Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-05-26

how it's intsmp'rance, Cynthy. Silas is
sot on lettin' OF Doll stick her head in th'
window, every mornin', for q lump o. su-
gar. That's intemp'rancs. Nancy's sot on
havin' mornin' glories at that particular
window, an no other. That's intemp'rance.
Silss is sot on his pipe, an threatens t
take t. Ticker, if he can't have more peace
t. hum. That's intemp'rance. Ev'ry time
things goes leetle wrong, Nancy goads Sile
bout how she's saved an he amt, an tells
him she's holy an perfec' an Aops right
down an prays, shown him bis sins like
scarlet, an her own self white az snow,
An that's iutemp'rance; fur you kin get
jess as drunk on that kind O. religion as
on rum, Cynthy."
"Dear, dearl But it's pity. An them
sixty year man an wife! Myl-but there's
Silas now; awfully excited, too. GuessIll
go inl"
AS his wife entered the cottage, Uncle
Jimmy Biggs heard the gate open and shut
with slam. He saw old Silas Higher
tearing up the walk, pounding the gravel
to the right and left with his oaken cane;
but be worked away softly upon the letters
of memory" never appearing to notice
the little old visitor until he had not only
trundled up beside him, but after that
edged around equarely in front of him, and
several times insistively cleared his throat
He wss tiny mite of an old, old man,
bowed from extreme age, and shrunken
into bony bundle upon which his cloth
ing tapped and huttered. His long white
locks hung In little twisted strands dis.
heveled upon his shoulders. His eyes
were bloodshot from excitement, and the
old stonecutter noticed that little bundle
dangled from the trembling hands which
convulsively clung to the knob of his cane.
Jimmy Biggss Uncle Jimmy Biggsa" he
at last appealingly whispered.
'Hello, Gran'pa Higler!" roared Uncle
Jimmy in heartsome greeting.
"Sh-h-h!' returned old Silas, with q
scared glance in the direction of the lilac
hedge. five run awayl"
"Oh9" replied Uncle Jimmy, In tone of
sympathetic confidence. "For gooda"
"For good" he answered, huskily.
"Going furs"
"Dunno. Don't keer."
''Csn't git long with Nancy, s'posea"
"Never, no more"
"Takin' clos an things, s'posea"
Grandpa Higher nodded his head at the
tiny dangling bundle.
"Carryin' a little ready cash long,
s'poses"
The little old man gave start and clutch
| ed at his pocket.
Il oO hlluEcu uau 1OTkO
| thstl Don't matter, though. Got leetle
| I was ssvin' up t. buy Christmas present
| fur Nancy with. No more presents, dra
| 'eml That's huff. Don't matter wha
| comes o. me, Uncle Jimmy"
The swollen veins were leaving his pool
| old forehead little as few tears began tt
trickle down his shrivleed face.
"You'll do me JESS one 'com'dashum
Uncle Jimmy?"
"Sartin', Gran'pa Higher. Nameit."
"Wall, ye, see, my OF mare, Doll, hez
been used t. her lump O. sugar, regular, full
twenty year. Ye wouldn't mind pushin
one through the lilacs at her 'cashunally
'thout Nancy seein' of ye, would ye, now
fur OF friopd?'
"Silas, OF Doll shall hev tn sugar. But
If it don't matter jets which way ye rur
ter, so ye git rest from Nancy, how, how'd
kinder draw yerself together, Silas?'
''Ye don't mean it, Uncle JIMMY"
"An' thar's tn south garding; room
opens right on to it. Its sunny an sooth-
in out thar. Nobody minds 'bsccy round
here. Ye kin jess mosey round an think
it all over, ye see."
Here Uncle Jimmy took the trembling
old man by the arm and led him across the
blossoming porch through the sweet, shady
rooms of the old cottage, to the bright and
sunny apartment opening upon the pretty
garden.
eye kin jess rest here-fur as long Of
ye like, Silas. Take day or two, or 6
week CT two, Silas. Ye mil ht think owe,
yer route, an sech things. Nobody'll
know whar ye be. Nothin'll go amiss
Don't worry nor fret. or Dolls git bel
sugar, regular. You want ressin' more
than runnin', Silas."
He left the old man tiny bundle OF
mute and radiant gratitude upon an an.
Gent settle, and returned to his work,
where his good wife was awaiting him with
look of cage solicitude in her kindly face
"Thar amt room huff over at Higlers','
said Uncle Jimmy thoughtfully, resuminl
his picking and pecking upon the tail OF
the letter ~" in Memory" "They're
jess sore an wore, long O. rubin their
mornin'-glories an 'baccy, an OF Doll an
religun agin one another in too close quar-
tiers. I'm afeared one or tother gifts this
very stun, if sunth'n don't happen
Cynthy."
If thar amt Gran'ma Nancy Higher this
minutel Meetin' clos on, too. Ny, Jim.
my Briggs, you're enc in thousand. II
your filos'fy can cure this troubled Guess
I'll run in an see bout dinner. Mustn't
nobody know Gran'pa Higler's in the south
room, Jimmy4"
''Not for the world, Cynthy. Filos'fy
an sense has got t. go together this time,
or Its this stun fur one er tother o. them
poor crittersI'
He was gougtng, picking and pecking
softly at the letter ~: as Grandma Higler
tottered up the walk and confronted him.
She was smaller If possible than her hus.
band, and as old. Her shiny, hood-hke
satin bonnet was awry; her shiny, alpaca
dress was creased with folds; the fastening
OF her shiny chsshmere shawl lay upon her
shoulder instead of upon her breast; her
shiny oilcloth valise was half as tall as her
thin little body, and her shiny bits of eyes
snapped determination from her thin and
shiny little faca.
"Uncle Jimmy Biggs, whar's CynthyT
"Oh'-ehs Why, It's you, is It Grsn'm
Higler9 Wall, Cynthy amt to be eeen, fur
little. Dinner things burnin'."
'Don't smell 'em": retorted Grandma
Nancy, with a few quick quivering shifts,
'"Taint like Cynthy to burn vittles. We'll,
you'll do"
stYou an Silas goin' down T. Bostinga"
"Silas Higher go t Bossing with mes"
She jumped up and down in little spasm
OF indignation, sat down upon the head
stone briskly, drew the huge valise up
close up to her, and snapped out the one
"Thats good while, Gran'ms Higher"
suggested Uncle Jimmy soothingly.
'tNot half as long as sixty year with a
man stepped in 'bacey an contrariness, as
won't be savedl" she returned sharply.
Gum msms' mumbled the stone OUTER
musingly. "s'pose Silas is purity hard =
Git long WITH
"Hsrd9 He's flint, Silss is. The on
righteous is hardened Z destruction, as the
prophet SEE. No human critter kin live
with that man 'thout fallin' from grace q
dozen times a day. Ye can't live holy
with Silas. Ye can't live sanctifed with
Silas. Ye can't live justified with Silas.
I've worn out my tongue With talkin'.
I've worn my fingers off with strlvin'.
I've worn my knees out with prsyin'."
can ter no use, Gran'ms Higlera'
CAL ter no use. Uncle Jimmy Briggs,
Oh Doll settled 1t this mornin'. That mare
pushed her OF white face right through the
moEnin'glory vines over the window, an