The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-11-27
ONHE Widow Wilson's farm


SS5eJ was travelling backward.
1t began at the top of Brin-
die hill, where it was bounded by
the county road, and struggled
down to the lake shore, its hundred
acres or so wandering over hills and
dipping into hollows until they ter
minated at the bay, with its rim of
white and glistening sand.
One of the most picturesque spots
of earth, and right in the center of
1t, crOwning rounded knoll, sur
rounded with stalwart oaks and but
ternuts, squatted the house of it's
owner.
1t was always difficult spot to
reach in winter, when the drifting
SHOWS piled high their white bill
lows against the low eaved structure
and hid the windows from the outer
world. But in summer it was de-
light, this moss brown dwelling be-
meath the oaks, and at one time had
been home around whose hearth
stone had gathered sons and daugh-
ters.
Now it was desolate. The pass
ing stranger would have but added
it to the category of deserted farms.
No sign of life was visible this
bright Thanksgiving morning.
From its wide, paneled chimney no
curl of smoke invaded the crisp and
frosty air. The light fall of snow
that had covered the ground the
night before showed no trace of foot
steps leading from the weather
/ nd n
stir of life in the farmyard, in the
hollow among the trees, where the
old barn tottered, ready for its fall.
There a flock of fowls and turkeys
wandered disconsolately about. In
the adjacent stall an old horse
stamped impatiently for his break
fast and forlorn COW chafed rest
lessly at her stanchions. Except for
these the old farm was as silent as
when its first owner carved it from
the virgin wilderness. A rustling of
the shrubbery that fringed the tall,
stiff ranked pines on the hill beyond
the barn told that a visitor was COM
ing to Lonely farm. A human head
appeared in sight. 1t was crowned
by woolen cap, from beneath
which peered pair of black, bright
; eyes. Their owner took off the cap
aud mopped his brow. He was a
rugged country lad of Is, we'll knit
and sturdy, with a pair of ruddy
cheeks, white teeth and lips rosy,
; but with droop of sadness.
New England, always hard to her
children, had taken from this boy
the home and mother that make
Thanksgiving, even as it had taken
from the widow all but the wretched
framework of what had once been
home.
, "House looks like mothers used to
after she got so she couldn't get
about soliloquized the boy, staring
at the smokeless chimney. III
bet there amt been nobody near the
widder in week, and I'll bet
, while I'm a-bettin, that she needs
, somebody. Guess I'll find out
what's the matter"
He strobe down to the house and
knocked. There was no response
} Only the crow in the oak tree was
disturbed by the unwonted noise
and flew away, with cav of alarm
A second knock startled the fowls in
the barnyard which greeted hin,
with a suppressed chuckle, but there
was no answer from within. "Guess
| nights well go in" He pushed
open the crazy door and entered the
room which served as kitchen and
sitting room all in one. A table
| stood in the center of it, covered
{ with snowy cloth and set as if fel
supper. A tall clock ticked in the
corner under the stairs, but its
rhythmic beats only seemed to make
} the silence audible. "It seems kind.
2 er creepyA that's fact. Hope there
amt nOthin happened to her. Won
= der where she is? P'rhaps She:
asleepl"
He raped loudly, and then put
his ear down to the keyhole, listen
ing intently. At first there was NJ
response. Then he thought he hearC
a faint, quavering voice.
: Its me-Jem Hastings. I've
9 come to see if you need anybody
"Come in." The feeble voice
struggled with a cough. Then
"Yes, I'm so glad you've come.
: was taken faint yesterday and haC
t Just strength enough to crawl to bed
y Perhaps
!, "What, an you amt had nothin t,
eat!"
e No" with a feeble smile.
/ "Well, if you'll let me try, IL
I make a cup of tea"
Jem closed the door, set his guI
: in corner and looked around TO
the place in which the widow KEEP
her stores. The dressers ranged
o against the wall were bright will
old fashioned pewter platters ant
g china. Here he found caddy o.
: tea and then set about making {
fire. A huge fireplace yawned a
= one side of the room, hung with ;
II black iron crane from which wa
# suspended a teakettle. The wood
A pile was outside, near the back door
:. and brushing off the snow Jem sool
y had some dry wood, with which h,
d made roaring blaze. 1t was no
g long before he had the satisfaction
n of seeing the kettle send forth
volume of steam, and few min
! utes later he tapped again at tn
It bedroom door with tray, on it ;
: tempting cup of tea and two vel
. buttered slices of bread.
Wrapped in a shawl of Csntol
! silk, the heirloom of grandmothe
It whose father once sailed from Salen
to the Indies, 1.-THE widow sank bacl