Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-11-01

live at nome, hyah. won't ye new some
! O. these green's on yer plate? They're
powerful well shortened. Will We nev
short sweet'nen' or long sweet'neu' in
We coffee? Some likes it one way en-
some ernother."
John, who had a decided sweet
TOOTH said he preferred long sweet
ening," thinking to secure an extra
allowance of sugar; and was rather
dismayed when the old woman took
up small iron spoon and put into his
cup two spoonfuls of sorghum. But
he said nothing in protest, fearing to
offend.
Meow, jist reach en- take; ye're sit
tim handy" said his hostess.
John was SO hungry that he was
able to make hearty meal upon the
coarse fare provided for him, and, hav-
ing declared himself highly pleased
with everything, was told to go into
the 'big house" again while the old
woman washed the dishes and "breshed
about a bit"
AS he crossed the narrow space be-
tween the two houses, an old man with
long white hair came slowly across
the yard from the smouldering fire,
and, entering before him, took seat
by the hearth.
'"Thar's another cheer over thar by
the bed, stranger" he said, nodding to
John.
He was sorry-looking old man in
his patched, faded, homemade clothes,
and with his wrinkled, sallow face,
faded blue eyes, and long white hair;
and he was evidently not given to To-
quacity, for after his remark about
the chair he kept silent, staring into
the fire In dreamy way, his withered
hands clasped tight together.
The woman-who could not have
been over fifty years of age, though
she looked much older-came in pres
emily and sat down in stiff wooden
chair on the opposite side of the
hearth from John.
"Why don't you take the rocker?'
John asked, glancing toward big
rocking-chair, with soiled patchwork
cushion, which stood near the one
window.
'She can't" spoke up the old man,
quickly, a sudden fash in his faded
eyes. THAT'S mam's." ...
John looked inquiringly at his hos
tess.
"Ye mustn't pay no heed ter him; he
amt jist right in his mind,' she said,
frankly. MAN, she died hyah spell
back-goin' on four months, I reckon;
en- pap, he amt ben jist right since.
He TUX on fearful when she was laid
out. He couldn't pear ter sense it
that she wouldn't come back no more.
He's mighty tryin' sometimes. He
won't let nobody set in that thar cheer,
en- he goes regular every night ter seta
light on MANS grave. Nam she was
gret hand ter have light soon's it
war dark, en- pap he amt forgot It."
John nodded.
II saw the light there" he said. 81
wondered what it meant"
'"There cayn't nobody git him outen
them notions" went on the woman.
$50 we uns jist let him be- 1t don't
hurt nobody"
Eyes, it's better to let him have his
own way" John said. 4
Soon after this the small household
retired, John being told to go up lad
der" where he'd find a shakedown
which he would have to share with
pap.
Was it dream that some time dur
ing the night be heard the rain dash.
ing against the roof and some one
moving about the loft? Did he dream
that he heard thin, weak voice say:
"I'm a hurryin'; don't be skeered,
nam. Pap'll be thar. Pap amt goin'
ter let nothin' tech ye."
He knew the next morning, when he
awoke at daylight and discovered that
his bedfellow was not beside him,
that it couldn't have been dream,
and as soon as possible he made his