Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-28

handed mechanically TO Ephriam and
throwing herself into the arms of his
wife, sobbed Historically: ooh,
mother, motherr'
The poor thing has been sick ali
day, and all the way, guess" said
the groom. I'm glad she's got here.
The women have all been taking care
of her and the babies"
Garry her right in and put her to
bed this minute. Don't expect her to
say a word" riped a thin voice from
the crimson depths of the aTk-like
coach. It's mercy that she's got
here alive. I've been along with her
all the way from tother side 'er the
mountang an I've thought every
mint she'd die"
Glad she's got home" said the
driver afably drawing UP the reins
with a sweep Of his arm. It's a hard
case! Go on to the wheel horses
Gather up there to the leaders
Take your sharen to the middles
and with a resounding crack Of his
long whip on the frosty air they were
off and away.
Editha nodded her head to Ephriam
The stage didn't stop over TO
Enoch's," she said, and we've got
EN-. You touch off the fire in the
south square room; it's been laid fur
a dozen years I do believe. Lucky
the bed amt made up and is well
aired. I've remembered my broughten
up and done that, comp'ny or no
comp'ny, Thanksgivin' or what not.
Come dearr' but poor, weary Jane
Eliza had tainted, and Ephriam, who
had always been called as strong as a
horse, transferred the baby which he
had been awkwardly holding. to his
wife, gathered his niece up in his arms
and carried her into the house
There was a settle in the narrow
kitchen and that and the ell bedroom
received the travellers until the spare
room was ready.
I'VE mustn't waste no time, said
Editha, fur Uncle jim Prindle Or
some of the other neighbors will be
along to know what the stage stopped
here fur"
News Travelled fast in the Mill Val
ley neighborhood and Jane Eliza had
only Just been carried out Of the ell
before Uncle Jim PrindIe's ''Ahem!
Ahemw was heard, followed by the
sound of his hickory staff rapping
upon the outer door and his wheezy
voice CALLING
"Ahem. ahem! I hear you've got
cumpny? Say? Hay? You got
cumpny?"
And why not?" retorted Editha
gIibly L suppose Thanksgiyin's for
us as wells for other folk" and she
trotted off with candle il one hand
and a cup Of milk in the other.
By that time some one else ap-
peared, SAYING
Great times up at your brother
Enochs and the stage didn't stoDT'
HIM" said Ephriam, didn't
hay?"
mo. It stopped here, they say"
"Jes' so.' and Ephriam made his
way into the front room with an arm
full Of wood, while Uncle jim and his
follower departed in no very pleasant
frame OF mind,
who can it be?" said one
Cant imagine" said the other.
Lets go up to Enoch's,' and by the
hood everybody was asking of every
body. else
who can have come 10 visit
Ephriam and Editha? and they say
they have got a fire in the south front
square; and want it strange the
stage didn't stop at Enoch's?"
At the head of the valley the light
of the bonfire was dying out and Jake
was saddIing the roam geIding Tor a
gallop over to the Corners to find out
if anybody there knew who was in
side the coach; and as he mounted
one of the visitors was saying
1T couldn't have been Jane Eliza
who got off at Ephriams, could i,?'
The stage might have stopped at
the wrong WheeIer's, to be sure said
another. Don't you see? It's a big
yellow house at the foot of a hill, and
the name is the same. If ii was Jane
Eliza, do you suppose they would let
her come in?"
oh, it wurn't her" wheezed Uncle
jim. I've jist come from there my
self, and they are feelin' 'pOrtant to
hev cump'ny now, I tell We. Fire in
the south front square, milk in cheny
cups, glass candlesticks. Nothin' toe
good. 1t beats the very Dutch. House
all open, the ell of no account, only
for the neighbors, no cump'ny in
sight. Yes, I tell you, it beats the
very Dutch!'
At Ephriam's the excited Editha
took her husband by the arm and led
him into the front room.
Look at EN-" she said. All three
fast asleep, an don't they make a
pictur'? and don't it seem jest as nat
ural as if We had been havin'
compny fur years?"
20 mother, mother" moaned the
young woman on the bed restlessly,
raising up her arms. 4 have been so
homesick that it seems too good to be
true that I am here at last. This bed
is so restful;" and off she dropped to
sleep again.
Presently she said: Don't you re
member how, long time ago, before
there was trouble, Aunt Editha used
to give me motherwort tea when 1 had