Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-05-30
The Village Dressmaker

Cdilcus was IcSdTucu as QulJe dil cNCub
by the congregation. A new minister
Is always an object Of interest to the
people for month or two; then the in
terest flags, and finally he is accepted
as matter of course, and-generally to
his delights no longer fused over.
But his particular divine seemed
likely to keep speculation going for q
longer period than the customary nine
davs, and, being somewhat humorous
fellow, he thoroughly enjoyed it.
For the Rev. Jerome Grant was un-
married warranted by the gossips to
have no lady-lOve-young, handsome,
and possessed ofa private income, which
made salary a secondary consideration.
Now, in Locus Hollow there were a
number of very plump and pretty girls,
with a few slim graceful damsels; but
the plump ones outnumbered the slim,
as always is the case in country villages,
with their fresh air, healthy diet and
regular hours.
Among the very plumpest of the vii
lage maidens was Gussie EllistOn; and
Miss Gussie's blue eyes and red-and-
white complexion seemed to have
found favor in the eyes of Mr.. Grant,
for he speedily placed himself on famil-
lar footing at the long low farmhouse,
where he met with very warm greetings
from the farmer and his wife, and dimp-
ling smiles and shy hlushes from their
daughter.
| Among the very slimmest and palest
of those who listened to the young
minister Sunday after Sunday, was
Louise, the daughter ofa helpless wild
ow, who had lived a little out of the
village, and who had therefore escaped
the knowledge of Jerome for some
time.
Perhaps Louise's cheeks would have
had more color in them, and her eyes
the burden of her own invalid mothers
support fall on her slight shoulders.
But day after day-on cold dark days,
when winds swept wierdly by the little
lcottage-on warm wOoing days, when
her pulses throbbed with longing to be
out among the violets-she sat quietly
at the little window, her brown head
bent over the sewing in her hands, the
garments to be worn by more fortunate
ones than herself, which she fashioned
Jerome had noticed the girls sweet
patient face, and wondered why he only
saw it on Sunday-wondered how it was
he had never seen it in the many homes
that had been opened for him to enter
at, welcome guest.
But Gussie's blue eyes had beer
enough like vioiets to make him speed
lily forget the Wistful brown ones, anG
it was not until he had been installed
at Locust Hollow for three months, anC
had begun to think that Gussie Ellis
ton would make very sweet ministers
wife, that accident brought him to the
door of the cottage which the widow
Vennevale and her daughter occupied
1t was warm; the young man wa
warm, too, and tired, from long ram
BILE; he was thirsty, as well; and so
after hesitating a few moments, knock
ed lightly on the open door, intendin!
to ask for glass of water.
His knock had not been heard evi
IDENTIFY, for nobody replied to it; an,
D while he waited, low murmurinl
voice reached him from within.
g II did my best, mother" girlish tone
q answered wearily, "and l thought
very nice often wondered how pee
pie can say such harsh and cruel word
i. to me, when | try so hard to pleas
them. Mother-my poor mother-it
very hard o'be poor; to be a woman
= and poor-there is nothing harder fl
: this whole wide wOrldW
5 The sweet voice had taken more tha
= WEAKNESS on its music. 1t became pas
o sionate and bitter, and ended in burs
of sobs.
The young man was profoundl
touched, but he lifted his hand ono
y more. and knocked more loudly.
!. This time he was heard, and ligh
! and languid steps crossed towards tn
j. door.
) In moment Louise Vennevale. wit
undried tears on her long lashes, ws
looking at him with wondering eve
brown as hazel-nuts.
He held out his shapely hand.
"You are one of my people, are yo
! not?" he questioned, with q smile q
q have not called before, but you wi
If pardon that, and bid me enter now, wi
It you not?o
It Certainly"
!. And she led him into the tiny room
= where Mrs. Vennevale lay on the soft
D. "Mamma," she said quietly, "this
Mr.. Grant. He has come to see you.
0. And, greatly to the young mans di
appointment, after placing a chair ft
him beside the sofa, she glided ou
slight and gracefulas spirit.
He remained almost an hour conver
ing with the invalid. He heard til
pitiful story--too sadly frequent for me
to mind it much to-day, in their bus
selfish lives; the struggle to buy littl
home for wife and child hy the sta
wart young farmer, who had only h
strong hands and strong heart to rel
on; then the long lingering illness I
the woman, during which the fir
mortgage had fallen on the farm; the
the sudden death, by sunstroke, of Il
j man, and the helpless Widows effor
to educate her only child, before ALLOW
Z ing her to take up the weary burde
/ that now she had borne for four yea
= with gentlest patience.
"It breaks my heart to see her wol
at her sewing from morning till nigh
and sometimes half the night" MI
Vennevale said in conclusion, her ey
dim with tears. "And sometimes 81
has to take such insolance, too, TIL
is very hard to bear To-day Miss Gu
sic Elliston came for a dress she h,
+ left for Louise to make, and she four
so much fault, and said such cruel
= unkind things, that my heart ach'
= for my daughter. Did you notice Lo
ise had been weeping when you can
limp gss s,a&F H ,aHR&5E
"I noticed that she looked very pa