The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-22

one near. .uy kin who will want
them?''
Jonas sighed. There is kin, but
most Of 'em have little fellers enough
of their own" he said, sadly.
Let me have EN-" | said. eagerly.
I'll do the best ! can for 'em nd it's
very lonely since Steve and the chill.
dre.l went away
Esther he cried. would You take
'emo"
.Ycs. would. nd be glad to. miss
my own 50. SO set your mind at rest
about that. want You to settle your
property on them. nd they shall have
it all when they want it. Ill take
care of EN- nd keep 'em, for have
enough. We are only stewards of this
worlds goods anyway: SO I'm doin'
nothin' only what's right: in fact moth
in that amt goin' to be for my own
selfish pleasure.
You're strange woman. Esther"
Jonas said. signing contentcdly. md
you'll never know till we're both over
yonder what dreadful care you've
lifted off en- my mind. III be wilin' to
die now. Twas mighty hard lynn here.
day after day, a-wonderin' what would
become of the little 'uns when was
gone"
So the matter ended, nd set great
store on fixin' the children mp. nd
kecpin' 'em nice nd tidy-like. for felt
like was goin' to have my lonely days
cheered up by their pattering feet nd
childish chatter.
Neither Jonas nor | said no more
about it: it wa ,n't necessary, nd there
was no use talkin' bout his dyin'. as
il was anxioas to have him onten' the
way. The time went on: Jonas didn't
seem to get no worse. md bimeby the
doctor said he was gainin After he
begun to gain. he seemed to set right
at it. nd picked up wonderful. Finally
he got SOS he could be around little.
! didn't want to stay no longer n had
to. So picked up what belongin's l
had there, ready to go home.
Twas late in the fall. nd my house
needed cleanin' nd everythin' needed
tendin' to. So took an opportunity of
tellia' Susy ! thought. seem her pa
was gettin' on SO well. Id go home
next day.
Il wish you wasn't ever goin' home,"
she said. you've been So good. It's
beer hard since ma died" MI she threw
herself in my arms nd cried.
That evenin' Jonas nd Susy nd
were sittin' together nd Jonas said:
'Susy tells me you're thinkin' of goin'
home tomorrow. wish yer could make
up yer mind to stay. hain't Of no great
good now. nd 1 hain't never been SO
prosperous-like as you have, but If
you'll stay. I'll do the best can, nd
think the little fellers will, too
My breath was clear took away, nd I
couldn't say nothin'. I'd never even
thought of stayin' steady.
He went on: There was a time,
some thirty odd years ago, when you
would keep house with me. We didn't
think 'twould be SO long before we be-
gun. but if you're within the sooner we
begin the better it'll suit me-"
Susy's little soft hand stole into
mine nd she lifted her great shiny eyes
with such rleadin' look, couldn't
say no. md ! didn't. l went home
next day, for wanted to staighten up
bit for the weddin'. 1t won't be
nothin' grand, but I'm goin' to in
vite the Majors in for a Thanksgivin'
dinner, md well be married then.
Jonas nd me won't be like young
folks. but b'lieve we'll get along
better than we would have done years
ago. We've learned good many
lessons in the hard school of life: but
the best one I've learned is to get over
grudgin' nd hatin'. b'lieve the best
way to do this is to do somethin' kind
continuously to the one you hate. I
was readin' the old Book last night,
about lovin' our enemies, blessin'
them that curse US, nd doin' good to
them that hate us. It's fine preachin'.
that is, but ! wish Id a-begun
practicin' it years ago. I'm sure life
would a-been better, md the Book of
accounts in Heaven wouldn't a. had SO
many black spots in it-Rose Seelye
Miller, in Housekeeper.