The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-15
WHOLE NO. 2OS6.

cover the worthless blotches. But you,
Betsy Darrow, what is there warm or
sweet, or Of any use to others about
you ?"
Here Nrs. Johnson paused as if to give
.he sick woman chance to defend her
SELF but as no reply came, she began
again
"The Lord has been coed enough to
give you plenty Of money, and yo've bin
pilin' j, up in the savin's bank for years,
too keep frona goin' to the poorhouse, an
after all, you've got there Yes, this is a
kind Of poor hous you're in now, but
Kate and are happy in it-cr would be
If it wasn't for your srumbling. And you
are in powerful poor house when yu're
at hOme-a real mean poor house, too,
when there amt even eOmftable victuals
nor anything else worth living for. low
you can't find a poor house worse than
your own the law wouldn't permit it
50 the time has come for you to spend
some Of the money you've been aboard
ing. Ican't buy the delicate, nourishin'
food you need, though you're welcome
as the air you breath to the best I've got
if it was only fitting. So you've got
70 open your heart and your pocketbOok,
and buy iellies and soups and fruits and
oysters, and wood enough to keep roar
ing hot fires, cause that telephone pole is
burned up, and haven't money enough
to buy more. And if you're afraid Kate
and me will get some of the benefit, you
can be carried over home. But whether
you go or stay, you've got to buy the
things you need p
Mrs. johnson said this with such firm
ness and so much with the air Of loving
authority that she had used to her friend
in the old long ago that Mrs, Darrow felt
a queer upheaval within her heart, and
sudden rush Of sweet memories Of the
dear, glad, innocent days Of her girl
hood.
You're pretty hard on me, Rebecca,
but l guess deserve it. 1 never thought
before what a regular poor house was
living in all the time while was saving
and pinching TO keep from going TO
one.
And-and-Rebeeca," she said, paus-
ing tenderly over the name by which she
used to call hersfriend, do you think if
l begun clean over again and tried to live
as a woman ought, that God could for
give me and love me again 81
Unmindful other rheumatic limbs, Re-
becca dropped upon her knees by her
guests bedside, and with great sob put
her arms around the lean, long neck.
Oh / know he would, Bessie-Herl
make you all over again, if you only let
Him.
She kissed the wrinklad face, as the old I
time love that 50 long had slumbered |
burst into life again.
Seems ike you've been gone all l
these years, and just come back, dear
Bessie, she whispered.
Ieers II mad been having a long,
nightmare, and's if YOU Just
come and walked me. Rebecca, you
don't want to send me home now, do |
you? sha'n't be so cross to Kate after
this. Somehow it made me feel bitter
and jealous to see how much you loved |
each other, and how happy you was,
even if you was poor, And i was mean
enough to think you was glad got hurt
with the telephone pole"
20, Bessie how could you ?" inter
rupted Mrs. johnson.
But was, though, and 1 wished I'd
never seen the old pole and now here
am, thanking the Lord for letting it
smash into your house. Ny mother used
to say
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders % perform
He used that blessed old telephone
pole to change my heart and bring me
back TO His fold
40, Rebeeca how glad 1 am }"