The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-10-22

died, nd then Steve died. wished l
could die, too, but l s'pose hain't
lived out my looted time yet I'm
a lonely woman md bout all the COM
fort take is in helpin' the Majors
when they are sick md in trouble, nd
in hatin' Jonas Periwinkle.
Steve nd allays seemed to prosper
in our undertakings, but Jonas didn't;
he worked hard, his wife was good ma
tured, but sort of shiftless-like, nd he
never made much Roadway. She died
couple of years ago, nd their little
'leven- year-old girl has bean tryin' 70
do the best she can. She's puny lit
tie thing nd won't hold out much
longer, I'm a-thinkin'.
Somebody's comm runnin' up the
walk: Why, it's susy Pepiwinklc!
"There. you've run till you've tuck
cred yourself all out. Sit down nd
rest yourself md tell me what's the
matter. Is it the bread that won't rise
or the butter that won't Gomez"
Susy, all ont of breath with runnin',
said: Come over quick; the horses
have run away, nd pal don't know
but he's dead! know you always go
when folks are sick, nd so come here
first"
l didn't think nothing about my
grudge when l saw that poor little
pale thing standin' there. 1 sent after
the doctor, md then went along with
Susy, takin' my medicines along. md
it was lucky did. Jonas was in bad
shape, bad enough to satisfy anyone
with bigger grudge thaa mine. B;s
head was hurt md some II his ribs
were broken, nd l don't know what
all. The doctor he come md set the
cken bones md plastered up the
bruises. He took me off to one side,
nd said: He's a pretty badly hurt
man. Mrs. Pratt. That hurt on his
head is bad one. You have elped
me through with other bad cases,
want you to help me through with this. 1"
81 really don't see how can, Doc
tor" said II hain't never been used
to comm here, nd"
ooh! nonsense" he replied, you'll
let fellow creature die for some little,
disagreement. thought better of you
Mrs. Pratt. Good afternoons; I'll call
again in the. morning." md away he
went, felt stunned like, but made
up my mind Id lay aside my grudge
till Jonas got we'll agin', for if he died
there would be nobody left for me to
hate, nd I'D spent lots of time hatin'
him. 'Twould be kinder hard to have
that innocent amusement cut Off So
l made'up my mind Id nurse him back
to life, if could. What would them
poor, little pale children do without
him! 1t made my heart ache to see
that little Susy: she was so womanly,
nd was so worried about her pa. The
children all seemed to set great store
by him. Jonas was out of his head a
long time.
The doctor came often nd could
see he felt pretty serious. l did the
very best could, but there seemed to
be some internal hurt, nd Jonas
couldn't seem to get over it. He lin
gered along md suffered terrible, nd
he was about the patientest man
ever see. How he did love them chill
dren! They were remarkably nice,
well-behaved children. He grew
weaker nd weaker. 1 could see it, md
I think he see it, too. There was tur-
moil in my mind, for l could see that
them children were going to be left
fatherless. l hadn't anyone left to
live for nd wanted some one, md
thought, if could jest have them lit
tie ones, it would be benefit to me
md perhaps as well for them, unless
there was some near kin that would
want 'em. l pondered over the Aatter
good deal, md some way life seemed
a good deal better without that mis-
r'bie hatin' feelin'. l wanted Susy any
way, md the littlest one I'd take 'em
all, but if anybody, any near kin 1
mean, was real set on havin' the other
girl nd boy why of course couldn't
expect to have EN- all.
set thinkin' one evenin', Jest at
twilight. The littlest child had fallen
asleep on my lap. He looked so sweet
md innocent-like l couldn't bear to
think of leavin' him nd goin back to
my own lonely house. Jonas was
propped up in bed, for had my man
OF all work come up to stay md he was
needed to lift the sick man nd help
around. The Majors were powerful
good, nd Jonas seemed to have a great
many friends. But as l was sayin' l
was wonderful how | could ever
breach the subject of my takin the
children. The doctor didn't want his
patient worried about his condition. md
if l suggested anythin' about the chill
drn he'd know the worst nd me bbe
sink faster for KNOWN it. l didn't
have to open the subj ect; Jonas did
that, as sat there ponderin', nd look
in at the child on my lap.
Esther" Jonas said, feebly; "l'm a
thinkin' the little, chap will be without
a father soon"
Nay, nowI wouldn't worry about
that" said l.
"Im not worryin' for myself" he
said, "but it'll be a serious thing for
the little fellers. Really, Esther, does
the doctor expect or hope I'll get bet
ter?"
We're hoping for the best" said,
simply. couldn't very well say more,
nd there was no use sayin' less
You are hopin' but you don't expect.
Answer me, Esther. Do you, or the
doctor expect I'll get we'll? I'm a ra-
tional being nd ought to know, so as
to do the best can by the children.
Do you expect me to get better?"
Jonas" I said, nd my voice trem-
bled little, we're afraid your time
for life is not long. What do you want
to do with the children? Is there, any
one near, any kin who will want
them?"
Jonas sighed. ''There is kin, but
most of EN- have little fellers enough
of their own" he said, sadly.
Let me have 'em." / said, eagerly.
"I'll do the best I can FOR 'em nd it's
very lonely since Steve and the chill
dren went away?"
Esther" he cried, would you take
'em?"
Eyes, would, md be glad to, / miss
my own so. So set your mind at rest
ahOpf TINT ro,, IN