The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-04-11

naynelu Tor the afternoons work. She
noticed he passed his hands wearily
over his pale, tired-looking face, and
turning suddenly to him, said:
Pa, can't you sit down and rest a
little while2 You look more tired
than usual.
''No, child. There's that lot to be
raked up this afternoon, and a good
job it is. I must be going"
Abner came near and said:
'1'm willing to work extra hard on
it if you rest for a little while. ] think
myself you don't look quite well. If
you will trust me / will look after
that this afternoon.
Mr.. Fosdick had learned to rely on
Abner-much more than on his own
son, Henry, who, if truth must be
told, was inclined TO shirk. Henry
disliked the farm. In fact, he dis
liked labor or application of any sort
''Then ! guess you may go on, Alb
ner, and L will rest n spell. To tell
the truth / don't feel very scrump-
tious," and he seated himself in the
old-fashioned rocker out in the shady
side of the porch He soon fell asleep.
Two hours passed, and Marie began to
feel anxious, as her father seemed still
sleeping. She passed her hand anxi-
ously over his brow. He awoke, but
seemed dazed. He failed to recognize
her, as he failed to recognize all the
other members of the family. Dr.
Rome was hastily summoned, who
said he was suffering from sunstroke,
and gently intimated that his working
days were over. Abner came home
much later than usual, having stayed
to finish the lot. He found the family
in distress over Mr.. Fosdick's condi-
tion. Somehow the blow seemed to
have crushed Mrs. Fosdick. She sat
in state of apathy, from which they
could not arouse her. Everything
fell upon Marie. "Marie" must do
this. ''Marie" must direct that.
Henry, instead of bracing himself to
help meet the needs of the place, grew
lazier than ever, and absolutely refused
to be dictated to.
''There's just one thing about it,
Abner," " said Marie emphatically one
morning, ''we have got to make our
plans exactly as if Henry were not
here. He can't be depended upon.
You had to do his work yesterday as
well as your own. He is determined
to go to the city. Let him go. 1
shall oppose him no longer. Then we
shall know just what we have got to
depend upon"
The next day Henry started for the
city, leaving his share of the burden
to fall upon Marie and Abner.
'I'll do the best can, Miss Marie, ~
said Abner. 'I want you to feel free
to call upon me early and late and 1
will serve you faithfully"
81 don't doubt you will, Abner, but
oh if only mother had not fallen into
such strange condition. She doesn't
seem to care about anything, and 1
don't know much. I shall have to de-
pend upon you entirely about the
farm, and if l fail to show Judgment
you'll know it is because don't know,
not because don't care, aud then we
will talk things over and get as straight
as we can.
Marie was not crying girl usually,
but just now such large tears stood in
her pretty eyes, and she looked up into
Abner's face with such an appealing,
dependent look that he felt his heart
jump straight into Marie's hands.
its not much that know, but you
may trust me, Miss Marie"
Somehow Marie felt extremely COM
forted from that moment, although
she could not sing about the house in
her old-time way, yet she worked and
directed with a feeling of greater Sc
curity than before.
And in the midst of it all Aunt Tab
by came. Even Marie, hospitable as
she was, felt a bit more weary after she
had welcomed her and helped her
place her few garments in the neat
''spare chamber.
NOW, look a here, Marie. l made
up my mind to come, even if your pa
an ma air sick. l can do n little TO
help, an 1 will, too, if you an 1 can
agree on few things"
"But you are getting old, and you
are not strong, auntie, You must not
do much; you'll get sick.
eff amt capable there's folks in
the world as is an'we can get 'em. "
"No, we can't, for we've no money
to do it with, said Marie, decidedly.
"Well, / have, an I'll do it, pro-
vided good smart gal can come here
an help you, but if you say you'll
allow her TO wait on them lazy girls
an work over their fiounceS an furbe-
lows instead of helpin' you, why 'tiant
of much use.
Marie caught eagerly at this hope of
help.
"Well, auntie, promise you faith
fully that Celinda and Clara shall wait
upon themselves and iron their own
founces. We will have good work
done in an orderly manner, and 1 am
tired, Aunt Tabby."
"Well, there's one a-comin' by next
stage. counted on how it would be
an took the liberty to have her prom
Use to come. She's a stout, likely gal. {"
Marie knew her aunt's compliments
would not be undeservedly given. She
ran down with lighter heart. Abner
came in with his pals of milk and won
dered at the unusual brightness of