Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-08-10

II
! went. felt stunned like, but / made
up my mind I'd lay aside my grudge
till Jonas got we'll agin', for if he died
there would be nobody left for me to
| hate, md I'd spent lots of time hatin'
him. 'Twould be kinder hard to have
| that innocent anu ement cut off. So
made M nv mind I'd nurse him back
! TO life, if / could. What would them
poor, little pale chill Iren do without
I himl Ii made nv heart ache to see
that little Susy; '5 SO womanly,
md was go worI ab : Ler pa. The
| children all seem, - set great store
| by him. Jonas was out OF his head a
| long time.
The doctor came often md L could
see he felt pretty serious. L did the
very best could, but there seemed to
be some internal hurt, md Jonas
couldn't seem to get over it. He lin
gered along md suffered terrible, md
he was about the patientest man L
ever see. How he did love them chill
drenl They were remarkably nice,
weli-behayed children. He grew weak
er nd weaker. l could see it, nd l
think he see il, too. There was tur-
moil in my mind, for could see that
them children were going to be left
fatherless. L hadn't anyone left to
live for nd l wanted s)me one, md l
thought, If could jest have them lit
tie ones, it would b. a benefit to me
md perhaps as well for them, unless
there was some near kin that would
want 'em. l lpondered over the matter
good deal, md some way life seemed
a good deal better without that mis-
r'bIe hstin' feelin'. l wautec Susy any
way, nd the Iittle5t one. I'd take 'em
all, but il anybody, any near kin l
mean, was real set on havin' the other
girl md boy why of coarse l couldn't
exOect to have 'em all.
set thinkin' one evenin', Jest at
twilight. The littlest child had fallen
asleep on my lap. He looked so sweet
md innOcent-like I couldn't bear 10
think OF leavin' him md goin' back to
my own lonely house. Jonas was
pTopped up in bed, for had my man
of all work come up TO stay md he was
needed to lift ths sick man md help
around. The nabors were powerful
good md Jonas seemed TO have a great
many friends. But as | was sayin' l
was wOnderin' how could ever breach
the subject of my takin' the children.
The doctor didn't want his patient
worried about his condition, md If /
suggested anythin' about the children
he'd know the worst md mebbe sink
faster for KNOWN it.
Esther" Jonas said, feebly; "I'm a
thinkiI' the little chap will De without
a ia her sOon."
"Nay, now wouldn't worry about
that" said l.
"I'm not worryin' for myself" he
said, "but it'll be a serious thing for
The little fellers. Really, Esther, does
the doctor expect or hope I'll get bet.
ter2'
We're hoping for the BEST said
simply. L couldn't very we'll say more,
md there was no use sayIn' less.
"TOu are hOpIn' but you don't ex-
pect. Answer me, Esther. Do you OF
the doctor expect I'll get well3 Pm 8
rational being md l ought to krow, sc
as to do the best | can by the children.
DO you expect me to get better?'
''Jonas," | said. md my voice tren,-
bled little, were afraid your time
for life IS not long. What do you want
to do with the children? Is there any.
one near, any kin who will wani
them:"
Jonas sighed. "There Is kin, but
most of 'em have little fellers enough
of their own, he said, sadly.
''Let me have 'em," | said, eagerly |
'I'll do the best | can for 'em nd it's |.
very lonely since Steve and the chill I,
dren went away?'
ESTHER" lie cried, "would you take ,
'em?"
'Yes, l would, md be glad TO, miss |,
my own so. So set your mind at re 81 /,
about that. / want you to settle yOuI
property on them, nd they shall have
it all when they want it. III take
care of 'em nd keep 'em, for l have
enough. We are only stewards of this
worlds goods anyway; so Pm doin' ,
Eothin' only what's right; in fact moth
in' that ain t goin' to be- for my own
selfish pleasure.
"You're a strange woman, Esther,'
Jonas said, signing contentedly, md
you'll never know till we're both over
yOnder what a dreadful care you've
lifted often my mind. I'll be willin'
to die now. Twas mighty hard lynn
here, day after day, a-wOnderin' what
would become of the little 'unS when |
was gone"
SO the matter ended, nd set great
store on 1xin' the children up, md
keepin' 'em nice md tidy like, for /
felt like [ was gOln' to have my lonely
days cheered up by their patterIng feet
md childish chatter
Neither, Jonas nor l said no more
about il; it wasn't necessary md there
was no use talkin' bout his dyin', as
If | vas anxious to have him outen' the J
way. The time went on; Jonas didn't
seem TO get no worse, ma bimeby the
doctor said he was gainin'. After he
begun TO gain, he seemed to set right
ut 1t md picked up wonderful. Final
ly he got SOS lie could be around a lit
tie. l didn't want to stay no longer N
l had to. So L picked up what belong
in had there, ready to go home.
Twas late in the fall, md my house
needed cleanln' md eVeIythin' needed
tendin' to. So L took an opportunity
Of tellin' Susy L thought. SEEM her pa
was gettiu' on so well, I'd 90 home
next day.
81 wish you wasn'tever goin' home.''
she said, "Jou've been 81 good. It's (
been hard since ma died" md she
threw herself IN my arms md cried. (
That eveuin' Jonas md Susy md |
were sittin' together, 'nd Jonas said
''Susy tells me you're thinkin' of goin'
home tomorrow. l wish yer could
make up yer mind to stay. | hain't OF
no great good now, nd | hain't never |
been so prJsperous-llke as you have, but
If you'll stay, I'll do the best can md
! tn NIX the little fellers will, too"
My breath was clear took away, md |
L couldn't say nothin'. I'd never even |
thought of stay in steady.
He went on: There was time
some thirty odd years ago, when you
A..nItll l-...t. ].