West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

o. W. VIZ hoA
come, a dozen farmers, with their teams,
and sleds, and axes, to chop and haul
wood for the Widow Benton, and when
at noon time they went home, the wood
was piled high at her gate, and there was
plenty to do her all the winter. In the
afternoon the men came with their axes
and cut the wood all up into the proper
lengths for burning, and poor Mrs. Ben
ton was so overcome with gratitude that
she cried. But that was not all.
Late in the afternoon a farm. wagon
drove up to the gate, loaded with -four,
and meat, and potatoes, and apples-some
of those same red apples that Ben had
seen at Deacon Gooden's-and a big bas-
ket filed with cake, and pies, and chick
ems, and one big turkey, all nicely
baked.
"Who has done all this" Mrs. Benton
asked of Mrs. Gooden who came with the
wagon, and who had been busy giving
orders to the men about unloading.
"Wal," Mrs. Gooden said, "they's sew
erul us hes he'd a han in it, but l reckon
Doctor Custer is mostly responsible fer it,
sense ne rode about last night, putting
US up to it. Thet ere old doctor hes got
a monstrous big heart in i'm, if he is as
cross an grabbed as a bear. Don't never
nobody want fer nothin' ef he knows of it.
an eff anybody is liable to be needy, he
generally finds it out, lemme tell you. It's
a perfect caution the amount of money
tibet ole doctor hes given away, an a body
who sees him the fust time nd never
'spect he'd give a hungry mortel bite to
eat. But it's like I tell the deacon some
times. You can't tell what's in a PERSONS
heart by the way they talk. When he
come to our house last night, an sed as
how ne heard you an Ben a telkiu' erbout
Christmas an things, an a sayin' tibet you
was outen o. wood an he'd been havin' a
power o. sickness, an all that, / felt right
down ashamed that / never thought of it
afore, an so did Ezekiel, l know, an
when the doctor went on to say es how
we ort to help you a leetle over the rough
places, 1 wus determined to help him out
in his project. 'Twan't nothin' fer us to
do when they wus so many NV us into it,
but all put together sort O. does some
good"
feel all the gratitude that my one
could feeF' Mrs. Benton said, "but !
can not find language to express It,"
"Well, yer needn't mind erbout that
now. I reckon nobody don't want no
thanks, an if you feel as If you must
thank somebody, jest wait till you see
Doctor Custer, an give EN- to him. I'm
monty glad the little ones a gittin' well.
anil be able 10 git erbout."
ITS a great comfort TO mo, fer ! had
despaired Of her ever recovering"
81 know it must be-. But 7 must be a
goin', fer / sec Ezekiel is ready TO drive.
an it's gittin' late. Ihope you'll be com
Portable, an Il you need my assistance.
I hope you won't be backward about
akin us, fer though we're plain sort o.
folks, an don't make no preteushuns 20
bein' extry good, we're ready 10 len o.
helpin' han"
When the door closed after Mrs.
Goodeu, the poor widow sank down.
completely Frustrated With JOY. Her
pleasure was not 30 much on account Of
the things received, though IL was a great
boon, but because Of the knowledge that
The people among whom she lived we're
kind and generous. All her life shc had
lived in tho city, and IL was little che
knew Of the open-heartc generosity Of
the country people.
Bonnie was wild with delight. and
danced about in a state Of ecstasy. Az
for poor little Sis, she felt that such %
time never did exist before, and, in her
great happiness, she completely lost sight
of the many long weary months OF
suffering and pain that she had passed
through
That night, as they al around IN