Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-05-09
HOW II ALL CAME ABOUT
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

Wen, ma'ain, it was quite story, but
i never felt free to tell it to anybody be.
fore; but since you are so anxious to
) know about it, I'll tell you how it all
Came about. Them fine cmbroidcries
and tho yards Of crimping's off my mind
now, and if you'll take u chair I'll talk
and rest bit
You'll hardly believe me, seeing what
a heap Miss Sunderson thinks of me now.
that it is only little over year since |
first knew her, but it is just so. 1t all
CAME about through jim. Jim's my only
son, ,.tnu'am, and he's been better'n two
year Il tow-boy on the horse cars
Iou don't know what tow-boy is,
Well, ma am, it's thc boy that has charge
of an extra horse to pull the cars ND hill.
From five in the morning till three in the
afternoon Jim's going up hill with car
or down hill to meet one. He's good,
steady boy, and his wages are great
help. seeing am not strong enough for
heavy washing, and fine aint always to
be had.
Well, ma'am, about fifteen months
back, Jim, not being we'll used to the
horse rs he is now, fell off and broke his
arm. He came home, and the pain
threw him into fever, and lie was very
bad for quite long spell. 1t was when
he was lying very sick, that one day
heard knock, and opened the door for
the pretticst young lady ever my two eyes
saw. She was about eighteen; rs white
as one of my fine linen colors newly
ironcd, with the prcttiest touch of pink
hpr rl.n l.
the china cup you sec on the shelf yon-
der. and her hair as fine and yellow as
corn silk. She was dressed plain, but
everything she wore was OF the finest
quality, and fitted rs if it had grown upon
her slender, little figure.
care you Mrs. AIcArdlc?" she asked
me.
eyes, Miss" 1 said, hoping it was
fine washing she wanted done
''L heard today" she said, 'that my
best scholar in Sunday school had met
with an accident. You are James Nc
Ardlc's mother, are you not?"
'YcS, Miss" said. 'sWill you walk
in2 and thank you kindly for Calling
She came in and l told her all about
poor Jim, and she gave me basket she
had for him, with some fruit and flowers
all fixed i'll it like picture. Not as if
1T was charity, you see, for we've never
come to that, ma'am, though Tn not say
ing VIC haven't been pretty hard pushed
sometimes. But as I was saying, the
basket was as pretty and delicate MS if it
was for II fine lady instead of a little tow
boy, that had got hurt earning his davs
wages.
After that she came often and often,
bringing jim books and little tempting
things to cat, and sitting to talk with him,
and always as merry MS child, though
she was lady, every inch of her
Then, when Jim was getting better,
and the care of him little off nv hands,
she asked me to do up her fine things,
and her papa's shirts, as if it was favor
was doing her, telling me how particu-
leg she was. and the trouble it was to her
to get suited in fine washing.
We'll, ma am, not to make too long a
story, after Jim got we'll, l went to the
house twice week to get the washing
and take it back, and always saw Miss
Emma. IL was grand house, with par
lors like hotel, and wide stalrcases, and
great bedrooms splendidly furnished.
And Miss Emma had no mother but was
the mistress of it all.
L WIS all taken aback the first time
saw her pa, for he was rs rough as she
was gentle, and looked more like labor
ing man than fine gentleman, for all his
fine clothes. But he was very prompt to
pay, and always had a pleasant word fol
me about the beautiful ironing of his
shirts and cuffs. And, though 1 say it as
shouldn't, you might go long way to
find prettier linen than took up every
week to Mr.. Sanderson's. But after q
bit, noticed that Miss Emma was losing
hcr pretty smile and merry words, aud
was pale and often red-eyed, as If she
had been crying. jim, who was seeing
her, you mind, every Sunday, he told
me no noticed it too. We, though we
knew our place too well to say a word,
were very sorry, for there was a trouble
somewhere, we were very sure.
One night, Jim, while he was eating
his supper, hcaves q great sigh, and says
he to me:
81 think know what ails our Miss
Emma, mother" says he.
'What makes you think soa" says J.
Jim's q master hand, ma'am, to read
and he gets the papers often that's lef
in the cars, and reads the stories, o.
maybe he wouldn't noticed what h,
did.
"Why, mothcrl" says he, "there wa
n gentleman used to come with Mis-
Emma to church. I've seen him Otter
an often, but he never comes to the Sun
day school, only to church. He wore
diamond studs, and shiny boots and {
silk hat--a regular swell; and abe used
to look as pleased as baby with toy
when he was with her. Well, he hasn't
been to church for more'n month, anc