Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-06-04

turneu 10 ner CoupOunuS VI lrdBrdht
odors.
Slowly the afternoon wore away; the
pies and cakes and cookies disappeared
from the table and were replaced by
pans of crisp doughnuts and heavy
spherical loavcs of brown bread, with
raised lines cncircling them; with plat
ters of juicy meats, Drowned to the
critical point of perfection, and fanked
with dishes of yellow pumpkin and
white turnip and scarlet cranberry. AS
the table became crowded these in turn
the coming of the "great day." And
still the tired and flushed mistress OF
the kitchen went on with her mixing
and tasting and baking.
The low, sullen line of clouds became
more menacing and crept on until they
had masked the entire sky. The wind
grew strong and was soon filed with
fine particles of swirling snow, but
Mrs. Barten needed not; time was toe
precious
Its growing dark" she grumbled
as she slid more pans into the oven
days are pesky short this time o year."
wind hurled cloud of snow against
the window that she looked up.
For the lands salSe!" she exclaimed
"It's showing m I'll lay dollar them
drafted children's out in it."
Hurrying to the door she called shril'
ly:
Bob! Liza! March your boots in
here uuicker'n lightning!"
Receiving no reply she muttered
angrily:
upstairs rumagin', most likely
Seems with all my work they might
quit their didoes for awhile"
But when sharp call up the stairs
failed to elicit response she began tc
look anxious. Throwing a shawl over
her head she went out into the yard.
The snow was now whirling past in
binding sheets, and the keen wind cut
one like a knife. Already white drifts
were forming in the fence corners and
sheltered places. Objects dozen yards
away were becoming indistinct.
A thorough search of the yard failed to
show any trace of the children and she
returned to the house to decide on her
next move. She could not determine
the direction the childish feet had taken
and once out of sight of the house she
knew there was little probability OF
their finding their way back by them
selves. There was no danger of their
being lost unless they wandered away
from the village, but Liza had scarcely
recovered from the measles and Mrs.
Bsrten had all the mothers horror OF
wet feet and colds.
A smell of burning bread drew her
attention to the stove. When she re-
turned to the door she saw bent figure
coming up the path. A moment later
and the old woman stood before her.
but now the ragged shawl was closely
wrapped around one child, while
another clung to her skirts, sobbing
bitterly. The strangers face was full
of wistful tenderness, but Mrs Bar.
ten did not see it. Assured of the
children's safety, her feelings under.
went quick change. Her child in the
arms of dreaded 'furriner." In a
moment she had hurried the little ones
to the fire and was removing their outer
garments What contamination and
disease might not lurk in the ragged
shawl and draggled skirts!
She was aroused from her reflections
by the entrance of her husband
''More wet feet, eh?" he said, as he
drew chair to the stove.
callers wet feet when there's any.
thing to wet 'em in," she returned
Then, after moment, she added,
tN11 H. i
come in to the fire. Beggars and young
'uns are enough to make folks lose theiI
wits"
Il passed an old woman outside the
gate" he said. as he took his pipe from
the shelf and began to fill it, IF it's
her you mean, she's half down the street
before this"
Then I'm shet O. thet trial." she
said, in a relieved tone. ''Some of the
neighbors will be sure n take her in.r
All night long and the next day and
night the snow whirled and drifted
about the village. Then the sun came
out and the men and boys took theil
teams and shovels and began to dig
communications between the houses.
AS the paths became clear one neigh.
Dor after another sailed forth to gossip
over the events of the storm.
At length some one mentioned the
old beggar woman, and then it wa.
learned that no one knew of her where.
abouts; nearly all had seen her, anG
most of them confessed that they had
sent her away with flea in her bon.
not"
One man thought she went toward
the Freeman house. This was IA de-
serted building just out of the village
| Without hesitation the men took theil
shovels and began to dig vigorously ir
that direction. And Mrs Barten worked
with the foremost.
LUCKY there's good fireplace anG
plenty of fuel in the old house," sale
one. "The old lady can keep warm, bu
guess she'll be mighty hungry"
When they reached the house ther,
was no sign of it's being occupied.
''She amt here" said the man whc
had spoken before, as he threw oper