Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-08-29

corpse. She's laid out in fust-rate style>
But come in to tell ye the latest. Man
dy Ransom's come home~
eye don't sayl" ejaculated Mis-
King.
ssYes-with her babe, said the other,
San no place fer her to go. She was
caiculatin' on her Uncle EbeneZer tak1n'
| on her IN, but you know, he's moved to
Dakoty. So now there's nothin' fer her
but to go to the poorhouse.
'sPoor thingw said Mis- King.
"Wall, hain't mite nor grain of
pity fer her," said the widow. "Them
that dances has has got to pay the i'd
der" she added.
"Why can't she 60 out to her unclef"
suggested Mis- King.
oWall, now, Mis- King, who'd We
s'pose would ever pay her way out
there7"
"You could" said Mis- King, calmly.
The widow was a woman of means.
"Sakes alivel" screamed the good soul,
abe We crazy9 I'd see myself help that
hussy." and she fairly spluttered with
enough givin' to foreign missions without
spendin' my cash on sech truck. But
here, here, must hurry. I want to go
| to Bailey's, and Beck's, and Mrs. Stubbs's
to tell 'em the news, >" and away she hur-
ried, no doubt regretting she could not
go two ways at once.
Mis- King pushed her chair back from
the machine and sat thinking. She re-
menlbered Mandy Ransom-a slight, slip
| of girl with a sweet, mild, rose face.
! Dreadful that she must go to the poor
house. If she could only go to her uncle.
Ebenezer Ransom and his wife were the
salt of the earth, and would do what
was right by her.
It was long way to Dakota. 1t would
take quite sum of money to go there.
| Cold weather was coming on and the
baby ought to be warmly dressed.
Mis- King looked up at the clock. An
hour yet before her good man would be
home. In an hour she could walk to
Seth Doolittle's, where Mandy was stay
ing, and back again.
It was wild, black night and raining
torrents, but Mis- King did not hesitate.
She folded her plaid blanket shawl
over her STOPPING shoulders, tied on her
musty black bonnet, and went into her
bedroom.
When she came out she was very pale,
and her lips were firmly compressed.
She took down her faded cotton UNI
brella, opened the door, and went out
into the night.
Four months later burglars took the
roll of bills and nearly broks Mis- Kings
heart. But she went 10 work again.
One year later there is great commo-
ton on Mis- Kings street. It even ex-
tends to the corners, and passing events
are discussed from cracker barrels with
due solemnity. In front OF the postmas-
ter's- house stands large van loaded
| with furniture. In the large "spare"
room pink roses trail along the walls and
stout, red-faced German woman is
lacking down a gaudy brussels carpet.
experimenting all is a pale-worn
woman with sunken cheeks and hollow
eyes, who pauses between her orders to
patiently endure fit of racking cough
| ing.
The ''instrument" is unpacked and
brought in, and Mr.. King stands looking
on with manifest disapproval.
"Gauds and pomps," he groans. "Oh,
Mis- King, how much better"
"Don't, Lester" she gently says; 81
want to enjoy it all I can't won't be
long"
At last everything was in order, even
to the hair wreath and the wax fruit.
In the twilight Mis- King steals in and
touches the instrument As her thin
fingers wander over the keys, long-for-
gotten melodies of her girlhood come
stealing back. She is SO happy.
Two weeks later Mis- King receives her
friends. The windows are all open, and
the soft June air comes stealing in. The
parlor is filed and 80 is the living room
yes, even the kitchen, while groups Of
men stand awkwardly about the yard and
on the steps.
There in her parlor, with the head of
her coffin on the marble top table, with
her tired hands peacefully folded, quiet
and cold lies Mis- King; while from the
little group standing about the "instru.
ment" comes the strain
''I'll soon be at rest over there
RV the side of the river of liphtA