The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-11-02
NEVER TOO LATE.
Eow tho Old Folks Proved the
Adage a True Ono.


the boys were willing to lift the mort
gage-wouldn't pay, they said-and the
father and mother would have to end
their days apart.
Because" said Matilda. the young
est, lit wouldn't do for any one of us to
try to take care of them both together
We've always had to live in the quarrel
and janglc ourselves, and to have the
example of 1T before our children would
be downright SIM"
Jane. the older daughter, said moth
ing, but she thought to herself that if
her husband were worth as much US
Matilda's was she would take both par
ents to her home and risk the example
they might set for the third generation.
But ever since Matilda had first
lisped her voice had settled family mat
tiers, and so father was to go with Jane
to the city and mother to move over to
the great rcd-brick farmhouse which
W. Matilda's home.
Mother will be right handy about
the work." Matilda said to her husband,
when he showed some inclination to
object. "And there isn't better hand
in the country with children. We won't
lose anything"
So the September morning came
when the couple who had never parted
In iifty years badc each other fare
well, much rs mere acquaintance
would have done.
Father, dressed in his best clothes,
muttercd 'Good-by" in a defiant sort
of way and hobblcl ont to the spring
wagon. while Jane paused to kiss the
little old wo:n3a who sat looking out
of the window in an Indifferent way.
"Good-by, mother. | hope you will
be happy with Mat Won't you come
to the door and sec father OFF,"
'Oh-I dunno as it's with WHILE" re-
turned the old lady, and then Jane, too,
was gone
When shc was sure the spring wagon
YVES out OF sight Mrs. Paine put on her
gingham bonnet and walked over to
the cemetery just up the hill
The graves where she paused we're
mot we'll tendcd-no engraved stones
marked their places and the grass was
Ncrt away only enough to outline the
mounds. Two were small, those of in
fants; one was that of a mans size, and
they were all her children, two daugh-
'tcrs and one son. The son was her old
est child and he would have been
forty-eight or forty-nine years old now.
lie had died while studying for the
ministry. She had seven children liv-
linz, but in her times of trouble aud
sOrest trial she had always wandered
over to this sacred spot ever since it
was first made thirty years ago.
To-day she sat down in the sun-dried
grass and cried for some time.
-'He might a-said something more"
she sobbed to herself. And then she
heard Matilda calling and hurried back
to the house
The months passed slowly. At Christ
mas time there was some talk of re-
FuY1ign, but the talk did not materiaiize.
Letters came from Jane saying ia
;ther was to!crably contentcd. but missed
mis- ioafing place ut The Corners"
QIe sent his regards to mother. Jane
ALWAYS added that.of her own accord,
for father never sent any word to any
old mother always TOLD her to inquire
after fathers health and to send her re-
spects.
1t was one warm day in March that
the little old laly's cup seemed full to
OVERLOOKING. Matilda had gone to town.
and the children were unusually quar-
rclsorc and boistrous. The grand
mother had rcprovcd them mildly, and
at last she spoke little sharply.
brothers and sisters shouldn't
wranglc the hull time! You ort to say
a decent word to one nuthcr onct in
awhile, anyways" she said.
Lucy, the chief culprit, tossed her
head disdainfully.
Il guess you needn't to talk, grand
ma! Mamma says you and grandpa al
ways lived like cats and dogs"
And you're livin' of papa, now,
too" added George, cmboldcned by his
sisters example, and not particular as
to whether his remarks we're called for
or not.
Mrs. Paine sat very still for Il mo-
mcnt. Thcn u bright rcd spot famed
en- each check, and gathering up her
Knitting she slowly went to her room
upstairs.
Yes, it was truc. But what had
caused it? They bad married young
and for love only, for neither had any
worldly wealth. How had the trouble
commenced? She could not remember
exactly, but the children were the
main causes. The babies came fast and
the mother had to work hard. Sick
ness and hard work do not swcetcn q
woman's temper. Tho father was i'm
patient aaa easily rebutfcd- that wp:
how it commenced.
Then the jarring eliminated in one
great quarrel, when Henry, the oldest
was sent away to school. His father
wanted 70 hire him out when he was
seventeen, bat the mother was ambi
tious and Henry had finished the course
at the village academy with high hon
ors.
lie was thirstiYg for more study;
bright, handsome lad, and his mother
was SO proud Of him-and he Wen
away to college. Eut never again wa.
there peace between the parents. A
college Henry was converted to religion
and decided to study for the ministry
then he was stricken with typhoid