The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-04-20

wood-lot to-morrer er tho mex day, to
| knock together little wood fer the cook
stove an replace, an I'll ies' stop as / GO
long an dig yer some sassyfras. Sassyfras
is a most beautiful colorin'. Nighabout aa
good, l low, as fady Calico"
Ethers delight wasunbounded, asTowsley
unfolded this ingenious plan, and she ran
hastily off to rehearse the good news to the
lazy tabby cat, that no doubt, would have
| preferred chickens to the most cunningly-
colored eggs that were ever seen.
Thus deserted, Towsley strolled out into
the garden and wandered around the ia
miliar enclosure 1t was the commence
ment of the gardening season, albeit the
! days were yet raw and chilly-some of them
and Towsley could scarcely raise the ring
ing tune with which he was accustomed to
cheer himself
Even sparrow can rot fall to the earth
tlout 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.
"'Tis not war OF flesh an blood
fight fer Heaven; fight fer God;
Kingdom, with my rights In;
Oh that's tho war fer me-"
The next day he visited the wood-iot, and
on his return bound Che sassafras roots up
with his load of sticks.
"'Twas n good idee.' he cried cheerfully
as he deposited the burden in the back
yard ''The sassyfras IL do the colorin an
also make the tea I've been wishin' fer tea
the whole winter, an never onct thought o.
that sassyfras!n
"'Twas the Easter eggs, gran'pa," Ethel
explained, solemnly. 1T must IA been"
II dono but you're right. l dono but
you're right" he assented, rather struck
with the idea 'All things work fer good
to them that love Him Yes; dono but you
air. Wen believe so myhow"
He bustled about quite briskly after that,
preparing their simple meal; while the tea
pot sang merrtly, MS the fragrant steam
arose like incense from it.
I've got two eggs, now, gran'pa!" said
Ethel proudly, as she sat Mt his side while
he helped her from the dishes
what air you 'lowin' to do with 'em?" he
questioned "You can't eat all o emf
"rm 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. Speck's eggs is the
best an purtiest"
$50 they be! So they be-" Towsley
agreed. II hope you'll allus be as well sat
istied as you air now. Ones own things air
allus the best o. their kind in the worr. Its
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 eciloing flour
barrel and the almost empty meat-keg.
The next morning, with this knowledge
impressed firmly on his mind, he began
search for work.
1t was not successful; but he continued
It, regardless of his aches and pains and
failing strength.
The only one of the family df the ex-
preston may be allowed) that seemed pros
perinG in a business way was Spock. Day
after day her transparent caclle resounded
from the little chicken house, where in an
old straw-tilled keg she had chosen her
nest.
At the first note Ethel would bound
through the doorway, and a white, chubby
hand would quickly extract the treasure
from itsresting- 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 its location,
or failed on any day to add an egg to Ethels
peariy hoard
The afternoon before Easter Tom Tows-
ley 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 heralded his coming For more
than year he had not once failed in this.
Nor did he fail now; though there was n
quaver in the words not wholly due to age.
For two days Towsley had practically
tasted While placing before Ethel the last
scanty remnants of food, he had kept from
her the knowledge OF his abstcntion by the
harmless fiction that a headache had de-
prlyed him OF an appetite, That noon
Ethel had devoured her restricted allow
ancc and hungrtly called for more. Alas!
there was no more
Weak from ill-health and lack of food,
Towslcy had made another vain cndeavor
TO find work. Now he was returning to a
hungry grandchild and an empty cup
board And tomorrow would be Easter;
that day when the whole earth should be
filled with cheer and gladness
He fairly rceled as he passed into the
yard; but when Ethel came running to
meet him. he Strengthened up with great
effort and carried her in his accustomed
manner,
He dreaded the announcement which no
knew would come.
"Gran'pa, Speck's laid another egg. an
now I've got II dozen fer to-morrer A
whole, big dozen!"
~ s'pose one O ON wouldn't do fer ye
would it," he asked, trying TO speak quite
cheerfully
She looked up in alright.
why, you amt a-goin' to sell EN-, gram
pay"
Well, low | dono what tcp do It's
jos az you say though, Ethel Fact Is. I
cant git any work, howsever much try;
an we ont up the las bit o. yittics at noon.
A dozen oigs amt much; but they'd git
dust o. meal an bit O. bacon--noagh
mcbbe to last a day or two
His CHR quivored as he made the pitlful
confession and big tear rolled down zach
furrowod check.
Ethel was only child and could not