San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-09
Hannah FeaPiDg'S Fortune.
By AUGUSTA HARMED.


This b;iifwil help toward naT ton OF
coal to keep the old man warm" and
she tucked it into the family Bible on
the shelf. where many another from the
same source had before been hidden.
The morning WAS getting on, and Han
nnhs work was not yet half done. So
she turned again to her toll. bending her
spare form uGtil every muscle and sinew
WAS brought into play in the concentra-
ton of what she hal to do she put
forth vital energy and was Il terrible
worker" rs Miss Ruby Armstrong truly
called her. When the town clock struck
twelve the backbone of her labor had
been broken Happily Mr.. Rand's
luncheon il the middle Of the day con-
sisted of simple bowl Of bread and
milk and did not demand even Il cup Of
tea. But Hannah brewed herself a cup,
and of the strongest. She smOothed her
black hair back with both her hands as
she sat down by her ironing table to rest
and wiped the big beads of perspiration
from her forehead
4 nature like Hannah's finds a danger
OUs backStay IN tea, and when she had
swallowed two cups SIZE felt strong
;sslin. like Samson when his hair had
grown. She made ready the Tray for
her Old man. as she called him, and
tapped lightly at the parlor door. The
summons came at once, AMI Hannah, as
she passed within. seemed to have en-
tered another sphere. Here Ill this
large low ceiled room. with its simple
rustic furnishings dignitied by c;tse of
rare old books, the still air OF con genial
| studies seemed to brood. The very day
light was different as it fell in through the
windows on the garden side, where in
budding apple tree IA robin WAS gurgling
ont a few notes with the nipping wind
blowing awry the orange feathers on its
| breast.
In the streak of sunshine that fell
across the faded ingram carpets and the
| writing table covered with books and
papers sat the old man. tall and spare
and still unbent, though nailed to his
! easy chair a few spare white locks
escaped from under velvet skull cap
| and were scattered over broad fore
| head. with those projections over the
eyes that indicate acute perceptions and
| long powers of thought. The whole ex-
| preston Of the face was sweet and tran
| quill, and the soft brown eyes were
peculiarly benignant His linen was
spotlessly clean. but the dressing gown
| in which he was enveloped was well
| patched and darned. and the cloth slip
| oi uhn Sir of of
mending But he wore a gold watch
and chain, and his handkerchief was
white and dainty His beard and hair
| were we'll trimmed. and though one hand
was practically helpless the nails were
| attended to with scrupulous care. Not
| one of the gentemanlike habits of his
better days had been neglected. He had
never been slOvenly bOokwOrIn. and
| the habits of order and personal purity
We're deeply ingrained. Even his writ
| ing table and books showed the refined
neatness of a cultivated woman. and a
pink hyacInth in its glass added a bit of
color as it stood there expanding in the
| CLEAN of sunshine E1nnah laid aside
newspapers and put the luncheon tray
before him with Il certain air Of defer
enCe, as if it We're her pride and privilege
to serve the old man.
II never did see anything so cute as
| that there robin" said she, calling up
| smile to her brown face that made it at
| tractive It's that same sly old bird
| that gets here first every year before
| any of the others come along, and always
| sings before your window don't be-
lieve there's another spring bird IN town;
but your old friend has found You out
and is giving you concert almost be-
fore the first dandelion has popped above
ground.
II give the fellow my dinner crumbs"
said the old man, land he knows where
| he is likely to get fed. that's tine reason
he comes snca,iug round here with his
CHEEKY little twitter You know Han
| nah. some Wise man has said there are
only two great passions in nature-love
and hun-pt and birds can feel them
| just us we do"
well. didn't know he come from
selfish motive said Hannah, who had
begun to frcshcn the fire in the stove: 81
thought it did him good to get round
into your sunshine. as it does most
folks"
All the fine wrinkles in the old mans
face filed with light and his eyes glowed
softly r. loved little fattery from
Hannah because she never flattered any
one else, and the delicavy of her praise
and affection, considering their pc
culiar relations, made the old man
think better of human nature though
be was never inclined 70 think very i'll of
!. l.. ...:--. - III Nj Ln-.n. I'D 1.1.nSsns