The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-06-02
THAT WISE WOMAN.

a little while, Lrt there was evidently
plenty more to coa,e in the dull gray
clouds that hung low over the moor,
A little cottage stood all by itself, the
snow thick on its low .!lptch; behind
it stretched the lonely Soor. with a
few old oak trees on one side Of it.
the outpost of the forest, which showed
II dark purple line against the horizon.
Outside, all looked drcary and dcsolat"'
hut inside the cDttagc 1t was coy
enough; the fire was burning with Il
clear red glow: Il great tabby cat was
lying in front Of TIL" warm, red bricks,
pulring drowsily: and an old woman
was sitting in u big wooden armchair,
her hands folded in her lap, her head
poked IL little forward. her dark in
telligent eyes looking into the fire. On
the shelves of the littlc corner cupboard
behind her stood long rows of bottles
and Jars containin. uintments, nettle
tea. rldcrbrrry wiu". cordials and mcdi-
cincs. for She doc,orrd the whole par
ish. which w;ts Al outlying one, with
no doctor living within several miles;
but all the country people said they
didn't want no doctor; the Wise Oman
WAS worth ten o they" Sh, nursed
them when they We're ill, too, and ad-
viSrl them in all their affairs; and they
always said, "tO tell the Wise Oman
Il secret We're like droppen u stone into
Il: w"ll-yOu was sure you'd never hear
o it again. She was Il very old WOm-
an, though exceedingly hale and active.
No on" knew exactly what her age was.
Her mother was Il gypsy. and from
her she had learned Il slight knowledge
of surgery and the medicinal qualities
Of herbs. She would wander for miles
in search of these. All the flowers, too,
in her little garden had their uses.
Now however. there was nothing in it
save a few cabbageS sticking out OF the
snow.
As the room grew dark the Wise
Woman rose and lighted Il candle, put
ting ii in the Window. where it was al
ways placed as Il beacon to guide peO-
pie across the { She had scarcely
lighted her candle when there was j
loud tap at the door. Come in." she
called. and the door opened, letting in
IL keen rush Of icy air and q shower OF
snow flakes. and Il man entered.
ut be snowcn fast ascn." he said,
going to the fire and shaking the snow
or himself. You'll BE- pretty nigh
showed up"
".Ah. / desscy. thcrell be some TN
to dig me out, if I be- said Mrs. Warne
comfortably.
III warn't there WILL" replied the
man. I'VE couldn't get on without you
no sense; and | be come now to ask
YOU what ! Ec to do about my hedge.
You knows my beautiful hedge? Wull,
now. he be getien old; the God in I'm be
nice for burnen; and sOme un comes
every night pretty handy and pulls it
out: and ! can't lind out who tits; and
If You can't tell me. I'll set up all night,
bur III find OUT"
NO need fur that. Bill" said Mrs.
Warnc. after having thought for Il mo-
men,. You just listen now. You get
out there tomorrow and make pre-
tcncc as you he Amending the hedge;
and you take L gimlet and bore little
holes in the God anf fill 'em wi gun
powder. and III warn't you wun't be
troubled no more"
Eth! mother. but you be a noted
oman fur clcverncss, that you be-" said
Bill .admiringly, bringing his large
hand down with u smack on his knee.
I'm be off ut oncc down to shop and
get some powder" He took a leather
bag from his pocket and brought q
shilling out of it. which he laid on the
table. II be terrible obliged to yc," lie
said.
"You'm vurry welcome" replied Mrs.
Warne as lie went away.
She stood watching the fall
softly against the window till her eye
was caught by Il light in the distance
that rapidly grew larger. and disclosed
itself to be Il lantern. The bearer Of
1t came hurrying along and opened the
door without stopping to knock. "Oh,
Mother Warner" he began. John Long
hev fell off Il ladder and hurt hisself
ter'blc!!'
Dear. dear. Any bones broke:"
Il don't rightly know; but he groans
dreadful"
Mrs. Warne hustled about collecting
a roll of bandnges, a pot of ointment,
and a small bottle: then she put a long
knitted purse in her pocket. bundled
herself in Il big shawl and bonnet, and
said:
Now l be ready to start"
ut don't sim hardly right to ask We
to come out such Il night" the man
said; but then we don't know what to
do fur him. aud Mis- Long be in u ter
BILE twitter!"
BLESS me Harry, anybody nd think
you was talking to an old 'oman!' said
Mrs. Warne briskly.
The man laughed. Well. it's true"
he said. MANY Il young oman med
be glad to be as peart as you be-!
How did he do it, asked Mrs.
Warne.
"He was cutten hay fur the horses.
and the ladder We're slippery, and he
fell right from top O it,"
They were we'll out into the moor by
this time, and further conversation
was impossible. for the fine snow blew
straight into their faces and took their
breath away. Around. above, nothing
was to be seen but the dancing snow
fakes, but presently the lights of the
cottage began to show through them.
"Wull l bain't sorry to hcv got
nere," said Mrs. Warne as she entered
the cottage.
The door of the inner room opened,
and Il woman put her head out. Here
be Mother Warne." she said, and in
stantly the watchers round the bed
gave Il sigh Of relief. The man was
keeping up Il low moan of pain.
Well, John, let's see what you've
done to yourself" said Mrs. Warne
cheerfully. as she went uD to him. She
found his injuries to be Il badly bruised
shoulder, a sprained wrist and a cut