The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-10-19

BY$A. MORGAN HAYS.

/
blending with the clouds. Fields OF
yellow stnbble covered the open sire tch
OF plain between the foothills and tim
Der belt, finding a background. in the
rich dark green OF thesliye oak groves
thst outline the course OF river and
creek that iced Tnlare lake. -5s,s,s,
Harvest, was over. For weeks six,
and eight horse teams, heavy with.
sacks Of grain, had cut deep ruts in the,
sandy soil and left in their wake a trail
of dust, which, caught by sudden gusts
OF wind, was sent in eddiess down a
road that formed the section line be-
tween two ranches ALI through the
hot summer months the dust rolled in
dense clouds eff TO the neighboriug
I fields, to hang for hours Ikea veil over
the landscape, depositing q filn1d vel
low on trees and grass, and dimming
a once glariny viii tewashed house, al
most hidden by spreading fig trees.
fShanty would be a more correct term
for the small square box-like structure
OF rough redwood boards, the pine
shake roof stained and warped by the
:. passing seasons. The ground before
the partly open door. bare and hard
from constant sweeping, bore evidence
of thrifty hand, but all day the .dtful
October winds had banked the half
dried fig leaves. against the doorsill,
giving an. air of neglect, intensified by
the shrill cries Of motherless brood
of chickens standing with anxious eyes
and outstretched callow necks before
the door. ..
a, newly weaned calf lowed piteous-
~ from the orchard, where in his
frantic efforts to get loose: no; over
> turned frame OF sun-dried fruit. The.
warm sun beat in the window, through
!; the cotton curtain that, blown to one
side, hung limp against the outer wall,
;. it's whiteness married by streak of
dirt gathered III the trail across the
window-sill,; and on to the clean
scrubbed floor, lighting up the corners
Of the square north room: '''' ~.
Above the broad open fireplace, the
vanished mantel, stained with traces
Of tobacco Juice, held a miscellaneous
collection, the outcome of certain
needs, cracked blue vase filed with
the next years vegeta BILE seedsJa cigar
box the receptacle for stacks;. and
) pieces OF twiue,a basket ofswornssocks
and half-s1noked pipe. The talIloud-
ticking clock pointed to four. The
angular features of the room suggested
no sweet human intercourse when the.
day was ended and the hearth aglow.'
In one corner was a bed. Its pillows
in their coarse cotton slips rose pri1nly.
above the log cabin quilt, and full high
4. feather tick, whose bright hued, line of
colors was broken by the woman lying
across it. ss ~. .e H.t.
:: For hours she had lain there, deaf to
Che cries of the hungry chickens, the
below Of the frantic calf. Her face
was buried in the pillow, like a tired
child's. The brown hair, streaked
with early threads Of age, SO thin
around the. blue-veined temples, the
hollow cheeks, the sharp, lines, like
pencil-tracings, across the brow, all
expressed care and bodily fatigue.
One arm lay under her, but the other
hand brown and callous from toll, still
heldsin the fast slackening fngers Che
unfinished gingham apron, disclosing
a. tireless mother'stlife. woven in the
stitches Of the baby garment: - -
~ Before.an open window stood the
sewing machine. A. little sleeve held
fast by the needle fluttered as Che cool
breeze of the evening crept ina; kit
ten tangled a spool Of thread round
and round her chair. The bread in
I: the oven had burned black, and the
i kettle had boiled itself out. In the
cellar. under, the big trees, pans OF
thick, leathery cream were, readl to be
skinned !, and up by the bench Of sun
Ming, shiny rows Of milk-pans, :inapar
tient pigs turned over. and rolled about
the empty swirl pail - q.
Y A.lagging bee flew about the room,
i then out to the few border-fowers she
had planted in response TO an Unborn
's.s' .. rsSRa .is