The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-28
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kind old faces expressing the greatest
sympathy for my hard lot. Mrs Cor
nell made no reply to me, but came and
put her arm about my waist and
knew by that action that she believed
me and was my friend NIr. Cornell
only said:
''Wull, wull, thath too bad now. 1t
it'll thure. It'll too bad, too bad"
The sympathetic tone in which these
words were uttered. ard the tender
manner in which the old mother
caressed me, touched my feelings deep
ly, for had not been used to kind
ness, and the tears welled up in my
eyes and my heart grew full. could
not say another word then, and for
near minute we were all silent. Mrs.
Cornell was the first to speak.
I'm sure" she said. that you are
good and affcctionate and it's pity
your life has been SO dark. know how
to sympathize with you, dear, for |,
too, grew up without a mothers love. +"
how. .-
"Did your father love your" asked
Eyes but not as well as he loved his
younger children. suppose it is
natural for man to feel greater
love for the children of his living
wife"
''He'th rathcal if he DOTH" observed
Mr.. Cornell, half to himself, land a fool
bethideth."
felt strongly inclined to indorse his
view of the matter, but thought it bet
ter to retain my opinion, so said moth
ing Turning again to Mrs. Cornell. /
asked:
"Was your stepmother kind to you?"
''Well," she replied, ''she was not
real kind like mother would have
been, but she was not cruel like great
many women are"
1.-THE wath ath mean ath the devil,
Thuthan, you know the wath. The
didn't roath you alive, but the made
you thlave for her childrenth and treat
ed you like you wath a thcrvant. Don't
you tell me the walnut mean, 'cauth
know the wath."
well, Aaron" said Mrs Cornell,
with smile, lit has been long time
since then, and have been trying to
forget those days. They are not pleasant
to keep in mind, and if a person can for
getand forgive it's better to do so. When
recall what my stepmother suffered
in her old age, and how she died, can't
find it in my heart to harbor the old
bitter feeling against her that once
did. I'd rather try to remember as
kindly as | can. passing over her faults
and dwelling on the few good traits she
possessed"
"You're right, Thuthan, you're right,
exclaimed the old gentleman, tenderly
"You're Chrithtian womanth if there
ever wath one, thure; and if you get
forgiveneth according ath you forgive
there wonth be anything againth you
when the end comcth."
: The loving, earnest tone in which
these words were uttered made then
extremely touching, and the good ole
.,ssoul to whose praise they were spoken
was so pleased that her face fairly
Sshone with happiness while tears o.
gratitude filled her eyes. looked or
the two plain old people, SO quiet, SC
undemonstrative and thought hat
never known of such love as they hat
for each other, and such generous sym
patty as they had for mankind the
world over. had known them but
few hours, yet loved them dearly, ant
already grieved at the thought of part
ing from them.
had no doubt but that I would b.
given home there if / asked it, but
felt that had no right to presume OF
the goodness of strangers, and with re
luctance | announced my intention O
proceeding on my journey.
what" cried Mrs. Cornell. "Yo,
surely don't think of going on now?"
81 must" replied.
"Why must you?" she asked 81
your cousin expecting you? She surely
have never seen her or correspondeC
with her."
''She is not expecting me-" said
"but must so on. 1 have no RICH
to"
"No right to stop here, eh? Now jus
hear the child, Aaron. She thinks she
has no right to stop here. Did 20,
ever hear of such an idea as that?"
"Well. we never athed her t
thtay, Thuthan, and I reckonth The
didn't know we wanted her to- dom
thee what made nth tho careleth; thur,
don't"
swell, l don't, either" replied Mrs
Cornell, but we ask her now; and She
going to stop here week, at least. l
will take that long for her to recove
from her walk yesterday and the frigh
she had last night"
"A week, Thuthan? Thaw! thay
month. Thath more like It."
"Well, a month, then. A week 1
mighty little time, sure enough"
protested against this generous ar
rangemcnt, not very heartily, Isuspect
for did want to rest in Fiat quie
haven of peace, oh, so much. The oil,
couple refused to hear any objection
offered. but carried everything thei
own way, and in the end / was com
PEELED to agree to remain one week.
Reader, cannot tell, neither cal
You imagine, what that week was t,
me. 1t is an impossibility to attempt
portrayal of the happiness / expert
enced in those seven short days whicl
went by like fleeting CLEANS of dazzlin,
brightness. For the first time in m,
life occupied an atmosphere of love
For the first time within my recollectic.