The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-07-19

"A suQQen inspiration came to the
abashed man He turned back the
lapel of the big blue coat and exposed
the peaceful, pretty face of the sleep
ing child.
The delighted mother impetuously
leaned down and kissed the red cheeks
and then said in that low, sweet voice:
THANK you so much"
That's all right. That's all right"
Jerked out the man, and putting the
child down he began to dig out of the
leeward side of the stack great hand
tuls of hay, making a spacious recess
to shelter them.
The drenching shower was upon
them. The air was full of flying debris
hay and weeds. But the center of
the destructive patch was a quarter of
a mile distant, and they could see the
sWlrllng mass go careering toward the
northwest. Then the rain came down
steadily and they could talk.
She's mighty purity" began he,
looking at little Jane.
Yes, and she's good, too"
"She must be a great comfort to
yer2"
Il couldn't live without her"
Melancthon thought how neatly
formed was the mothers hand as it
rested on the child's head and some
how wished he had courage to touch it.
"She might come over to see me
sometimes"
Yes, she might-if you would let
her"
This was too much, and when he
had finished telling how greatly he
should enjoy the child's visit and had
included her mother in the invitation
and had explained about the land and
the had exchanged mutual condolences
about the loneliness of prairie life, he
was almost sorry to see that the sky
had cleared and the setting July sun
was flooding the glistening plain.
The widow looked toward her home.
"Why, where is my cabin?" she
asked, in astonishment.
Sure enough, where was it, The
storm had leveled it to the earth and
she wa without home.
"Oh, we'll, you can visit me now,"
said Melancthon. III go down to the
store and stay with tn boys tonight"
So they trudged through the wet
grass to his cabin and the widow got
supper for the three. It was such a
meal as Melancthon had not eaten in
years. 1t so mellowed his heart that
in the little after supper talk across the
table while Jane explored the odd
corners of the room he blurted out:
''Sposin' we don't try to divide tn hay
an land over there-but jest own it
together-an' live here"
Just at dusk a little party of settlers
approached the place.
Look out there!' said the store
keeper, eff that crank amt got tn
United States flag flynn over his
house."
"Gettin' ready ter celebrate after tn
hays got in, 1 reckon" suggested
Amsbaugh.
Just then the door opened and a
view of a man and woman showed a
moment, Melancthon came striding
down the path and vas upon them
before he saw the party.
"Well, Lank, we've come ter help
yer with tn hay" spoke up tn store
keeper.
Melancthon stopped a little and then,
without a word more than leone on"
led the way back to the house. He
ushered them into the room and took
his place by the side of the English
woman.
"Fact is, fellers," he began, "Inde
pendence day didn't prove exactly a
success with me in n respect. I've
surrendered ter tn enemy"
"a pretty day ter give up to tn
British" calculated Amsbaugh, in
~mock-scorn.
"WeIl the British also surrendered"
put in the woman
"And tn treaty will be signed to-
morrow if tn preacher can be found"
added Melancthon. "You're all in
vited ter tn weddin' an if you feel
like haulin' tn hay ter tn barn you
can do it,"
81 'spose we'll have ter 60" re
marked the postmaster, when, accom-
panied by Melancthon, they had re
turned to the store. 81 only hope she
won't put any of that medicine she got
into our coffee"
Lank laughed. "She told me about