The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-01-26

Z ~ Aoo%s. the center o. the table
\N/NA swarmed with minute
= NA insects at racted by it's
" light and heat. The
light, subdued by the blackeued chin
ney and the insects, fell upon com
mon red tab.ecluth, greasy in spots.
got too clean anywhere, upon which
was spread the food commonly con.
sumed by the family.
II also fell upon the faces OF the DIFF
terent members OF tue Mills fnmilv.
grouped unsystemGticaliy about the
red tabIecloth; uPog the heavy face
Ut the father, hending over his plate
'ullenly, and on the baud face of the
'noiher who, hopeless Of happlne in
aer earthly life, had turned to heaven
~ things, looking forward TO a man.
'lon in the skies, since her earthly
nAbltation hal been the humblc,t OF
cottages.
At her right hand sat her favorite
son, james. Beside this Young man
sat his sister, girl OF about sixteen,
who would huve been pretty hut for
Two slovenly buttons unfnStened ut
The throat OF her calico Gown. A
Younger brother occupied the seat
next to his mother on her right
hand, and near him sat Luella, n baby
On either side.
an take some more meat. pa,
said James, passing his plate for the
third time.
The father raised his head. "What
say?" he asked, for he was very deaf
unless two heads nodde together
whisps ring
Give me some more meat" re-
peated James.
There Amt no more" said the
father. "It's all gone.
"lhst comes OF havin' Two extras in
the family when there aiu't enough
meat to go 'rounl as 'is," growled
James.
Aud they all looked at Luelln, before
whom the insects about the lamp sud
denly swan in kind OF mist. She
raised her cup to her lips and choked
rs she tried to drink the muddy coffee.
She rose, coughing, aud lett the table ::
going out through the kitchen door
into the back yard, she SINK down Mt
the foot o. a little tree, all tremblin =
aud crying, her wet face in her apron.
rue lit OF crying grew upon her, She
shook with soJs AMI littlo gaspiuc
means; sho groye!led in the wet
grass, her face pressing AGAINST its
cooling green, her n3ils sunk in her
palms.
Does our Mother Earth sometimes
com ort her children in their distress ?
Something III the smell OF the earthly
Garth, in the mere contact with the
kTeet, green, dewy carpet soothed
Luella's heert. Presently she cease 4
to wr!the aud moan she only sobbed
now and then like hurt and tired
child upon tue bosom Of its mother.
After awhile she grew entirely quiet,
turning her face sidewise and looking
ous at tue broodiug night, at the
Iuyri1ds OF twinkiing stars IN the
purplisb dome oyerhea J., aud at the
tired.es dancing here anil there in the
long, waving grasses.
As she lay there something of the
nights quiet stole into her brain, nm
calmly, without any OF thrt acute
agitation that had shaken her Mt first,
she bcgnu 30 think over her past lite.
ii7ha had married e,rly -foD carly
IN
b.,,o 1.ti,f7 80 oI;g,,s 80, 49,, 80 49,
""9 w. va 'Ho ,7o
L.n.'o, sl,a o,,i.,' r"...,,'a- a., lay
she had not been hlppy. Her
married lie had been made uu
tpol,y cglol ~ Lor r,t,rn 3, ~
,,.,,,y, ba,,. rast ,y,tb 49, si.iI5.a-
Inr Ir.,,hc-.. tor,t w.s c.,aa.-..
quo. t,, ,.rb,ns 40 ,i,i,t ,,a ga H.
,,5- u,1s,rIIy ,,c,F 81 C,.,,I =,
,,nrossiiTo q. ,,5nr. .tI,a i,.r, -.
Ienco gho l,l.e,t figc t,,r,;,,', 49,,
tl.,, orl t,Io7;n, ,.rt T., ,,.5 -,
H.sbc.f-.ii.ro,i,n AMI s..Loi, ,..l.
r.mo ~, E.r. In tLo r,gr.t e.. .,,'....
and eri.o her bonls nl,@.. s.,o ,-..
30 n,,r a worm sre wopI I r3t d,r, .cl