Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-14
LITTLE RUTH.

Ruth, there fell upon me the heavy rnisfor-
tune that has chained me TO this chair or my
bed for fifteen weary years. had been a
hard working man all my life-a wheelwright
by trade-with large family TO rear, TO
clothe, To feed 10 educate and, ah mel one
by one 10 bury In the old ehurchyard, tall
only May, James and Ruth. our baby, were
left to me- Mary married and went with
her husband to the far west. James took
bis small fortune Oh a few hard earned dol
lars and left Us for the golden land OF prom
Use. California, and only little Ruth was left
u.s. Then the angel Of death came for
Martha, and only six months later l was
stricken helpless with paralysis.
am reconciled now To my hard fate, and
can sit oere happily, glad that my eyesight Is
still good, my right hand free and that have
Iearsed in my old age To love books. to enjoy
reading and even writing, as never did in
the hard working days of my youth. But in
thoss first months VI helplessness, when even
to toss and turn in my nervous torture was
denied me-, my sufferings we're simply horri-
BILE. 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 move
them one little inch. have tainted with the
frightful efforts l have made Just to lift once
the feet that had carried me miles in a day
with unwearied ease
But even in that time Of rebellious muir
muring, Of bitterest repining. there was some
consolation. First, there was the house and
five acres Of land, my very own. free OF debt
or mortgage, and q small sum in the bank,
the interest Of which lifted Us above actual
want Then had Ruth.
She was just 20 when her mother died and
others besides her father thought her face the
fairest one for miles around She had the
buest eyes, like the little patches Of summer
sky. and hair that was the color u corn silk,
and nestled in little baby cur Is all over her
head-rebelious hair that would not lie
straight under any coaxing, bu, kinked up
| In tanges that were full Of sunlight Her
skin was white milk, with cheeks like
the heart Of u blush rose, and her smilc
showed the prettiest rows of pearly teeth !
| ever saw.
She coaxed me from my wicked repinings
| by coming to me for directions, making me
| feel that my head was still needed to direct
work, though my feet would nevcrmore
| carry me over tho doorsill Then she fitted
| up for me q large back room that over
looked most OF the farm, and had Sias, our
head man. lift me up every morning and put
me in deep cushioned chair by the window,
where | could see the barn the poultry yard,
the well and the fields OF waving corn and
wheat. She made me feel myself OF import
ance by giving me thus the master eye over
my own little domain, and she brought up
her own meals to eat with me in the room
where my intirmity held me a prisoner
| You must understand what Ruth was to
me or you viii never understand the simple
story have set myself to telling you. She
taught me to my right hand without the
left; and If you want TO appreciate the diff
fculty, tic your left arm down for one single
hour and try BOW often it will unconsciously
strain at the cords. She brought me books
from the village library and opened to my
old eyes and brain a 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 she
does not know the world she peoped 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
hear her CHEEKY voice as she sang or talked to
| HE. Then, wne', all her work was done, she
would put clean white apron over her black
| dress and sit closc beside me. stitching busily
on the household linen, vale l read aloud
whatever had most pleased ule in my morn
| ing studies
| She dc used little dainty dishes to tempt me
| to eat, she put saucers of flowers on my table,
that mis'.t cheat myself into fancying was
out doors, rs their perfume crept out on the
air, she assured me, petted me. loved me, till
even my misfortunes seemed blessings draw
ing near together.
| And when she was all the world to me, all
! that saved me from, misery, John HAYES
asked me to give hun Ruth for his wife.
could have struck him dead when be stood be-
fore me, young giant in strength, with his
handsome sunhurnt face glowing with
health, and wanted to take away my one
blessing, my only home child.
a will be a true sob to you, Mr.. Martin"
he said earnestly Il will never take Ruth
| from here; but let me come and share her life
and lift some OF the burdens from her
| shoulders"
laughed bitterly knew well what such
sharing would be when Ruth had a husband,
| and perhaps children, to take her time and
her love from me But WAS not harsh I
| did not turn this sutton FROM my house and
| bid him never speak to Ruth again. much a.
longed to do it I worked more cautiously
| let him go from me to Ruth: and when he
left her and she came to me, all rosy bushes,
to tell me, with dropping lids and moist eyes,
Of her new happiness, worked upon her love
and her sense of duty till she believed herself a
| monster OF ungra,eful wickedness to think OF
leaving me taking any divided duty uron
| her hands.
Iwept, asking her il she could face her
dead mother after deserving her helpless
father. l pointed out to her the unceasing
~ I,t,- hat h.,r
from my side, and proved to her that the
duties Of child and wife III ust clash, if under
taken under such circumstances as were pro-
| posed
The loving. tender heart yielded to me, and
| John was tearfutly dismissed. Through the
| warm autumn months, when the corn ripened
| aud was rathered-when our crops were
| blessed and The little bank fund was increased
| by the price Of the farm produce-Ruth grew
| very quiet and subdued She WIS not sad,
| having always a CHEEKY word and pleasant
| smile for me- but the pretty rose lint left her
round cheeks. and I no longer heard her
| singing at her work. When resd the best
pages in my books to her, NO, ID see her
| eyes fixed dreamily On some far away
thought. her work lying idle, till she woke
with a start at my fretful questions.
For grew fretful and trying in Hose days
I wanted her to give up womaa's dearest
hopes and sweetest affections, and be the same
sunsniny Ruth she was before my hand tore
away her love dreams, | wanted her to put
away all the loving, tender ties OF wifehood
and motherhood, and pass her life In devotion
at the armchair of a paralyze old man. And
when she con. Piled. with gentle, touching sub
mission, then wanted her to be the bright,
happy girl who had resigned nothing, and