Middletown transcript., 1893-01-14

birth such spark OF gayety ana
brightness. such an indomitaele OIL OIL
finn and cheer that she earned her nick-
name Her father died before she
could remember; her mother lay dying
for wears; .,oyerty beset the mouse;
Charity. with cold half-alled hands,
kent Clarinda Anes and her baby alive; !;
hnt nothing daunted the laughing
child. she grew up in an atmosphere
of cloud and storm, but she drank In
every scarce sunbeam.
haven't hope in this wuld out
nv babyl'' said the ema,iated woman
to Parson Pitcher, on one OF his pro-
fessional visits of consolation.
.If twasn't for her I'd ha' died long
AGO: she's turned of six now, and 1t
in natur' | should live much longer,
and I've got to leave her to Aunt
Melindy: there lent another livln'
soul that's kin to her and me. /"
..Well, well, my friend, try and De
thankful for that resource. The LORD
is good to the fatherless; little Hope
will be prospered no doubt. You must
have faith. Yes, yes; according to
your faith it shall be. F"
All this fell as hollow sounds on the
sick wotnan's ear; she was worn and
anxious to the last degree;her faith had
failed her, for the flesh was exceeding
weak: she made no assent TO the Far
sons official remarks; a few slow tears
trickled out of her eyes, md sallow
despair invaded her Tired face. but just
then Hopes clear laugh came in through
thu window, and she smiled
Parsou Pitcher was at loss what to
do. 50 he took up his hat and came and
said goodbye.
.Be'n to see Mis- Ames, heve ye?'
asked Deacon Tucker, whom he met as
he turned from the green yard where
Hope was building an oven of stones
and mud, with shouts of laughter every
time the edifice fell to the ground.
"Hope re found spiritual state salts
fact'ry.
"Well, Deacon, she is in straits no
doubt; yes, in straits: she is in the
depths, the spirit may be willing. l
can't say, but the flesh is weak, ex-
ceediDg weak, do not think she is
struck with death however, and she
will be more reconciled in time; the
Lord doth not give us dying grace to
live by. trust she will be led through
the valley in peace.
Parson Pitcher was right. Almost
four years went by before Mrs. Ames
did die; years when she seemed to live
by pure force of will and her chief help
was Hopes unfailing gayety and sweet
ness.
''Her pa hadn't any wuldly goods to
leave her," said the anxious mother to
Mrs. Tucker, who had called to bring
her .'some blue mango and lemon jell. y
.sNo, Charley hadn't cent, and this
house isn't much; it's mine, but I've
had to raise money on It; but he left
Hope his own sunshiny natur', and
that's wuth everything to her; she'll
always see the bright 81 g. Myl don't
remember when he was fetched in all
broke up after that scaffoldin' Civ
way; how he was whittier N writin' pa
per, but he looked right up in my face
and smiled as pleasant; he died smil-
in, and Hope is 'xactly like him.
swell, Mrs. Ames, it's proper
good thing that kind of disposition;
ye know what Scriptures say-'A
merry heart doeth good like medi.
cine; and tits SO. IF she'd been a
peaked pinin' whinin' child like Mis-
Larabee's Juliet, 1 don't know what
you would have done."
"Yes, I've got deal to be thankful
for; she'll get along sight better with
out me when she has that sort o
spirit. I'm afraid she'll need it all tt
Melindy's."
But tears and grief over took Hope
one day, as those hunters of men over
take US all sooner or later; she criet
herself i'll when her mother left her for
ever, and she knew that the dear ten
der face would never greet he
again.
Still her indomitable courage ant
sweetness helped her, and when he
clothes were packed in the old hal
trunk, and all the furniture thai
would sell sent to its various pur
chasers, when the house was desolat'
to her eyes, and she was just about t
pull herself up into Deacon Tucker
old wagon, she turned to say one NOR
good bye to Mrs. Tucker, with a
bright smile on her rosy, dimplinI
face as had ever shown on her dear
lost mother.
keep up your heart, dear !" cackle'
the kindly old woman. "Remembe
me to Melindy; I dassay you'll be
comfort to her,"
"I'll try" said Hope, with a ga
little laugh.
1t was long journey that brough
this small maiden at last to Aunt Me
Indy, and her welcome was vagu
enough; she had not been expected I'll
next day, and she opened the kitehe
door on a most lugubrious twain. I
melancholy woman set at the mort
window leaning her head on her rough
bony hand with an expression of oil
tress and disgust all over her wrinkle
face; beside her, on an up-turned butte
tub, sat an equally forlorn child lear
ing against her mother, who took n
notice of her, though the poor littl
band feebly grasped her dress as II
call her atteDtian and tho great sorrow