The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-06-24

~ itself in the waning light. and ~
tiny stones that rolled - swiftly they
passed her often. and made her look s.c-
hind with a start 20 sce I. pursue
was coming.
They'd put me in IN asylum. sure"
she murmurcd Wildly. a. shv trrdged
along.
Al the foot 81 the Hill she sat dow n
upon an old log and waited for the
train. Across the road. guarded hy q
big sign: Look out for the engine. /"
ran two parallel iron rails. that were ~
be her road when the big monster
should come painting around the curve.
Al last the dull rumble sounded. =
shrill whistle. and she hurried a the
track. waving her shawl % signal.
This, in the conductors yernacniar.
was a crosSroad, station. where he
was used To watch for people waving
articles frantically. The train stopped
and this passenger was helped aboard.
lie noticed she was brisht-eycd old
lady. very neat and precise.
''lIow fur?r he asked.
s.Eostinr
Cit there in the mornin" he said.
standing waiting for the money. a. she
opened qnee.' little rcticuir where.
wrapped in clean cotton handkcr-
chief, under her knitting. was her
purse with her savings 81 long years
the little sums Sam had sent when lac
first began 70 prosper in the west and
some money she had earned herself by
knitting and berry picking.
At a crossroads, as they went swiftly
on. she saw the old sorrel horse. the
rafting wagon and John with his fam
lily driving homewari. She drew back
with little err. fearing he might see
her and stop the train; but they went
on 50 fast that could not be. and the
old horse logged into the woods. and
John never thought his old Aunt Ham
nah, his charge for twenty long years,
was running away.
AT Boston kindly conductor bought
her through ticket for Denver.
LISA long journey for an old lady
like you. he said.
But I'm pcart for my are. She said
anxionsly; Il never he'd days sicx-
ness since was gal.
WONG al tHt WAY ItNl4t
"vith Providence" she answered.
brightly. alert and eager 70 help Her
self. but silent and thoughtful as the
train took her into strange landscapes.
where the miles went 50 swiftly i
seemed like the past years of her liz
as She looked back on them.
'.Thy works i marvellous she mur
INJURED often. sitting with her hand.
folded. and few idle days had fhers
been in her world. where she had al
and rested for - long.
In the day coach the people Were x Ind
and generous. sharing their baskets
with her and seeing that she changes
cars right and her carpet hag was safe
She was hike any Of this dear old grand
mas in eastern homes. or. TO -rizzlet
men and weary women. like the mem
ory 81 dead mother A. faint and fal
away Is the scent of wild roses in 4
hillside country burying-ground- She
tended babies for tired women and
talked to the men Of farming and crops
or told the children Bible stories; bu'
never word she said Of herself. moi
one.
On again. guidcd BY kindly hand
Through the great. bewiidering city b,
the lake. and now through q vet
stranger land. Tired and worn BY night
in the uncomfortable seats. her brave
spirit began to fail little As the
wide. level plains. lonely and drcar
dawncd on her sight. she sighed often.
Its a dre'ful big world she said 4
i . gray-bearicd old farmer near her
$50 big feel c'eamost lost in Il: but
hopefully. across them deserts like
this long ago Providenc~ sent a star 4
guide them wise mea Of the east. an
hain't lost my faith"
hut as the day wore on. and still ths
long. monotonous land showed D
human habitation. no oasis Of green.
her eyes d;mmed. something like sol
rose under the black 'l<erchicf on ths
bowed shoulders. and the spectacle.
were taken Of with trembling hans
and put away carefully in the worn liz
case.
BE yc goin' fur. mother said ths
old farmer
lie had brought her a curful Of cof
: fee AZ The last station. and had poinfes
; out On the way things he thought NIGH
interest her.
Il ITO Denver.
II ..wal. wal: you're from New Eng
land. Ill be bonnd:"
Prom Maine" she answered. ans
. then she grew communicative for N
was always a chat'y old lady. and sb'
| had possessed her soul in silence =
. long. and il was . relief 10 tell the story
. Of her weary yeazsof waiting o. > kind
: IL listener.
I She told him all the relations she had
! werc two grandnephews and their finn
: lies That twenty ycars ago Sam tfol
. she had brought them both up whcz
their parents died of consumption tina
takes 40 many of our folks, went ou
west He was always adventurous. and
for ten years she did not hear from him
} but John was different and steady. and
when he came Of aye she had given min
her farm. with the provision she shcul<
, always have home. otherwise hs
would have gone away too. Well fo'
i've years they were happy. when JohI
: married. and his wife had grown 4