Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-10-15

man that could give her happier home
than her mothers had been, you cursed
an swore, an forbid her name ever to
be mentioned in the house.
"Ye know the rest Stlas, From the
day her child left her, Hubby fadcd
away As she grew weaker We grew
more unkind, an when one day, she
dropped in her tracks. sittin' dinner fur
We an your help you grumhled an
Scolded, because you had to hire some
one in the house. But Hubby he'd got
beyond where you could hurt her. Silas
Her heart had grown deaf to your hard
words, and she lay, giviu' no sign, bat
longin' fur Susie an fur heaven. Ye
let her lay there fur three days afore
We called doctor. We told NIaIrhv
Ann Hopkins when she came. that If
she was let alone she would soon ue
up again. But she grew worse, an Sc
hailed old Doctor skinner as he was Il
ridin' by, an called him in He telcd
We the truth, that her earthly days were
mast numbered.
Yesterday we laid Hubby to rest vi
the old graveyard, beside her babies
Poor soul I'm glad she's got eternity
TO rest ia. When I see her thin, tired
face, so sweet an peaccrul-lookn' IN
| the coffin, ! said to my heart Thank
| the Lord" I've been a hearn' all these
years that We was mighty graspin' an
hard on Hubby, hut / didn't suspicion
how bad il was till I came here afore
Hubby died. Her dyjn breath was
spent not complainin' Of you, Silas
she was too true Il wife for that, but
begin me TO make peace between YOU
an Susie. She longed TO see her child
but when l asked YOU to send for her
you frowned and turned away
"Silas Hutchius, what can you say to
all this?"
The man was almost bowed to the
earth, and heavy sobs We're shaking his
whole frame.
'IIave pity, oh Patience! You are
an unmerciful womanw
Did you have mercy on Hubby
How can you answer to God fur the
way We crushed the life out Of the wo-
man YOU promised to love and cherish
as your ownself?"
And again he moaned u didn't mean
it, Patience; | didn't mean H."
Wei, it's done" she went on
'Huldy's in her grave years before her
time. You can't bring her back. But
what about Susief"
I'm try and do the right thing. 3"
groaned Silas Hutchius, the hot tears
dropping through his fingers to the floor
where his broken pipe lay nhecdcd
but I don't know where she is"
"HIuldy knew. In spite of you, an
because other folks were mcrciful when
you were cruel letters passed bac. and
forth. John Lane took his wife 80
Kansas, an settled on government
land Just rs they had proved up their
claim, an vas gittiu' a little start. he
was taken with fever. an lay fur six
weeks in the shadder Of death Kind
ncighbors. most rs poor MS they wera
helped 'em, or they must hey persisted
| Such is their condition now What are
YOU going 10 do about ~"
'What Kin | do, Padcncc?" he ask.
ed with a strange, new humility
Draw five hundred dollars out'n the
bank, an start tomorrow fur the place
where they be Fix up their matters so
they won't lose all he's done. and bring
'em home with YOU, Baby SilaS, an all. 90
The man gave start of surprise
rs there baby, an named fur me-
he asked, husbly,
ITO be sure there is That looks
like hard feolins doesn't It? Now win
you goY
I'm do it, Patience said Silas. 'Do
you spose Huldll know If DO hettcrE
he asked, with ptiful ahasement.
Certainly / dor answered Aunt Pa
| tience with emphasis. Having applied
| heroic treatment with good results she
was ready with cheerful cncourgemeu.
Her benevolent old face bcamcd on the
repentant Silas, and she hustled around.
| getting MIN ready for his journey which
seemed herculcan undertaking to th"
man who had never been outside his
native New England.
Il tell You what said Aunt Patience
little later, to Marthy Ann Hopkins
I've made up my mind that when Nh"
| Lord gives We a message 10 deliver. Ia
prepares an ear to hear 1t, There hay
on my bed most Of the blessed night
long, twistin' an tuInin' how ! should
say my say to Silas. ] dreaded it wuss
than tooth-pullin'; but the words seem
ed given me TO say"
A year after this, Silas Hutchins
home reveals a very different picture
It echoes with the prattlc Of n wee boy
who is the idol Of his grandfather
heart. John Lane manages the firm
| in partnership with his futhpr-in-law.
that her presence is both "a sweet ami
bitter reminder TO the old man. Is the
presiding genius within II is hard sor
! Silas Hutchins TO break away ~ once
and utterly from his lifelong pcuur-
! tousness, but Aunt Patience lesson WAS
| too salutary a one to be quickly for
gotten Flowers bloom on the grave on
the hillside, and II Is "a spot often
| visited. in these later days peace and
/ Joy have come 10 dwell in the old home.
/ Who knows how much of the tarly
I a.