The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-07-17
PLEADINGS OF A CHILD.



upon the kitchen table, thereby scat
tering dozen or more rosy-cheeked
apples upon the floor.
Mrs. Trotwood had quite forgotten
that she was a deacon's wife when she
lost her temper in the midst of making
apple dumplings for the good mans
supper.
"But, auntie, l love him." was tho
apology, given while soft blush rose
to the girls face.
Love him? Fiddlesticls Don't
talk to me about love-" And again
Mrs. Trotwood's gray eyes flashed dis
approval.
Tall, thin, hard-featured, tho dea-
cons wife was woman from whom
little mercy could be expected; still,
within her heart this childless woman
built q shrine, the idol of which was
Hstty the child of her dead sister.
Her life had one object in view-to see
girl the advantages of an excellent ed
ucation. Her wardrobe far outshone
that of the neighboring farmers daugh-
ters. 1t was the intention of Mrs
Trotwood to make her niece heiress To
her wealth, of which she possessed a
goodly amount.
Hetty was the acknowledged belle
for miles around Never was there a
gather of young folks without her pres
ence, and many a country swain Womb
have sacrificed considerable for sm,'c
of encouragement. She was the applC
of the old deacon's eye.
Mother" he would say TO his good
wife, Il must send little Hetty to
brother Johns, in the city, or else she
will be falling in love with some great
hulking country fellow, not half good
enough for her
Nonsense ~ would his wife reply.
~The child never dreams of such
thing"
But the child did fall in love. and with
none other than the student of the vii
lage doctor, handsome. good-hearted,
penniless Dick Barry; and this falling
in love was the cause of Mrs. Trot-
woods burst of indignation.
~To think of it." she would say.
~Our Hetty marrying this penniless
youth !"
The old ladys fondest hopes, all her
air castles, would be completely cast TO
the earth should this marriage ever
take place.
The apple dumping proved a fail
ure. The deacon and his wife ate
their meal in silence. Hetty was not
present. She was having good cry
down by the garden gate. Very lovely
she looked in the dim twilight. in a
dress of soft texture clinging in grace
full folds to round, shapely figure
Was it any wonder that Dick Barry
lost his heart to her? The young man.
who had resolved never to take unto
himself a wife until he had attained
the dignity of NJ. ID. and made his
name in the world, forgot his firm
resolution.
He was coming up the big country
road, whistling a merry tune. He met
his lady-love with kiss.
"Oh, Dick !" sobbed Hetty. Aunt
Hepsy says / can never, never marry
youw And she cried as if her heart
would break.
Poor Dick tried to console her as
best he could, departing ut length, re-
assured of the girls love and conf
dence
Hetty returned to the house, wrote
a dainty little note, left it on the dea-
cons desk, and kissed the old couple
so fondly that they began to think
they were unjust in their accusations:
that the dear child would never so far
forget them as to marry without their
consent But the little note found the
following morning told its own story.
Then the country for miles around
rang with gossip: THE deacon's niece
had run away and married Dick
Barry"
Mrs. Trotwood closed her heart. put
ting away the books, birds and dainty
little treasures belonging to her way
ward niece, never again mentioning her
name. The Deacon, grown suddenly
old, missed his darling. There was no
one now to get his slippers or kiss
away his cares and troubles
Many a time he was tempted to pay
a visit TO the lit, le white cottage down
the road the cottage where Dick Barry
took his bride; but the thought of his
wife's wrath kept him away
To the young couple adversely and
cares had come. Poverty had entered
the door, but love had never flown ont
of the window. Dick was obliged to
give up for time his cherished hope
of entering his profession; he worked
in the mill, in the evening devotiDg his
leisure hours TO study. The young
wife bore with patience her cares, al
though the roses were fast leaving her
face.
A baby came. almost unwelcome.
Poverty casts a damper over all our
joys. The old village doctor shook his
head, almost despairing of the young
mothers life. Her mind wandered;
she kept calling for Aunt Hepsy. The
young husband, struggling with pride
sent for Mrs. Trotwood, but the old
lady was determined, and refused to
see her niece. When the white Grape
emblem of sorrow hung upon the cot
tage door she was still unmovcd,
though she watched from behind her
drawn curtains the village sexton carry
away the wee coffin thai held Hetty's
bah, Then the country folks declared