The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1891-05-22

come or an attempt to embrace the new
conner. But Hope, nothing daunted,
rushed at Melinda, threw her arms
abont the spinster's neck, and gave her
a hearty kissing that brought strange
new light into those faded eyes, and q
tinge of color to the deep-lined check.
"Mercy mei' cried Aunt Melinda, ''if
you amt well; take off your bonnet
and I'll help ye lug that trunk up
charmber You set still Mrs. Nichols,
till come down"
Mrs Nichols was looking hard at
Hope, instead of staring sullenly mo
space. That 'wasn't Shutdown manners, u
as she aGterward said; a spark kindled
in her hopeless eyes, she had vague
feeling that it must be pleasant to be
Rugged and kissed like that, but Loreny
wouldn't do it, Miss Melinda stopped
as she set down Hopes trnnk IL the bare
clean loft, beside a cot spread with
hcmespun blankets and patchwork
quilt, to say. in a lowered voice: .sYou
no need to mind Ms N1cno1s, she's
heered from the woods that her jim has
ben on dretful spree and come nigh to
break his neck. He'd jest as good have
did If, for he amt no use to her, but she
seems to set by him quite a little Thank
the Lord, hain't never been no mans
fJolln
With which pious aspiration Melinda
turned back and went down the stairs,
leaving Hope to arrange her possessions
as best she could. A call to supper soon
put an end to her work, and she went
down smiling and hungry, finding Lorena
and her mother had stayed to tea. Hope
was so merry and the food so savory that
Mrs. Nichols really smiled once, and
when Hope insisted on clearing the table
and washing the dishes Lorena volun-
teered her help and her shrill little
laugh came back from the sink-room
now and then to her mothers great sur
prise.
'Welll" exclaimed Mrs. Nichols, ''if
Loreny amt a laughin' That girl o.
yolrn is as clipper as robin, now amt
shGl I wish't mine was that make up;
but she amt, not mite"
maybe she would be if you was
more cherk, " answered Melinda, dryly.
So Hope began her new life; she soon
made acquaintance with the village peo-
pie, and was like ray of sunshine among
them. To be happy had not entered
into their scheme of life; to work, and
wait, and endure was all they tried to
do; that life could be easier and better
for merriment and kindliness had not &C.
CURED to them, but this happy, unselfsh
little creature was a real social gospel to
the dreary folks of Shutdown. She
taught the children games, she sang the
cheerful hymns her mother had loved
to the old and sick people; she gathered
the gay blossoms of the woods and hills,
and showed her playmates how to
brighten up their dull houses with the
vivid or delicate colors of the flowers
they ad always disregarded; and in the
school, that even Shutdown children were
blessed with IN summer, Hope was like
perpetual June day. There was among
the scholars a great stupid boy Of eight
cen, cousin of Lorena Niehols-Jesse
Brown; one OF those boys whom other
children cannot assimilate with;
grown-up boy with child's slow compre-
hension. All the girls shrank from
jesse, aud considered him fool; while
all the boys derided him, sure that his
strength would never be used in revenge.
Hope pitied the great dull fellow with
all her heart; he, too, was an orphan,
without a home; in winter, the drudge
of the lumber camps, in summer the I'M
welcomed guest of drunken Jim Nichols,
his uncle, who was not quite unwilling,
however, to give him his board for the
chores he did about the house. Kind
ness had never come near Jesse till Hope
showed it to him in n hundred little
ways. She helped him with his lessons,
she coaxed him to join in the games at
''noon-spell," she asked him to go after
wild flowers with the rest, and to join
their berrying parties. Jesse knew
where all these wild things grew, and
the children, following Hopes lead,
soon began to respect him for such SER
viceable knowledge. His pale eyes
grew lighter; his heavy face began to
light up too. Three years went by, and
Hope grew tall and pretty in their flight
jesse was no longer called the Shutdown
fool. lie worked winters with better
will, for he wanted to earn more money,
having a. purpose in his mind that he
told no one.
Shutdown TOO was changed; this 'lit-
tie candle of Hope had indeed thrown
its beams far and wide. Kindliness,
cheerfulness, friendly words and deeds
made life brighter to the women of the
village.
The fourth winter of Hopes life with
Aunt Melinda set in, but Jesse did not
go to the woods with the loggers. He
at Miss Melinda's door one
in a new suit of rough clothes,
having the restof his goods tied up in
silk handkerchief swinging at the end OF
a stick over his shoulder.
81 come to say fare-ye-well Miss Me-
Indy ne explained, staring past her at
Hopes dimpling face. ''Tm goin' for to
seek my forum down the country. I
feel in my mind that Pm wuth more for
somethin' else than lumberin'."
'Ain't you ruther ventersomel" asked
Melinda, sharply.
'Nothin' venter nothin hev," he an
swered. Hope smiled from behind her
aunt.
Goodbye Jessel" she said, slipping
out to the step. Il know you'll do we'll.
You're goin' to be a credit to Shutdown
yet"
This was Jesse's accolade; now he
could do or die since Hope believed in
him. He wrung her hand aud turned
on his heel without one word to Aunt
Melinda.
"WeIl! hope that's manners!" was
her only comment. Hope wore a grave
face all day, but no one asked why
Jesse had that indomitable will that
makes its way; he found work at first in
a saw-mill, then learned his trade in
carpenters shop, and in five years had
good place in builders great work
shop, and was earning steady wages.
Now and then he was heard of in Slab
town; he sent a Christmass card every
year to Hope, and once in great while