The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-10-18


me? l hain't had letter can't tell
the time when. I'm most afraid to
open it, Dannel. Mebbe it's got bad
news"
bad news. Who from. I'd like to
know? You're alwuz eXpectin' some
thin gloomy"
"Wa'al, there's a good deal that's
gloomy in this world. You know that s
well as | do"
YES, Hannah, n there's good
deal that ain t, too" lie seldom spoke
with so much vigor and decision when
differing with his sister.
YOU'D better open it N read it to
me: | don't feel as eff / could, some
how"
Daniel Marstin sat down in the old
rocker by the west window 1t was
early August and almost sunset.
Beautiful shafts of red light threw
themselves over his thin, small figure
and his head, with its scanty gray hair.
He tore open the envelope with his
finger, but the letter would not come
out. I'm 'fraid shall tear it all to
pieces, Hannah"
"Wa'al, let me take it; I'll tryn see
what I can do. I'm dreadful afraid
somebody's dead"
81 s'pose somebody is somewhere"
said Daniel, with a quick, short-lived
twinkle lighting up his pale blue eyes.
Good land! who do you think wants
to come n see us, Dannel?"
Cousin Angienette?" said Daniel
in low, timid interrogative.
Now, how come you to be thinkin'
O hero asked his sister with consid-
cradle asperity of manner. You amt
been readin' right through the letter,
like some O them folks up in the city
the papers tell about, have YEP"
II came across a little picture yes
terday in the green chist up in the
garnet, that she sent me a good many
years ago, jest afore she got married.
l guess she was kind O. in my mind
She used to be the chipperest girl t
ever see in my life, n she had such
pretty curly hair"
Twas red" said Hannah.
''Wa'al, t want real red, kind O.
We're too old to be clipper now,
any of us. | don't see how | can have
her, no way, Daniel; we amt seen her
this ten year"
wouldn't she kind O liven us up?"
asked Daniel, timidly. 1--WE don't see
many folks, You know"
'Wa'al, eff you're tired O havin' your
pore old sister round Tspose | can
write n have stranger come n take
my place"
Hannah's voice trembled, and her
eyelids grew red, one tear gathering
force enough to trickle slowly down her
cheek like a SLENDER rill, which has no
great source behind it.
Il guess l wouldn't think anything
about it, then-perhaps she might
make we some work. | didn't know
but she could help along with the
quiltin; she used to be master hand
at SEWN. l could tackle up n go to
the deepo for her as well as not, now
I'm through with the haydn"
you'll have to write the letter,
Dannel. | don't seem to feel like it,
my stomachs so weak. s'pose shall
be sorry had her come. don't want
her meddlin' with my cookin'"
That day week the three cousins
were seated in the best room, which
led out of the kitchen. 1t was a mere
box of a room, and had a musty odor,
it was so seldom opened. Two large,
old naples shaded the windows. and
grew so near that they seemed like
grim sentinels, forbidding the en-
trance of heavens light and breath.
II don't see you look much older n
you did ten or fifteen years ago.
Angienette, said Daniel, as he crossed
one leg over the other, and tried to
make himself stationary in the slip
perry horsehair chair with it's hard,
unyielding seat.
"Wa'al, | don't knows l feel old; I've
got good health n seven nice children!
There amt nothin' they don't try to
do for me, since their poor ia Their died.
But I'm fifty-fve next month That's
older n you, Hannah, by three years"
Il haint never had sech health as
you've he'd" said Hannah, as she left
the low chair and took seat il one
the back of which was tall and straight
and stiff
Her figure was 1.-the and firm and her
complexion, though colorless, had the
hue of health.
''Why, you never was sick but once,
Hannah said the brother, "n that
was more n twenty years ago"
well, l amt been real sick, but
don't seem to feel so strong as was. 4
git dreadful tired washin' n iron the
same day"
Il sh'd think you would" said her
cousin; what makes ye do it?"
Good land! | alwuz did. You don't
s'pose I'm goin' to have it round two
days, do ye, for jest Dannel n me n
Hiram? | want to set down Tuesdays.
I'm piecin' calico to make some quilts.
I'd ought to make three this fall, eff
can"
"l'll take holt n help, eff you want
me to, Hannah-ef | shan't be in the
way: | like to sew"
Air your eyes good?''
Eyes good? Why, yes, of course
they be; what's to bender? l don't
never use glasses, nuther; l was al
ways sort o nearsighted, you know.