Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-11-15


Selutha jist menshun that ! wept,
won't YET She's heavy on tears
We landed at the bank below
Smiths cabin about noon. He de-
cided to remain in the canoe until /
should "argify." Icut across field
to the road and approached the
house from the front. At the door
was broken gun and three or four
steel traps, which had been pounded
out of shape. / also saw splintered
powder horn and an old fur cap, and
there was a faint smell of whisky
from some broken glass. / found
Mrs. Smith to be nervous little
woman about 40, and the five chill
dren were like a pair of stairs in
height. / was very kindly received,
and after a little / made bold to
say:
II met Mr.. Smith about six miles
down the road"
"Whatl Ny ole Bill, the onery
mulel" demanded the wife.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And didn't ye shute at him p
HOh, no."
"You orter. He's the lankest,
LATEST, shuckless man in Moth Caro-
lima. / run him out last mite. I
sha'n't truck with him no mo-"
she was telling me about it. He
felt very badly"
'sNol Ole Bill felt bad about
anything"
eyes, he actually shed tears when
he thought he should never see you
and the children again"
"Hill's to Dustin, but what news |
Children, hear that Your father
sheddin' tears 70
"Did pop beller2" asked the old
est boy of me. i
eyes, he cried"
cts impossible |" gasped the wo-
man. "Why ole Bill was too lazy
to even shed tears. What did he
sayw
"He said you were the best wo-
man ON top of the earth, and that
five better children could not be
found in the state"
"He did, And what else ?'
And that be didn't blame you al
though he did the best he could. He
hopes you will forgive him when
you hear of his DEATH"
''His death Is ole Bill gwine to
drown hisself?"
"I-I shouldn't wonder. He has
nothing to live for now, you know.n
"Mam driv pap out to die r sniv-
eled one of the children, and all got
together at the door and began to
cry.
STRANGER |" said the little woman
as she came closer, 'oie Bill was
lazy and onery, but l reckon /
hadn't orter. He was the father of
them children, and he had some
good pints. I'm mind to go arter
him."
"Can you forgive him?"
sSartin. I've smashed his gun
and traps and fxings, and I'm sorry.
you'll take him back ?n
81 will
"Well, he's down at the landing.
Send one of the boys to call him.
Take him back on trial. Tell him
he's got to go to work, or you'll
drive him off for good next time.
Lay the law right down, and let him
know what to expect"
Smith soon arrived. He came in
wiplng his eyes and seeming very
humble. AS he entered the door
the wife stood with arms akimbo,
and looken him over and exclaimed:
Scum back ehl All broke up
was vel Slept in an ole boat all
night, did vel Now, ole Bill you
look right yerel You kin cum back,
but the gun is gone, the traps is
gone and the tarnal dog is drowned
in the river. From this day out
you has got to work and be some
body. Do We foller the track Z"
81 dew, Selutha."
s'Then you git fur that ak, and
then git fur the wood pile, cause
we've got to pull up some dinner for
this we're stranges. Don't you go
fur to boss one of the children nor
to think you kin run this house, or
out you go for good'n all Stranger.
squat on that rockin' cheer over
thar, an Methusa, you wash that
skillet an git the bacon ready. He
that was driv out has returned, but
he'd better step high an keep up a.
thinkin'. m Quad in Detroit Free
Press.
Remarkable Rescue.