The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-08-16

thcy are SO ueSJltute, tDOuRn TOO proud
to confess it. Our club will have to
take hold and help"
They did so. Mother Bonner sent
furniture and food. Miss West hunted
up few pictures and hung them on the
white-washed walls. Then she gave
all her attention TO the sick woman,
and studied out picture that eventual
ly brought her more fame than any one
she had ever pain ted before.
The poor mother faded and faded, till,
one sweet June morning she kissed her
children one by one, then her husband.
and died.
The club paid the expenses OF the
funeral.
A year had gone by. The rose-bushes
ran riot all over the quaint lit
tie cottage again, as did the children
through its old-fashioned rooms and
over it's blooming grounds.
Then came strange, startling news to
the club, and Miss Beck was the OBJ
served of all observers at its next meet
ing.
"How could your and 20 Miss Beckr'
sounded on all sides.
ITO think you could commit such a
sinful piece of follyv' and Miss Pearl
bent upon the culprit her soft, reproach-
full eyes, ''when none of us, not even L,
have ever thought of it! and you the
Oldest member, tool"
Miss Beck looked timidly around. A
ripple of light shone in the gray eyes,
touch of scarlet made the cheeks girl
s,l.. 10, 20
was glorifed.
WELL" she said at last, reluctantly,
"what could l do? He just asked me,
and / said yes from sheer pity. 1t
won't hurt the club at all. If 1t breaks
up. can't help it, l think I am only
doing my duty. To see that poor mans
patience with that stack of children!
1t was enough to make stone change
her mind, and I'm not stone. I'm
going to marry him for the sake of the
children, and l told him so. Those
children just fill my heart. AS long as
can look out for them and him. why,
might as well. To be sure, I'm only a
bundle of aches and nerves, but
haven't got consumption that l know
of, though l may have liver complaint.
I've put away little money, and 1
guess ] can make it go good way. He,
poor soul, was getting discouraged.
Think of his having come to the con-
clusion to send the oldest girls out to
work! Who would have taken care of
the babies? / stormed when / heard of
it. Every one of. those poor lambs
was crying at the thought of being sep
arated."
Man, said. if you send those grow
ing girls out into the world. no one to
care for them, and some awful thing
should happen you never would forgive
yourself. i couldn't part with one of
them, if they were mine, and then sat
down and cried.'
81 wish you would care for them,
then he said, in sort of despairing
way, and me, too
"Well, | don't know to this minute
what answer | made just then, and /
s'pose / never shall TO my dying day,
but the children are going to stay at
home, and I'm going to care for them"
There was long silence after that.
The members of the club were all bless
ing Miss Beck in their hearts. Miss
West thought of the picture she was
just finishing, which she called "a
Mothers Love" "Surely that mother
must be glad" she said TO herself.
There were tears in every eye.
"Well done, Miss Beck!' said DIR.
Humphries. II don't believe there is
one member of the club but thinks you
have done nobly."
Then they kissed her, one by one, and
wished her joy.
The wedding was very quiet one.
Flowers and vines were conspicuous in
the adornment of the cottage, inside and
out. The members of the club made
marriage bell out of white roses.
1t was clear, beautiful day, and at
ten o'clock all the eight children,
dressed in white, were waiting in the long
livIng-room for the new mother, already
tenderly loved by them. Only few
neighbors and the club witnessed the
ceremony.
1t seemed to be lucky marriage.
Every thing prospered," as Squire
Bonner's wife said.
docs seem as if every cent just
doubled that woman touches, she said
to IL eighbor, five years aftcrward. "Her
sister died an left three children. Miss
Beck took 'em, and now there's 'leven
of 'em. There they are, all well dressed
and we'll hammered. She wouldn't have
any help from nobody. And all them
children love her so! declare it's good
as sermon to see 'em together. She's
teaching every one of 'em to do some
thing that'll earn 'em money in the fut-
ure. if need be. She'd built two more
rooms, and they run the best dairy in
town. Seen that new wagon of hers?
She didn't seem to think she's worked
very hard, neither, but she has, sence
she buried poor Glenn, three years ago
You never hear her talking no moro
bout being weary of life, "a 'tain't
worth Twin as she used to. rally be-
lieve she can't afford time to be sick,
bless the creeter. AS to that Oldest girl,
Hetty, she's the pick of the whole
neighborhood. Amt young man in
town wouldn't be glad to get her."
Only one more little picture, and
put my pen aside.
1t is nearing sunset. The little road
side cottage is as bright as love and care
can make it, Miss Beck is knitting in a
high backed rocking-chair. Her eyes
are fixed contemplatively upon the flick
ering yellow flame in the wide place, |
for it IS late. autumn now, and the fruit |
has all been gathered in.
At table not far off sits Hetty, par
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