Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-07
THE OLD FARMERS STORY.

London Truth.
"Old years weeping himself out with
a vengeance. Never saw heavier rain
to last. About recorder, Mr.. No
ADJ"
So said the rector as he shook the
| streaming water from his hat and coat
in the cottage doorway, then entering,
| seated himself on one side of the fire
in the Windsor chair which the good
mans granddaughter a girl with face
like polished apple, had placed Tor
| him.
The good man himself was very old;
so crippled and bent with rheumatism
that he was unable, except by long ana
| painful effort, TO raise from his chair.
He lifted his gnarled hand to his fore
| head by way of a respectful welcome.
And, indeed, no prince of the land
| could have surpassed the perfect cour-
tesy of that salute.
"A record for a rainfall-eh, Mr..
Noad?" repeated the rector cheerlly,
extending his chilled hands to the coy
fire
The good man uttered sort of low
chuckle, full Of plying, though we'll
hammered, amusement.
"Will. will" he said. But then,
you can't hreckon back ser fur as can,
zurr."
And you can remember rain to beat
this, Mr.. Noad?"
THAT | can, zurr. I der mind the
winter zeasOn Of vifty-vive and Vlfty-
six, when | wur down to Mrs. Balm s.
where Warmer Green do live; and II
rained worse nor this, nigh livery DAY
for six wiks; and the water In many
parts vur right over the tops OF the
Ridges. Aye, Zur, that wur summat
like hrain-that wur."
The rector smiled and nodded. lie
had often heard of vifty-vive and witty
six" before. Those two dates had ap-
parently crystaliZed in the good man
brain. Did you happen to allude III his
presence TO any exceptional season
exceptional frCst, snow, heat, drought
wet or what not-out "vifty-Yive ana
vifty-siX" invariably came. The goou
man was very old His memory now
was often dim and haZy. And wheth-
er 'vifty-vive and yifty-siX" had really
been such phenomenal years, or whetn-
er he was vaugely identifying all the
unusual seasons Of his former life with
date which some striking occurrence
had indelibly impressed upon him, was
fair matter Of debate. He would how
ever. have been a rash man who should
have treated it as debatable in the good
mans presence.
The old fellow soon ceased his chuck
ling. A shadow seemed 10 settle on
his wrinkled brow. He looked across
at his Visitor sadly and rather wistrul-
~. The rector was new 10 the place,
new. at least. as they reckon newness
in that slowly changing country VII
lage. where almost every family, from
the sources downward. seems to be
coeval with the land on which it lives.
He had only held the living for mat
ter of four years But he had kind
face-a face inviting to sufferers and
sorrowful-and the good man had
burden of many, many weary years,
whereof he yearned to unbosom him
self. He had often been on the point
of doing so before, but had not quite
ncrved himself to the effort. Tonight,
however, his yearning was to have its
way.
Polly. child, bean't it time We wur
off to help Jessie wiz the milking" he
said. turning to the young girl with the
polished face.
yes, Granddaughter; I'll go this min
ute"
And taking up an old covering of
sacking and a felt milking hat, she
stepped outside into the splashing
rain.
you'd never get on at all without
Polly. She's your right hand, EN-?
said the rector.
Aye that she is. A good little
myde-a good little myde. | der wish
Jess wur ser good lad"
Il thought Jess had become quite
steady" remarked the rector, always
anxious to say a good word for every
body.
will, zurr, l doan't gay az how he
be azackly unsteady. He doan't drink
or hrin after the wenches But he's a
thriftless, incoming, Caddling piece of
it. zurr. He woan't niyer do much
good"
"Oh, come, l hope you are mistaken.
When he grows older he will become
wiser Boys will be boys; we were boys
once, Ell, MIR. Noad?"
The good man did not answer. He
was looking into the fire. The shadow
had settled down more heavily upon
his face. Still looking at the fire, he
said at length
Der you think there's such a thing
as being onder a curse from God,
zurr?"
mo. no, Mr.. Noad; surely not. The
only curses that affiict men come from
themselves from their own sins and
evil passions"
"Ayel aye! Vrom their own zins
and evil passions repeated the good
| man. in a dreamy voice Then he add
ed. after a silence broken only by the
ticking of the tall clock in the corner,
you niver knowd what it wur to have
a darter go wrong, zurrY'
Thank God | never did, Mr.. Noad.
"Ah. we'll. / have knowed 1t, zurr-
l have knowed it,
MY poor old friend" said the rector,
sympathetically.
Ave. zurr. My own darter brought
shame on us; and Jess wur the child
of her zin."
"He is the more to be pitied, my
friend. You should treat him with
especial tenderness-with especial ten
derness, Mr.. Noad.'
i've niver been hard on him, zurr.
Mebbe less hard than I oughter to hev
bin. But wur hard on his poor mither
! wur cruel hard on my girl"
rs she still living?' asked the rec
tor.
Nay. EUR. nay. She died soon arter
Jess wur born. She wur drowned in
the floods.
The good man spoke in a very low