Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-23
LITTLE RUTH.

Istion my own hand reached forth TO grasp:
bit ~ss blind ~ future In thos, days when
" seariy wrecked sn its happines-
Thls was how IL happened. AfsNg Martha
diefi--my wife, ] mean. with whom forty
happy years n my life we're sYsnt--and all
nay children dead or married, excepting
Ruth, there fell af,on ms the heavy fnisfor-
time that has ctaiaed ne % tins chair o. my
bod for ffteen weary years, had bern a
hard ~Drking man all my iifs--a ~heei~rignt
by trade-vith large family TO rear, 10
c!othc, 20 .eei, 10 educate, and, ali mel one
by ono 10 bury In the Old ebGrchyard, TIL
only Ma. y. James and Egth. our baby, were
left ~ mo. Mary married and went with
her husband to the far west. James took
his small fortune o. a few hard earned dob
lars and left u for the golden land Of prom
ise, California, and only little Ruth was left
Thon the angel u death came for
Martha, and only SIX months later | was
stricken helpless with paralysis.
/ am reconciisi now 10 my bard fate, and
can al. bere happily, glad that my eyesighs Ia
st.ii good, my right hand FREQ and that have
lear ssl In my old age To love books, 10 enjoy
reading and even writing, az never did in
the hard working days Of my youth. But In
those first months Of bsipiessness when even
" tl~s and turn ia my nervous torture was
denied nh,, my sufYerings we're simply horri-
bic No agony of pain nor torture OF flesh
or bone could equal the dreadful pressure
upon my strong limbs that held them motion
less, dead, in spite Of my efforts 10 mvve
thsm one little inch have tainted with the
frightfui efforts have male just 10 lift once
thu feet tina, had carried me miles 10 a day
with unwearled ense.
But even In that time OF rebelious muir
muring, Of bitterest repinins, there was some
consolation First. there was the house aud
five acres II land, my very own, free Of debt
or mortgage, and a small sum In the bank,
tho interest " which lifted us above actual
want. Then bal Ruth
She WINS Just - when her mother died and
Others besides her father thought Der face the
fairest one for miles around Shc hal the
biuest eyes. like tho little patches IT summer
sky and hair that was the color u corn silk.
and nestled ia little baby cnrl Ia all over her
head-rebcllous hair that would not lie
straight under any coaxlug, but kiuked up
In tangles that we're full Of sunlight. Her
skin was white as milk, with chccks like
tue heart OF "a blush rose, and her smile
showed tho pretticst rows Of pearly teeth /
ever saw
by coming to me for directions. making me
feel that my head still needed to direct
WORK, though my feet would nevermoro
carry me over tho ioorsiIl Then she fitted
up for me large back room taat over
looked most Of the farm. and had Slas, our
head man, liit me up every morning and put
me In deep cushioned chair by the window,
where ! could SEQ the barn the poultry yard,
the well and the fields of wHying corn and
wheat She ria,le me feel myself Of import
ance by giving mo thus the master eye over
my own little domain, and she brought up
her own msGls 10 eat with ne in the room
where my iutirnity held me prisoner
You must understand whit Ruth was to
me or you will never understand the simple
story have x t my self 10 telling you She
taught mo to Use my right hand without the
loft; and If you want to appreciate the diff
hculty, tie your left arm down for one single
hour md try Bow often it will unconsciously
strain at the cords She brought me books
from the village library and opened to my
oh eyes md brain field Of pleasure never
before explored, | had read my Bible and
the newspaper ali my life, but never even
knew the names Of books, now my greatest
treasures till Ruth thought reading would
be company for me. Little Ruth. even ,he
does not know the world she Ieopled for me
in her loving care for my loneliness
When she was busy about her homework,
her baking, her washing and ironing, she left
all the doors standing open that might still
henr her checry voice as she sang or talked to
me. Then. whe all her work was done, she
would put clean white apron over her black
dress AMI sit clo,c beside me. stitching busily
on the household linen. "hile | read aloud
whatever had most pleased ne in my morn
ing studies,
She devised little dainty dishes to tempt IN.
10 eat she put saucers of flowers on my table.
that might cheat myself into fanrying was
out doors. their perfume crept ont on the
air SHE assured me. pctted me- loved me, till
even my misfortunes seemed blessings draw
ing us near together.
And when She ali the world to me, all
that saved ME from misery John Hayes
asked me to give hlm Ruth FOR his wife
could have struck him dead when ha stood he
fore me, young giant in strength, with his
handsome sunhurnt face glowing with
health. and wanted to take away my one
blessing, my only bone child
Il will be n true sou to you, Mr. Martin"
he sad. earnestly Il will never take Ruth
from here, but let the come and share he, life
and lift some OF the burdens from her
shoulders"
| laughed bitterly knew we'll what such
sharing would be when Ruth bad a husband,
and perhaps children, to take her time and
her love from me. But WAS not harsh
did not turn this sutton from my house and
bid him never speak To Ruth again. much a.
| longrd to do it | worked more cautiously
lot him 20 from me TO Ruth; aud when he
. T,
to tell me. with dropping lids aud moist eyes,
of her new happiness, | worked ut-on her love
and her sense of duty till she believed herself
monster of ungrateful wicke,iness to think OF
leaving me or taking any divided duty uron
her bands
wept, asking her II she could face her
dead mother after desertiug her helpless
father. | pointed out to her the unceasing
round OF wifely duty that would keep her
from my side, and proved to her that the
duties Of child and wife IN ust clash, if under
taken under such circumstances as were pro-
posed
The lowing, tender heirt yielded to me, und
John vas tearfuIly dismissed. Through the
warm autumn months, when the corn ripened
aud was catherel-when our crops were
blessed and the little hank fund was increased
by the price Of the farm produce Ruth grew
very quiet and suhluei She WAS not sad.
having always a cheery word and pleasant
smile for me- but the pretty rose int left her
round cheeks, and no longer heard her
singing at her work. When | resi the best
pages in my books to her, wot Ia see her
eyes fixed dreamily On some far away
thought. her work lying idle, till she woke
with start at my fretful questions,
For grew fretful and trying in those days
| wanted her to give up wornah's dearest
hopes and sweetest affections, and be the same
sunsniny Ruth she wa, before my hand tore
away her love dreams wanted her 10 put
away all the lowing tender ties OF wifehood
and motherhood. and pass her life In devotion
at the armchair OF psralyEed old man. And
when she complied. with gentle, touching sub
mission, then | wanted her to be the bright,
happy girl who hal resigned nothing. and
who could nurse sweet, girlish fancies, with
John for hero. An unreasonable old tyrant,
wasn't II
The winter came in early that year. and
before Christmas everything was frozen up
tight, and the cold was intense. We piled up
coal in the stoves, listed doors AMI window
that is. Ruth did the work. ard | enjoyed the
result, but there came one cold day-ose
Friday-wben 1t seencd no Goals, no listing,
could conquer the cold Children froze on
their way to school that day, and were found.
still ard stark, leaning against the fences
Food frore on the tables. Ask any one in Name
ii they remenber that black Friday. and see
il some :notherS eyes will not fill as they
think Of the little scarlet hooded figures
brought to their doors, white ans rigid that
had lifted r,iSv round cheeks for a kiss only