yard. THE sassyfras III do the colorin' an
also make the tea I've been wishin' fer tea
the whole winter, an never onct thought O.
that sassyfras!"
Twas the Easter eggs. gran'pa Ethel
explained, solemnly. 1T must "a been"
Il dono but you're right. 1 dono but
you're right" he assented, rather struck
with the idea ''All things work fer good
to them that love Him. Yes; I dono but you
air. Wen believe so anyhow"
He hustled about quite brisklv after that
preparing their simple meal; while the tea
pot sang merrily, as the fragrant steam
arose like incense from it.
I've got two eggs, now. gran'pa," said
Ethel, proudly. as she sat at his side while
he helped her from the dishes
What air you lowin' to do with emf" he
questioned You can't eat all O. emf
I'm a-goin' to roll 'em down the hill,
gran'pa, an fight 'em with Sissy Tanner.
An I'll give you one, gran'pa; an I'll save
two forever an ever. Sissy's got four eggs,
now. But don't keer. Specks eggs is the
best an purtiest."
$50 they be. So they be!' Tows1ey
agreed Il hope you'll allus be as we'll sat
Ii
allus the best o. their kind in the worr It's
human natur to think So an it's right"
In spite of his cheerfulness Tom Towsley
knew that their stock of provisions was
dreadfully low. He had made an inventory
that morning before starting to the wood
lot Ten days fare, of the very scantiest
kind, was all that he could reckon up,
scrape as he might at the echoing flour
barrel and the almost empty meat-keg.
The next morning. with this knowledge
impressed firmly on his mind, he began q
search for work.
TWAS not successful; but he continued
It, regardless of his aches and pains and
failing strength.
The only one of the family (if the ex-
preston may be aIlowed) that seemed pros
pering in business way was Speck. Day
after day her transparent cackle resounded
from the little chicken house. where, in an
old straw-tilled key she had chosen her
nest.
At the first note Ethel would bound
through the doorway, and white, chubby
hand would quickly extract the treasure
from its resting place. Speck always eyed the
performance askance; but she evidently re-
garded this spoliation of her nest as the in
evitable fate of the egg-laying sisterhood
At any rate, she never changed it's location,
or failed on any day to add an egg to Ethers
pearly hoard
The afternoon before Easter Tom Tows-
lev returned earlier than usual from his
unsuccessful quest He could scarcely mus
ter the cheerfulness and bravery necessary
to enable him to raise the song with which
he always heralGed his coming. For more
than year he had not once failed in this
Nor did he fail now; though there was
quaver in the words not wholly due to age.
IoI 1Iry
tasted While placing before Ethel the last
scanty remnants OF food, he had kept from
her the knowledge of his abstention by the
harmless fiction that headache had de-
prived him of an appetite. That noon
Ethel had devoured her restricted allow
ance and hungrily called for more. Alas!
there was no more.
Weak from ili-health and lack of food,
Towsley had made another vain endeayor
to find work. Now he was returning to
hungry grandchild and an empty cup
board. And tomorrow would be Easter;
that day when the whole earth should be
filed with cheer and giadness!
He fairly reeIed as he passed into the
yard; but when Ethel came running to
meet him. he Strengthened up with a great
effort and carried her in his accustomed
manner
He dreaded the announcement which he
knew would come.
Gran pa, Speck's laid another egg! an
now I've got a dozen fer to-morrer. A
whole, big dozen,''
pose one o 'eIn wouldn't do fer We,
would IT, he asked, trying to speak quite
cheerfully.
She looked up in alright.
why, you amt a-goin' to sell EN- CRAM
pa?"
Wen, L low 1 dono what fc,c do, It's
Jes' as you say, thc1gh, Ethel Fact is I
can't git any work, hows'ever much 7 try.
an we eat up the las bit O. whites at noon
dozen a1gs amt much; but they'd git a
dust o meal an a bit o. bacon-'nouph
mebbe to last day er two"
His chin guivered as he made the pitiful
confession and big tear rolled down each
furrowed cheek
Ethel was only q child and could not