Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-12-04

= -
[4,~- brilliance, and he
,S<eSl11>, west was still rud-
/WHG@1,"' dy with its dying
go , glow, when h g
moon rode out in queenly splendor.
But instead of yellow corn OF cluster
ing sheaves, it shone tonight on long
stretches of bare -stubble. a spell OF
dry weather thad enabled the farmers
80 secure their grain with unusual
rapidity, arel even on the cold uplands
81 Fife theue was not a single sheaf Of
standing cbrn In the stackyard at
MUiredge. John Cairns stood regard
ing his haDdiwork with supreme salts
faction. From his youth he had
maintained his reputation of being the
best stacker in the East Neuk. and
though no was now in his sixty-fifth
wear, the row of neat stacks before him
was sufficient proof that his hand had
los. none Of It's cunning.
How John Cairns aud his wife man
sged 80 scrape living OF Muiredge
fvas problem often discussed among
the farmers in the East Neuk. for be
sides being bleak. cold-lying place.
il consisted OF little more than fifty
acres Yet they had struggled on for
well-nigh forty years, since they had
began life together "A man and wife
Three children had been born TO
them, the eldest daughter. who had
died in her girlhood. and two sons.
The elder OF the two had made an
early and imprudent marriage with an
out worker IN the neighborhood. and
Thus handicapped In the race 81 life.
had been forced TO hire as a plowman.
from which level he never afterward
succeeded in rising. The younger
son remained with his parents till his
twenty-,hird year, when. filied with a
burning ambition 10 seek his fortune
abroad. he left his native country and
emigrated 10 Australia. For a few
years they heard from him at brief in
teryals, but in the end all communica-
tion ceased, and they had not the re-
hottest idea whether he still lived.
Thus IN their old age John and Kir-
stem Cairns were forced 10 fight the
battle of life unaided, and how hard
the struggle was at times even the
shrewdest guesser could not have
gauged exactly.
With the assistance Of one hired
woman, John had brought. In ma
stacked the whole of his grain. To-
night they had been working late. aud
the old man, though worn ont With
his long days labor. was conscious OF
= strangely uphfted feeling for which
lie could not account.
He wandered around the ward
counting the stacks over and over
again, aud wondering il it could be be
cause they numbered two more than
usual that he felt 50 much elated
Then remembering suddenly that
kristen would be waiting supper
he set of toward the stealing with the
last sheaf under under his arm. which
according 10 tlme-worn custom. he
always carried home with him. It's
presencein the house indicated q aill
form of harvest festival.
Kristen was standing outside the
kitchen door watching for him. an I'm
couth yet athletic-looking figure in the
short gown and petticoat Of the Scot
ish peasant woman. Her face was
eager and careworn. Her shoulders
bent with much toll, and her hands
fall OF the restless movements OF one
who never knows what it is TO bounce.
cupied.
us that you, John:' she cried
across the yard
Aye, mistress. it's me-" he ans
wered back. I've been LANCER o.
gettin through than expeclxit. but the
horses. pLir beasts, begun 10 fail
wee. on we had 10 ca ava cannv. -
Elspet brOcht them in mar than
half an hoor syne," she added. Il
gaea over 10 the stable to see that they
got bit extra fodder efter workin'
late; but what haze We been ABBOTT sin
syne?"
"Oh, Twas jist lookin' roun' the vaird
to ma sure a'thing was RIGHT" he re-
turned. "Yon should see what bonnie
raw o. stacks we haze, Kristen; here's
the last sheaf, an thumpin' big ane
At Is. L dinna min O. ever brinoin'
harle ane like it. unless it was that
ear DOR Dave was born. Haze We min
ct, wumman? We had graund hairst
that earl
''Ay, / haze min OF" she answered.
turning away abruptly. "Come ava
IN to yer supper then; it's been waitin'
this hoor an mair."
A sparkling log fire filed the kitchen