The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-09-16

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Lovely bread, and country butter, ant
honeyl
Why, whole generations of starvation
were helping that boy eat, and Miss Per.
~ could scarcely keep back the tears Al
she watched him. She might be old and
grim and cross, but it was horrible, bad
thing to think of any boys being hun.
CRY when there was her table, for in.
stance, always full, and only two old
people, with very little appetite, to sit
at it.
After supper was over and the tired
child had been put to bed, Miss Perry sal
musing, with her work in her lap, and
Eben held his breath, expecting the out
bust of indignation that was sure to
ccme but, after a long silence, Miss Per-
~ began sewing very industriously, say
ing only:
I'm glad you brought that little mite
of pony, now, Eben. OF course it's no
account on farm, just as told you, but
it'll be nice for the little chap to ride
about the place"
Great snakes~ murmured Eben soft
ly, under his breath, but he was too wise
to saw anything in Marthy's hearing
He was we'll aware that "Marthy f" was
kind O. scurious," and "likely to do
most anything" At any rate, she was
going to keep the child, and that was
some comfort. He hadl rather expected
to be posted back TO town with him the
next morning.
When Eben came in from the field the
next day at noon he had to stop and lear
against the back gate for few minutes
so overcome was he with surprise. Fo
there was Miss Perry-Miss Martina Pen
~, absolutely leading that small pom
all about the yard, while the orphaa
rode, his thin face glowing with a smis
of unspeakable delight.
truly, this was paradise And alog
behind them came long procession cor
posed Of the cat, two dogs, a goose sd
seven ducks, all appearing to enjoy be
promenade to the utmost. Miss Pery
saw her brother and turned her face ne
other way while she lifted the Joy
down."
:" I'm much obliged cried the Bile
fellow, stopping to shake hands. f'm
very much obliged"
1t gave Miss Perry q queer fsing
about her heart. She laughed trnu-
lously and went into the house and lben
heard her singing.
Great snakes an can't say rDre'n |
that !" he calculated again,
1t was not that Marthy's voice VS. mu-
steal or her method accurate it va only |
that he had not heard her sing 3r fif- |
teen years.
Anything you want from towr Mar
thy" Eben asked one morning.A few
days later. "Now III. see wheser she 1
--e-s- 20 sa-.l the chap back, { "~s
saying to himself, with some ttepida-
ton.
Yes, Eben, you may get abos TWEEN
ty feet of rope, an we'll make Ennie a
swing under the elm tree. The sesh air |
viii do him good" she added with s
side-long look at her brother.
Eben thought he had reachedhe lin
it of surprises then, and he weI on his
way, looking quite round-eyedSith as
astonishment.
But greater wonders yet werin store
for him. He reached home bout the
middle of the afternoon, that sy, TO find
the Perry farm house standingide open
and utterly deserted, not eve Socrates
being visible. The sound of oices and
laughter came up from theSoods be-
yond the house. Guided bylese Eben
stole down among the trees, nd behind
a tangle of grapevines gazedn astonish-
ment at wonderful sight.
On the bank of the little ream stood
Bennie, holding cane hshole and in
tently watching painted & that was
floating on the water. Behd him was
Miss Martha, looking oversr shoulder
at the same object, and sostes sat on q
log beside them, while theFo dogs, and
all the ducks and geese anfhickens had
come along, just for comny, and were
amusipc themselves near
There. Now Jerk, nnie, jerk -
shouted Miss Perry, anthen clapPed
her hands wildly when E hook came
up with the tiniest fishfAt ever was
caught, one would thinkHriggling and
Topping upon it. Bennb icream ofde-
light was pleasant to he a. he exclsim-
ed, rapturously
1 did get him 0h,n't he pretty ?
Just see him wriggle
Eben stole back to u house, and at
tended to his eyeninw0k, whistling
softly to himself, anset smiling lit
tie, too. That eveninFha the little
chap +" was sleeping inis dainty white
bed, Eben said TO Nj PeTy-that cum
ming Eben -
l reckon the littlelloV amt much
help to ye bout thebrk, 4arthy. After
he's been here days more 1 can
change him off for Jan gi ye bigger
one, if ye say So"
What are ye tam ab'ut, Eben ~
asked Miss Perry, Fing at him grimly.
He amt no help, course but he's not e
a coin to be chang of, nov you've got L
him here. Besideshat dos the work {
amount to? 'Tainfke ther was q big O
family to workir. An IN s-gittin' u
stronger every d l ain'tfelt so able il
and heffy since las a CIR What dye s.
think that little tpsaid today, Eben?'' "
she added, in lev and softe tones. "He n
said he didn't tx it was o bad bein' b
an orphan, aftell. Only think of US "
two maxim anfphan feel likes if ne e
didn't miss hiAther an mother / b
couldn't beenore su'prisd if sOcra- a,
ties had said it a
So the weekfent by, sndSfiss Perryis G
heart warmed opened Ike flower, 81
and Bennie y growing bDwn, with 8 VI
fine color ins cheeks IS the time sc
drew near fore child to bs returned to IL
the Asylum, IS Perry grevrestless and Il
moody, and snnie caugt her look al
ing at him stng and anxiosly that his b